89th minute kick hands Scarlets second defeat
THE Scarlets were left heartbroken as Toulon snatched victory deep into injury time with the last kick of the game at the Stade Felix Mayol.
Brad Mooar’s Scarlets showed tremendous character to lead 16-10 despite their Fiji international Tevtia Ratuva being sent off before half-time for a shoulder to the head of Georgian lock Mamuka Gorgodze.
Having defended heroically throughout the second half, they came up just short as former All Black loose forward Liam Messam bludgeoned his way over the line in the ninth minute of injury time.
With Toulon needing the conversion to win, up stepped Anthony Belleau whose kick hit the righthand upright before going over leaving the Scarlets with just the losing bonus point.
“It was a huge effort and I’m really proud of the fellas,” said Scarlets head coach Mooar. “They kept backing themselves and they were bold.
“Even right at the end to make Toulon work so hard to get over the try line shows how much the jersey means to this group and what they mean to each other.
“After the red card we were going to stay with seven forwards and not bring a back off to put a forward on.
“There’s moments we can look back on and debate but ultimately I’m incredibly proud and we are looking forward to the return fixture in Llanelli in January.”
Along with Messam’s score, a first-half try from Gervais Cordin and seven points from Belleau’s boot were enough to get the home side over the line.
Johnny McNicholl scored the Scarlets’ only try with Ryan Lamb and Dan Jones kicking 11 points between them.
Toulon opened the scoring when powerful left wing Daniel Ikpefan raced up the touchline before being brought down. The ball was recycled to Louis Carbonel whose cross-kick was gathered by Cordin for the opening try with Belleau adding the extras.
McNicholl dragged the west Walians back into the game after intercepting Belleau’s pass to run in unopposed from 40 metres with Lamb converting.
With the first-half coming to a close the game took a turn for the worse with Ratuva red carded for a shoulder charge to the head of Gorgodze. Toulon went to the corner in an attempt to finish the half with a score but the ball was turned over and the hosts led only 10-7 at the interval.
Many sides would have gone into their shells at the prospect of having to play with a man down but the Scarlets were the better side during the second-half with Wales squad members Ryan Elias and Aaron Shingler outstanding.
Former England Saxons outside-half Lamb leveled the scored with a successful penalty attempt after Toulon illegally sacked a driving lineout.
The Scarlets pack battled hard throughout and replacement No.10 Jones fired them ahead with another three points after Messam was penalised for not rolling away.
Jones added a further three points with a well taken drop-goal, but Toulon managed to work their way into the Scarlets half and, after a series of scrum penalties, they eventually forced their way over the line courtesy of a powerful driving lineout to condemn the Scarlets to just their second defeat of the season.