Mitchell seals Toulon treble

LONDON, May 2, (AFP): Australia wing Drew Mitchell’s brilliant late try ensured Toulon became the first club to win three successive European titles as they beat French rivals Clermont 24-18 in a thrilling Champions Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday.

Clermont were 11-3 up midway through the first half yet turned round with Toulon leading 16-11 after Leigh Halfpenny’s remorseless boot and a converted try by Mathieu Bastareaud saw the champions into the lead.

But Nick Abendanon’s converted try for Clermont just after the hour cut Toulon’s lead to a point only for Mitchell to have the last word.

Toulon and Wales full-back Halfpenny punished Clermont’s indiscipline with four penalties and also kicked a conversion in a 14-point haul.

Clermont had a setback shortly before the match kicked off when Australian flyhalf Brock James suffered a thigh injury in the warm-up and was ruled out.

But such is their strength in depth, his place was taken by France international Camille Lopez.

Toulon, though, kicked off with four World Cup-winners in their side in Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith and Ali Williams.

Up front, however, Clermont’s initial dominance at the scrum led to two penalties, both kicked by Lopez.

But a infringement in front of their own posts was duly punished by Halfpenny.

However, it was Clermont who scored the game’s first try, in the 25th minute.

Clermont’s Morgan Parra charged down a kick off the back of a ruck by Sebastien Tillous-Borde and France centre Wesley Fofana gathered the loose ball and ran in unopposed before diving over flamboyantly for a try in the left corner.

Lopez missed the difficult conversion but Clermont were still 11-3 up before two more penalties from the remorseless boot of Halfpenny, cut their lead to just two points.