Leicester Tigers (13) 25
Tries Thorn Pens Williams (6) Conv Williams
Toulon (13) 21
Tries Habana, Mitchell Pens Sanchez (3) Conv Sanchez
Leicester Tigers put in their best performance of the season to down European title-holders Toulon 25-21 in the Champions Cup.
On a famous evening at Welford Road, Leicester were the better side throughout, particularly in the set piece, and a crowd of over 22,000 lapped it up.
Tigers more than matched their illustrious, star-studded opponents for physicality with the likes of Julian Salvi, Brad Thorn and Jamie Gibson heroic at the breakdown.
Leicester stood toe-to-toe with the Frenchmen and, although they were outscored two tries to one, they fully deserved their win and fly-half Owen Williams booted 20 points on his way to the man-of-the-match award.
Tigers began with more intensity than they had showed at any stage of the season so far and an early Williams penalty gave them the start that deserved.
They were gifted another three points on 15 minutes when former Tiger Martin Castrogiovanni waded into a ruck late and referee Nigel Owens reversed a Toulon penalty.
Williams made it 6-0 and just three minutes later, Welford Road was in raptures.
Toulon messed around in their own 22 and winger Drew Mitchell was hammered as he tries to pick up a bobbling ball. Brad Thorn picked it up and forced his way over the line for a rare try.
When Williams added the conversion, Leicester were well on top and had their tails up. It was just the start they would have dreamed of before kick-off and if they had bagged the next score, it would already would be looking tough going for the champions.
A penalty at the other end from Nicolas Sanchez finally got Toulon on the board though and then a risky offload from Williams nearly led to a try for the visitors if it were not for some wonderful pace and defending from Ben Youngs.
Sanchez pulled it back to 13-6 on 32 minutes before Williams missed a kick from in front of the Holland & Barratt Stand where the ground was very heavy under foot.
Four minutes before the break, Tigers made the sort of mistake that has settled many a European game in the past.
On half-way, Williams flung a long pass along his backline which fell inbetween his attackers and was picked up by Bryan Habana who ran the ball in untouched from 60 metres.
Sanchez converted for 13-13 and Tigers' lead had vanished, along with the noise of a stunned crowd.
Williams had the chance to put his side back in front on the half-time whistle but he missed and it was level at the break with Toulon feeling the better of the two sides.
The Welshman made amends early in the second half to make it 16-13 but Tigers shot themselves in the foot once again to let Toulon back in it.
Losing a scrum on their own put in, Tigers got exposed on the blindside and Sebastien Tillous-Borde fed Mitchell for an easy score. Sanchez missed the ensuing conversion but Toulon led for the first time in the game on 49 minutes.
Leicester remained well on top in the set piece though. Their line-out was superb both in attack and defence and the scrum was full of aggression and determination.
Two more Williams kicks within seven minutes put them 22-18 ahead, only for Sanchez to drag the deficit back to a point on 70 minutes.
The closing stages were full of drama and high-octane tackling. Tigers were simply wonderful as they never stepped off their intensity and threw their bodies into tackles left, right and centre.
Niki Goneva tried a horrible drop-goal with two minutes left but Leicester won a penalty soon after and Williams stroked it inches over from the half-way line to calm any nerves and secure a 25-21 scoreline.
They will do it all again on Saturday in Toulon.
TEAMS
Leicester Tigers
15 Mathew Tait, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Ben Youngs (c); 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 Tom Youngs, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Brad Thorn, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Jamie Gibson, 7 Julian Salvi,8 Jordan Crane,
Reps: Ghiraldini (54min for T Youngs), Rizzo (71min for Ayerza), Balmain, Parling (59min for Kitchener), Barbieri (54min for Crane), Harrison (79min for B Youngs), Burns, Benjamin
Toulon
15. Delon Armitage; 14. Drew Mitchell, 13. Mathieu Bastareaud, 12. Maxime Mermoz, 11. Bryan Habana; 10. Nicolas Sanchez, 9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1. Xavier Chiocci, 2. Guilhem Guirado, 3. Martin Castrogiovanni, 4. Bakkies Botha, 5. Ali Williams, 6. Mamuka Gorgodze, 7. Steffon Armitage, 8. Chris Masoe (c)
Reps: Orioli (70min for Guirado), Fresia (58min for Chiocci), Hayman (50min for Castrogiovanni), Smith (68min for Gorgodze), Wulf, Suta (71min for Taofifenua), Esande, Taofifenua (58min for Botha).
Referee: Nigel Owens
Att: 22,114
