Aix-en-Provence (AFP)

Never two without three.

Toulon, an unhappy finalist in 2010 and then in 2012, lost the third European Challenge final in its history by falling in front of the English Bristol (32-19), Friday in Aix-en-Provence.

After the Welsh Cardiff Blues (28-21) then the French from Biarritz (21-18), it is therefore the Bears' turn to deprive the RCT of this European star, the only one missing from their charts.

For Bristol, UBB scorer in the half, it's 100%: the English, who had never done better than a semi-final in 2000, won their first European title in their first final.

Wasps, Bath, Northampton and Leinster remain the only four teams to have managed the European Cup-European Challenge double.

Toulon, three-time winner of the Champions Cup (2013, 2014, 2015), therefore falls once again at the end of a long campaign launched by a success in Bayonne, on November 15, 2019 in the rain.

In turn, the Basques but also the London Irish and the Scarlets of Llanelli broke their teeth on the solid formation set up by Patrice Collazo, already crowned in this competition as a player with Gloucester in 2006.

These same Scarlets (11-6) were swallowed up in the quarterfinals before Leinster let go (35-19) in the semi-finals.

A long Stations of the Cross, started more than ten months ago and a time stopped by the pandemic.

After seven victories in as many meetings, the men of President Bernard Lemaître seemed untouchable.

The eighth and final game, 336 days later, was therefore fatal to them.

- Insufficient "Carbo" leg -

Led 10-0 after three minutes of play, the Var had to draw on their mental resources to return to the game.

The right flank of the Rade club woke up after five minutes but the damage was done: the Semi Radradra rocket passed by, offering the first try to scrum half Harry Randall after ... 16 seconds barely.

Carried by his youth, Louis Carbonel (14 points) and Gabin Villière in the lead, the RCT scavenged, showed the fangs to inflict a 16-0 to the unanswered Bears.

The Toulonnais even turned in the lead at the break (16-10), thanks in particular to two tries logically refused to the English by the video.

Two tries, as much warning to an RCT which had prepared for this shock by dominating Montpellier (25-21) in Top 14 the previous week.

But this Bristol has resources.

Faced with the strength of Toulon, the Bears of Pat Lam made their mastery speak.

And left their formidable opener Calum Sheedy, author of 22 points (100% success at 9/9) by himself, sanction the French indiscipline (10 penalties conceded).

On Saturday, Racing 92 will have the opportunity to avenge Toulon with the second round of the Franco-English duel, in Bristol precisely, with the European Cup final against Exeter.

© 2020 AFP