Toulon hold off Racing fightback, Montpellier beaten

Toulon escaped with a 32-29 home victory over Racing 92 in the Top 14 on Sunday despite a tough second half in which they saw two players sent to the sin bin.

The hosts looked to be coasting when they led 29-10 with just under half an hour remaining, but three Racing tries and a second Toulon yellow card set up a nervy finale.

Julien Heriteau, Juan Imhoff and Daniel Ikpefan traded early tries, while Anthony Belleau kicked three penalties before the break to put Toulon in control.

Belleau continued to excel at the start of the second period, while a collapsed scrum meant both Toulon’s Marcel van der Merwe and Racing’s Vasil Kakovin were sent to the bin.

Racing dealt with the yellow better than the home side and Louis Dupichot crossed, before Toulon were reduced to 14 men again when Stephane Onambele Mbarga was punished.

Yoan Tanga Mangene went over twice in quick succession but Racing fell just short of a late turnaround.

#TOP14 | J4

Et voici tous les résultats de cette 4e journée ! pic.twitter.com/uOFwTfoDmL

— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) September 15, 2019

Raphael Lagarde starred as Agen eased past Montpellier 29-10, scoring a crucial second try and kicking four penalties.

Valentin Saurs and Yvan Reilhac each went through in the first half for Montpellier, but Lagarde’s penalties meant Agen led at the interval, and he then touched down seven minutes after the restart.

Agen had been down to 14 men at that stage due to Jamie Taulagi’s yellow, but there was no way back and Benito Masilevu capped the scoring late on.

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