Toulon 31-23 Saracens

Jonny Wilkinson scored 16 points as Toulon beat Saracens 31-23 in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The former Newcastle fly-half kicked four penalties and two conversions to condemn Saracens to their first defeat of the campaign in France.

Two tries from Gabiriele Lovobaluvu put the hosts in control going into half-time but three penalties from the boot of Derick Hougaard kept Saracens in contention.

Saracens got back in it with two tries in the second half but a Tom May try and Wilkinson's boot saw Toulon home.

The sides cancelled each other out in the opening stages of the match with only a penalty a piece from the boots of Hougaard and Wilkinson to show from a tentative first 15 minutes.

The hosts were starting to take control and had the lead for the first time midway though the first half when Wilkinson added his second penalty and was then involved as Toulon stretched their lead with the night's first try.

Wilkinson fed Christian Loamanu who burst through a gap before finding centre Lovobalavu who gathered on the second attempt and touched down. Wilkinson added the extras to make it 13-3.

From the kick-off an infringement at the ruck gave Hougaard the simple task of making it 13-6 with a penalty before Toulon grabbed another score in the corner.

Luke Rooney plucked a Wilkinson up-and-under out of the air before the ball was spun wide to Joe van Niekirk who released Lovobalavu to score his second try to make it 18-6.

Toulon's indiscipline at the breakdown was allowing Saracens back into the game and Hougaard's third penalty reduced the arrears to 18-9 going into half-time.

Two minutes into the second half and Saracens looked dead and buried as the French side notched their third try.

Loamanu grabbing another assist as he put May in the clear to stroll in under the posts. Wilkinson's conversion stretched the lead to 25-9.

Saracens were struggling to break down a tenacious Toulon defence and were unable to cope with the power of the Toulon forwards at the breakdown.

Another infringement at the ruck allowed Wilkinson to stretch the lead with his third penalty.

With 20 minutes to go the visitors finally breached the French defence to give themselves hope.

A rolling maul resulted in Wikus van Heerden barging his way over from close range with Hougaard adding the extras.

Saracens kept pushing but were being punished by continuous indiscipline at the breakdown. Wilkinson's left boot adding another three points to put Toulon 31-16 up with 17 minutes remaining.

The deficit was reduced to eight when Sebastien Fauque's pass was intercepted by Richard Haughton who sauntered in from the half-way line. Hougaard added the extras but it was all too little too late as Toulon picked up the win.