Toulouse wins crucial match

Toulouse secured a 45-34 victory over Bayonne in the final game of the sixth round of the Top 14, reclaiming the top spot in the league standings. The match took place at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, where Toulouse had been leading at home until the hour of play.

Toulouse's early dominance

French champions Toulouse started strong, with Ugo Mola deploying an aggressive strategy to pressure Bayonne's defense. Cyril Baille scored the first try for Toulouse, finishing a carried ball, but Romain Ntamack missed the conversion.

Bayonne fights back

Bayonne, however, did not come to play the role of an easy opponent. After a long sequence of possession, Joris Segonds delivered a high ball to Sireli Maqala, who scored at the posts. Segonds then converted a grounding penalty by Dorian Aldegheri, giving Bayonne the lead.

Toulouse responds

Antoine Dupont helped Toulouse regain control by recovering the ball and advancing up the field to score a try. Romain Ntamack converted the kick, equalizing the score. Despite a penalty by Segonds and a try from Tom Spring, Toulouse maintained their composure.

Toulouse takes control

A quarter of an hour before halftime, Julien Marchand scored a try on a five-meter lineout, narrowing the gap. However, Toulouse quickly responded, with Marchand scoring a double and putting them back in front by four points, though the conversion was missed.

Toulouse's second half dominance

After the break, Toulouse continued their strong performance. Joshua Brennan scored the fifth try for Toulouse, converted by Romain Ntamack, extending their lead. Despite a yellow card for Tommaso Menoncello, Toulouse maintained their advantage.

Bonus point secured

With the numerical disadvantage, Romain Ntamack scored a try to secure the bonus point, converting it himself. Antoine Dupont added another try a little less than ten minutes before the final whistle, making it his second double of the season. Toulouse's victory solidified their position at the top of the league.

Bayonne's final effort

In the closing moments, Bayonne made one last push. Mateo Carreras showed his speed to score the eleventh and final try of the match, but it was too late. Toulouse won 45-34 with the bonus point, while Bayonne's three-match winning streak ended, dropping them to fifth place.