Harlequins hopes in balance after poor first half

Gael Drean scored Toulon's fifth try

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4

Toulon 33 (26)

Tries: Lucchesi, Serin, Abadie, Wainiqolo, Drean Cons: Serin (4)

Harlequins 21 (0)

Tries: Porter, Walker, David Cons: Smith (3)

Harlequins' hopes of making the Champions Cup knockout stage were dealt a blow as Toulon moved to the top of Pool 4 with a commanding victory at Stade Mayol.

The Premiership side were unable to recover after conceding four tries in a first half where the visitors were outmuscled by a physical Toulon side.

Quins trailed 26-0 at the break after the hosts punished them ruthlessly with two tries in quick succession while James Chisholm was sitting in the sin-bin.

Tries from Will Porter and Jack Walker closed the gap to 12 points but Gael Drean's dynamic finish clinched a deserved victory which ensured the three-time champions' place in the last 16.

Nick David scored with the last move of the match but the London side finished without a bonus point and are third in a tight pool with one round remaining.

Quins host Glasgow Warriors, who have already qualified, on Saturday while Sale, Racing 92 and Stormers will also be battling for the two remaining spots.

Ruthless Toulon punish 14-man Quins

Toulon made a perfect start, with hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi crashing over from close range in the second minute as the home side's forwards demonstrated their physical prowess.

Harlequins responded strongly and came within a whisker of a try but Cadan Murley was unable to ground the ball under pressure from former Northampton lock David Ribbans, despite an acrobatic dive for the corner.

The visitors continued to test Toulon - who lost prop Kyle Sinckler to what appeared to be a wrist injury in the 18th minute - but were unable to challenge the line.

Instead, the hosts pounced in clinical fashion. Scrum-half Baptiste Serin, the game's outstanding player, threw a huge dummy from the base of a ruck that fooled George Hammond and strolled over the line unchallenged with the Quins defence standing like statues.

Second row Chisholm was sent to the sin-bin for leading with his forearm in a carry, and Toulon made the most of their player advantage.

Flanker Esteban Abadie went over first, then wing Jiuta Wainiqolo grabbed a loose ball to secure the bonus-point fourth try and leave Quins facing a big deficit to turn around in the second half.

Harlequins upped the intensity after the break and Porter scored under the posts following a pass from Chisholm.

Walker finished from a maul to close the gap further, but a brilliant response from Toulon ended with Drean beating three players as he cut in from the wing to score the hosts' fifth try.

David touched down as the clock went red as Quins pushed hard to the end, but Toulon's celebrations started after Marcus Smith's conversion.

Line-ups

Toulon: Domon; Drean, Frisch, Sinzelle, Wainiqolo; Garbisi, Serin; Priso, Lucchesi, Sinckler, Halagahu, Ribbans (capt), Ludlam, Abadie, Isa.

Replacements: Ivaldi, Brennan, Setiano, Alainu'uese, Rebbadj, Coulon, White, Biggar.

Harlequins: Green; David, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Launchbury, Hammond, Chisholm, Kenningham, Dombrandt (capt).

Replacements: Riley, Jones, Kerrod, Cunningham-South, W Evans, Care, J Evans, Waghorn.

Sin-bin: Chisholm

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)