Heineken Cup: Jonny Wilkinson kicks Toulon to quarter-final win over Leicester Tigers
Jonny Wilkinson won a kicking duel with Toby Flood as Toulon edged out Leicester Tigers 21-15 in the Heineken Cup.
Last Updated: 08/04/13 10:44am
Wilkinson landed six penalties and a drop goal to Flood's five penalties, earning the French side a last-four showdown with Saracens at Twickenham on April 28.
Leicester raced into a 9-0 lead but paid the price for having to play 20 minutes with 14 men as Flood and later prop Dan Cole were shown yellow cards for deliberate knock-ons.
Toulon came on strong in the second half but could not find their way across the try-line due to some staunch Leicester defence and the result was not safe until the 80th minute when Wilkinson clinched it with a drop goal.
Scrum
Leicester dominated early on at the scrum and Flood was able to take advantage with three penalties in the first 18 minutes.
The visitors continued to force the pace until Flood was shown a yellow card in the 28th minute for slapping the ball down as Toulon looked to move wide.
While the Leicester captain was off the field, Wilkinson - Flood's mentor at Newcastle earlier in their careers - landed a pair of penalties to reduce Toulon's deficit to 9-6.
Flood pulled a penalty chance just wide straight after returning from the sin-bin and Leicester suffered a further setback before half-time when flanker Tom Croft was forced off with a back injury and replaced by Thomas Waldrom.
Tackle
Toulon came out firing after the break; a quick penalty double from Wilkinson moved them into the lead for the first time and only a superb tackle from Leicester wing Adam Thompstone prevented Mathieu Bastareaud barging over in the right corner for a try.
Bakkies Botha was held short of the line as Leicester's defence held firm under pressure and Flood was able to draw them level with his fourth penalty on a rare foray upfield.
But another sin-binning for a cynical knock-on, this time Cole was the offender, doomed the English side.
With Cole serving his 10 minutes, Wilkinson added two more penalties to take his tally to a perfect six-from-six and Toulon into an 18-12 lead.
And although Flood responded quickly with his fifth penalty, Wilkinson had the final say with a drop goal.