Leigh Halfpenny scored all the Blues points, including a second-minute try, but also missed nine points at goal in a mixed kicking display that cost his team.

Toulon backed up their win over Montpellier last week while Cardiff Blues' failure to secure any points from this tie leaves them fighting an uphill battle to qualify.

It had all started so well for the hosts who stunned the leaders of the French championship with a try inside two minutes.

Toulon, who included former Cardiff prop Gethin Jenkins, were tipped to give the Blues a tough time at the scrum, but the home pack held firm to give their backs a perfect platform.

Tom James burst past Vincent Martin before beating Delon Armitage with a scoring pass to Halfpenny, who grazed the outside of the post with his conversion.

Toulon responded by flexing their muscles up front and gained a penalty from a powerful scrum that Wilkinson swept over in the tenth minute. He added a second moments later to hand Toulon the lead but missed the chance to extend it on 23 minutes.

Cardiff then lost centre Gavin Evans following a heavy blow to the head suffered in a collision with Delon Armitage that the Arms park faithful took objection to.

Halfpenny missed on 32 minutes but Alex Cuthbert threatened and the full-back landed a penalty on just before the break to hand Cardiff a surprise 8-6 lead at half-time.

That advantage last only two minutes of the second half after Scott Andrews was penalised for a high tackle on David Smith and Wilkinson put Toulon a point ahead.
Halfpenny against let Toulon off the hook, missing a third shot at goal on 50 minutes after he slipped as he kicked.

In a game of few scoring opportunities, Wilkinson and Halfpenny traded further kicks before Toulon finally breached Cardiff's line on 64 minutes.

Replacement Pierrick Gunther broke through the heart of what had been a stubborn home defence. Matt Giteau stepped past one defender before Steffon Armitage stretched out to score.

Wilkinson converted and though Halfpenny's third penalty set up a grandstand finish at 19-13 in the final seven minutes, Wilkinson secured Toulon's win and denied Cardiff a losing bonus they felt they deserved.