London Irish suffered a 19-18 European Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat at Toulon after Paddy Jackson failed to kick a sideline conversion in the 76th minute.
A breathtaking late length-of-the-field solo try by teenage full-back Henry Arundell had given them a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The 19-year-old, who is qualified to play for England, Scotland or Wales, received the ball just in front of his own try line in the 74th minute at Stade Felix Mayol and slalomed his way almost 100 metres at devastating speed to dive over in the corner.
The incredible score hauled the Exiles back to within a point, but Jackson’s conversion attempt from the touchline to win it sailed agonisingly wide, meaning Toulon will now face Saracens in the semi-finals next weekend.
It was harsh on Irish who were outstanding for much of the first half, but Toulon gradually imposed themselves, with an opportunist try from flanker and captain Charles Ollivon on the hour mark ultimately making the difference.
Ollivon snuck through the middle of a breakdown for Toulon’s only touchdown, with the score ruled good after a TMO check.
Louis Carbonel’s conversion and a further penalty from the home fly-half, to add to a strike early in the second half, proved to be enough.
Irish will rue a yellow card for flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez in the 50th minute for a high tackle on Carbonel.
Jackson missed a straightforward penalty while the visitors were down to 14 men, but Ollivon scored before Gonzalez returned to the fray.
Declan Kidney’s side were deeply impressive for much of the first half after beginning the game with jolting intensity.
Irish intent was clear from an early stage when they planted two close-range penalties to touch looking for seven points rather than three.
Off the second of these, in the ninth minute, number eight Albert Tuisue rumbled over for the opening try from a thunderous rolling maul Toulon just could not repel.
It was an uncharacteristically error-strewn start by the French side. They were penalised at the set-piece and fly-half Carbonel and full-back Aymeric Luc were both guilty of kicking to touch on the full to lose their team territory.
There were 23 minutes on the clock before Toulon entered the Irish 22, but they did impose themselves more in the second quarter.
By half-time two Carbonel penalties – the second from the halfway line with the last kick of the period – had reduced the deficit to four points, but only after both sides had received yellow cards in the 35th minute.
Toulon scrum-half Baptiste Serin was booked for a shove on Australian lock Rob Simmons, while Irish hooker Agustin Creevy was also given time in the sin-bin for pulling the hair of Springbok lineout enforcer Eben Etzebeth.
In the end though, it was Toulon who won the battle on the scoreboard despite Arundell’s late moment of magic.
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