A LATE fightback from Worcester Warriors fell short in the end as a strong Toulon side claimed a bonus-point win at Sixways in their European Challenge Club Pool A fixture.

Tries from Duhan van der Merwe and Harri Doel offered Worcester late hope of salvaging something from the tie but they were second best for most of the game to the three-time Heineken Cup champions from the South of France.

They scored their tries through former Warrior Cornell du Preez and Facundo Isa in the first-half and Gabin Villiere and Beka Gigashvili in the second before Worcester pushed late for something, but it came to nothing in the end.

Toulon go top of Pool A with the full five points, whilst Worcester's, who remain fourth, knockout stage hopes were dealt a blow.

The French side had not played a game in over a month due to Covid issues within the camp and in the first quarter it showed as they struggled to get a foothold in the game and two penalties from Warriors' Fin Smith had the hosts 6-0 up.

But then Toulon began to creep back into it and fly-half Anthony Belleau reduced the deficit after a dominant scrum from 22 metres out.

There was a lengthy stoppage in the 23rd minute as Worcester's Marc Thomas was stretchered off with a serious looking ankle injury.

Smith kicked another penalty to establish a six-point lead once more but then Toulon took a hold of the game.

A kick to the corner allowed them a driving maul and from five metres out former Worcester man Cornell du Preez crashed over, with Belleau's conversion giving the visitors a one-point lead.

Toulon were winning penalties and collisions by this point and with three minutes until half-time, they increased their lead as Facundo Isa crashed over after a cute offload from scrum-half Baptiste Serin in the 22.

The visitors extended that lead to 11 early after the restart as Belleau kicked over a penalty to make it 9-20.

It was a small mountain to climb on the scoreboard but physically Worcester could not cope with their opponents and a break from man-of-the-match Serin set-up another powerful scrum that allowed winger Villiere to scamper over in the corner, with the conversion from Belleau making it 27-9.

The bonus-point was secured with 20 minutes to play as replacement prop Beka Gigashvili bundled himself over the line from close range after yet more phases in the Worcester 22.

At 34-9 the result looked safe for the away side but out of nowhere, the ball found it's way to Duhan van der Merwe on the elft wing and he has enough room to sprint away and score.

Harri Doel intercepted in his own 22 before showing serious wheels to score under the posts to make it 23-34 with 13 minutes to play but depsite some huff and puff, Warriors could not find another score to at least take a point from the game.