Cardiff Blues make history in Amlin Challenge Cup final

Jonny Wilkinson sustained an injury early in the second half

Cardiff Blues have become the first Welsh side in to win a European trophy after beating Toulon 28-21 in the Amlin Challenge Cup final in Marseille.

The Challenge Cup may be behind the Heineken Cup in terms of prestige, but the glamour of Toulon made for an enthralling spectacle with likes of Jonny Wilkinson on display.

Despite a partisan French crowd, Toulon were unable to cope with Cardiff in the second half despite the French side being largely superior in the early stages of the final.

New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams scored the opening try and Wilkinson kicked two first half penalties to earn the cash rich French club a 13-6 lead at the break.

Wilkinson, who moved to Toulon last year, sustained an injury five minutes into the second half with Tom May brought on as his replacement.

And it was May’s indecisiveness which led to a scrum five metres from Toulon’s try line where Cardiff worked a quick manoeuvre to allow Jamie Roberts put the Welsh club ahead.

A quick exchange of penalties then levelled the scoring at 16-16.

Cardiff’s second try came after a slick passage of play which saw Xavier Rush provide Leigh Halfpenny with the chance to touchdown and four minutes later the Magners League site added a third through Bradley Davies.