European Champions Cup: Brilliant Bath stun Toulouse in French thriller

Matt Banahan: Celebrates his try in Bath's momentous win

Bath produced a stunning display to maintain their hopes of reaching the European Champions Cup quarter-finals with a 35-18 win at Toulouse on Sunday.

Having lost their opening two Pool Four games, the English side looked set for an early exit from the competition but have rebounded in magnificent style, none more so than this crushing defeat of the record four-time European champions.

Matt Banahan, Chris Cook, Jonathan Joseph and South African Francois Louw scored the tries to give Bath a bonus point win that leaves them just a point behind the French side going into the final round of games.

Bath will host Glasgow, who trounced them 37-10 in Scotland back in October, while Toulouse will be away to Top 14 rivals Montpellier.

Like Wasps, who can qualify for the last eight with victory over Leinster next weekend despite losing their first two games, Bath would guarantee their quarter-final spot with a bonus-point win at the Rec.

They produced a devastating first half of attacking rugby, running from deep and creating panic in the home defence.

The hulking figure of Banahan finished off the first try after a sweeping move in the backs.

Yoann Maestri replied with a try converted by former England fly-half Toby Flood but scrum-half Chris Cook's 80-yard interception return stretched Bath's lead to 15-7.

Bath's players celebrate their victory in France

England centre Kyle Eastmond made a break that saw Jonathan Joseph score the visitors' third and George Ford's conversion and penalty gave Bath a 25-7 lead.

But Yoann Huget's try and Flood's penalty kept Toulouse in touch at the break, 25-15 down, although Bath blew the chance to secure the bonus point before the break when Ford dallied and Anthony Watson was held up over the line.

Toulouse came out pumped up after the break and they clawed their way back into the game, Flood landing his second penalty.

Only a magnificent last-ditch try-saving tackle from Ford, who held up France flanker Yannick Nyanga over the line, kept Bath in front.

There was then a heart-stopping moment for the visitors. They were knocking on the door inside the Toulouse 22, but No 8 Louis Picamoles picked off Ford's looped pass in a near carbon copy of Cook's try – but mercifully for the English team the France forward did not have the pace to go all the way.

It took them half an hour to rediscover their form from the first period but when they did, Bath went through the gears and produced a magnificent try.

Joseph picked up his own grubber in behind a high defensive line and then looped around the cover defence before shuffling the ball inside to Ross Batty to feed Louw to score.

Ford, who kicked 15 points, put the icing on the cake with a late penalty.