Toulon suffer big chill in Castres

CASTRES, France (AFP) –

Toulon’s fly half Jonny Wilkinson kicks the ball during a top 14 rugby match against Castres at the Pierre Antoine Stadium in Castres, on February 22, 2013. French Top 14 leaders Toulon slumped to a 25-20 defeat at a freezing Castres on Friday, their sole consolation being the 15 points from Wilkinson’s boot salvaging a defensive bonus point.

French Top 14 leaders Toulon slumped to a 25-20 defeat at a freezing Castres on Friday, their sole consolation being the 15 points from Jonny Wilkinson’s boot salvaging a defensive bonus point.

Missing international stars such as Jocelino Suta, Mathieu Bastareaud and Frederic Michalak, who remain on Six Nations duty, Toulon also suffered for their indiscipline with prop Andrew Sheridan and hooker Sebastien Bruno both yellow-carded in the first half.

Castres were 19-9 ahead by the interval thanks to a 14th-minute try from winger Romain Martial and 14 points kicked by South African scrum-half Rory Kockott.

Australian centre Matt Giteau grabbed a 68th-minute try for Toulon, but by that stage Castres were already out of sight.