Toulouse took a five point lead in Pool 6 of the Heineken Cup after earning a massive 22-11 win over Leicester who are now in big danger of being eliminated.

The key phase of the game came midway through the second-half when Leicester had moved to within three points of their hosts and were enjoying plenty of possession in the Toulouse half.

However, they couldn't turn that dominance into points and soon after Vincent Clerc powered his way over the line while under pressure from three players for the key try that made it 19-11.

Toulouse started much the brighter but a Valentine Courrent drop-goal was all they had to show for their early dominance, and Leicester then went in front when Tom Varndell squeezed over in the corner.

However, Toulouse then created one of those expansive phases they are famous for which allowed Clement Poitrenaud to fly home for the French side's first try and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde extended the hosts' advantage to 14-5 with another drop goal.

An Andy Goode penalty before the break left the score 14-8 at half-time, and then early in the second-half the Tigers' fly-half made it 14-11 with another penalty.

As the rain started to pour down in the South of France the play got scrappier and that seemed to be helping Leicester who could sense a victory.

The Premiership side also got a favourable decision from the video ref when he decided that Seru Rabeni and not Clerc had downed the ball after Rabeni had almost been punished for misreading the bounce on a kick-through.

However, when Leicester had their spell of pressure they couldn't crack the Toulouse defence and Clerc's try knocked the stuffing out of them.

An Elissalde penalty seven minutes from time meant that Leicester needed a try to get a bonus point, but that never looked likely, and it is the French side who now look destined to top the group ahead of Leicester and Leinster who lost at Edinburgh on Saturday.

Seán Fay / Eurosport