Armitage stars as Toulon first into quarter-finals

Steffon Armitage scored a hat-trick as Toulon turned on the power and style in becoming the first side to reach the European Champions Cup quarter-finals following Saturday's 60-22 win over Ulster
The reigning champions earned a bonus point after running in eight tries through Nicolas Sanchez, Bryan Habana, Mathieu Bastareaud, Martin Castrogiovanni, Armitage's treble and Mamuka Gorgodze
Leigh Halfpenny kicked 20 points for the hosts while Ulster curiously managed an attacking bonus point with four tries of their own from Paddy Jackson, Mike McComish, Jared Payne and Lewis Stevenson
Meanwhile, Leinster kept the Irish knock-out hopes alive as they wracked up a bonus point from seven tries in their 50-8 win over sorry Castres.
But they face a tough finale next week at Wasps, who stunned Harlequins 23-3 at the Twickenham Stoop
The try-fest in Toulon -- 12 in total -- gave the hosts a five-point lead over Leicester, who got a bonus point in a 40-23 thrashing of Scarlets on Friday night, at the top of Pool 3.
As Toulon took five competition points compared to Leicester's four in the two games between the sides, the French champions cannot now be overtaken by the Tigers
"The mission for today was to qualify and take the bonus point. Now we'll savour it and prepare for the next match," said Toulon manager Bernard Laporte
Leicester will need to win away to Ulster in their final group match next weekend, and probably with a bonus point too, if they are to join Toulon in the last eight.
Ulster came into the match knowing that only an unlikely upset would keep their faint hopes alive and for the first half hour, they remained in contention.
Sanchez's converted try and a Halfpenny penalty were countered by a pair of tries from Jackson and McComish, leaving the score at 13-10 on the half hour mark.
But South Africa wing Habana finished off a sweeping backs move and burly centre Bastareaud did a double roll to cross the tryline as Toulon turned the screw to lead 27-10 at the break.
The bonus point try arrived on 49 minutes as Italy prop Castrogiovanni dashed down the blindside.
From then on, attacks were well on top with six more tries being scored.
- Leinster fate in own hands -
Leinster's quarter-final hopes rest in their own hands after four first half tries from Dave Kearney, Marty Moore, Eoin Reddan and Sean Cronin secured the bonus point before further second half scores from Tadhg Furlong, Darragh Fanning and Luke McGrath
They lead Wasps by two points in Pool 2 after the English side produced a clinical counter-attacking performance to damage Quins' hopes thanks to first half tries from Christian Wade and Joe Simpson
Quins are five points behind Leinster and three off Wasps but a bonus point win at Castres next week could yet keep them in the competition.
Clermont and Saracens will face off in France next week in a winner-takes all Pool A clash after both recorded victories.
"It was written in the stars beforehand, we knew it would be tough to get out of this pool," said Clermont coach Franck Azema
"We have a last 16 clash at home and we have to win it. Our destiny is in our own hands."
In London Saracens eliminated Munster with a 33-10 win that lacked the bonus point needed to draw level with Clermont, laboured 22-13 winners at Sale, in top spot.
Owen Farrell kicked three first half penalties for Saracens, who had the game as good as won by the break leading 23-3 after wings Chris Wyles and Chris Ashton both dotted down.
Munster centre Denis Hurley scored a surprise try while prop James Cronin was in the sin bin but Saracens made the extra man count with seven minutes left as Ashton crossed for his second try.
At Sale, Clermont fly-half Camille Lopez kicked 17 points and Fritz Lee scored a late try to finally break the hosts' resistence.
Things had appeared to be unravelling when Sale scored a penalty try to lead 10-6 on 50 minutes as Wesley Fofana and Jamie Cudmore were sin-binned in quick succession for Clermont.
But the 2013 finalists struck back and snatched a vital win.
Source: AFP