Bristol Bears made a fast start on their way to winning their first continental trophy, touching down after just 15 seconds as they beat Toulon 32-19 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup final.
Harry Randall put the Bears ahead with the quickest try in any European final but three-time European champions Toulon led 16-10 at halftime.
Three penalties for five-eighth Callum Sheedy made it 19-19 before on-loan fullback Max Malins blasted through for the decisive try.
Wallaby Luke Morahan, formerly with Queensland Reds and Western Force, lined up for Bristol as they clinched Europe’s second-tier competition.
The Bears were a championship side as recently as 2018 but under Kiwi coach Pat Lam and with the backing of billionaire owner Stephen Lansdown they have become one of the strongest sides in England.
They could have another shot at silverware after discovering on Friday that they will play in next week’s Premiership final against Exeter should Wasps, who beat them in the semis, be unable to field a team because of positive COVID-19 tests.
“We were so calm and controlled when we were behind and we trusted the system and the process to get us over the line,” Bristol forward and man-of-the-match Ben Earl said.
“We were really strong and tight-knit this week after the disappointment of the Premiership semi-final last weekend.”
There is another Anglo-French duel in the European Champions Cup final on Saturday when Exeter take on Racing 92 in Bristol.