Toulon suffered a second successive home defeat on Friday night as they were beaten 31-36 by Racing-Métro 92, despite England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson kicking 26 points for the hosts.

Toulon were outscored by three tries to one, and indeed only managed a defensive bonus thanks to a 73rd-minute score from Juan Sebastien Lobbe and a massive 57m penalty from Wilkinson three minutes from time.

Until then it looked as if Racing would be going home not only with the win, but with an attacking bonus to boot after tries of their own from from Antoine Battut, Andrea Masi and Sireli Bobo.

The warning signs were there for Toulon right from the off as Racing won the first scrum with a huge push that resulted in a penalty and three early points from fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski. Wilkinson replied in kind in the sixth minute, but Racing surged ahead again shortly after when flanker Battut touched down for the opening try.

To make matters worse for Toulon they also saw fit-again skipper Joe Van Niekerk yellow carded for a high-tackle on Battut that the Racing man managed to withstand before scoring. Wisniewski's conversion made it 3-10 and the visitors stayed ahead for the rest of an error-strewn but pulsating encounter.

Wilkinson and Wisniewski continued to trade kicks up until the half-time interval, at which point Racing led 12-16 but were down to 14 men after Italian centre Andrea Masi was sent to the sin-bin on the half hour mark.

But Masi soon made amends after the restart and the international was on hand to finish off a superb midfield break initiated by full-back Benjamin Fall after a misdirected Wilkinson chip. Again Wisniewski kicked the extras, to leave Pierre Berbizier's side leading 12-23.

Wilkinson's unerring boot managed to keep Toulon in touch as he landed further penalty successes in the 45th, 48th and 55th minutes, but Racing then landed the killer blow when veteran winger Sireli Bobo ran back a 50m intercept for the Parisians' third try of the evening. Wisniewski, needless to say, added the extras to give Racing a 12-point cushion, and that was extended further when substitute Juan Martin Hernández landed a penalty to claim his first points for his new club.

Toulon threw everything they had at Racing in a late effort to salvage pride and flanker Juan Sebastien Lobbe eventually went over seven minutes from time after pressure at a 5m scrum. Wilkinson's conversion narrowed the gap to eight points and he then boomed over a 57m-penalty three minutes from time to at least earn them a defensive bonus.

But his sterling efforts could not prevent Toulon slipping to their second successive home defeat after having previously gone 18 months undefeated at the Stade Félix Mayol. It is the first time such a double reverse has happened since president Mourad Boudjellal took over in 2006, but he tried to remain upbeat despite this latest defeat.

"There wasn't much to make me smile," he admitted, "but we will go to La Rochelle next and try to take the four points there. I have confidence in the team at the moment and we are not going to draw too many conclusions because we have lost twice at home."

Racing coach Berbizier was understandably delighted by his team's performance after they registered their second win in three away games after a tough start to the 2010/11 campaign. "It's always important for a team to win at Toulon, a place where I haven't won very often. It's a great satisfaction for everyone," he said.

Berbizier's joy was also enhanced by the sight of seeing Hernandez in action in Racing's colours for the first time since his summer transfer. "It gives me a lot of pleasure, and I believe the team also," he added.