text: Wasps made an honourable and defiant exit from the Champions Cup on Sunday as they took the holders to the wire and may have clinched a seismic upset, but for a glaring official oversight. Dai Young’s side became the third of four English challengers to be dispatched from Europe’s premier event over a punishing weekend, but this was no meek capitulation. Despite the chronic inconvenience of losing Nathan Hughes to a contentious ban and Christian Wade to an untimely injury, the visitors raged gallantly against the dying of the light. Ali Williams crosses for a late try for Toulon as they put victory over Wasps on Sunday beyond doubt . New Zealander Williams rises to celebrate his try which came minutes after he should have been sin-binned . Wasps' Ashley Johnson attempts to bust through the wall-like defence of European champions Toulon . TOULON: D. Armitage, Tuisova, Bastareaud, Mermoz, Mitchell, Michalak, Tillous-Borde, Menini, Guirado, Hayman, Botha, Williams, Gordodze, S. Armitage, Masoe. Replacements: Orioli, Chiocci, Chilachava, Fernandez Lobbe, Wulf, Giteau, Claassens, Suta. Tries: Bastareaud, Williams. Conversions: Michalak (2) Penalties: Michalak (6) WASPS: Miller, W. Helu, Daly, Masi, Varndell, Lozowski, Simpson, Mullan, Shervington, Cittadini, B. Davies, Myall, Johnson, Haskell, Thompson. Replacements: Festuccia, McIntyre, Cooper-Woolley, Gaskell, Young, C. Davies, Goode, Leiua. Tries: Helu (2) Conversions: Goode. Penalties: Lozowski (2) Referee: George Clancy (Ireland) Toulon are back-to-back continental champions, awash with Test talent, but they were given a scare by their tenacious opponents — and even forced to adopt sly, illegal tactics to survive a second-half fightback. Seven minutes from full-time amid a cacophony at Stade Felix Mayol, Wasps launched a daring raid from their own 22 which eventually culminated in a second try for Will Helu, but it also featured a miscarriage of justice. Former All Black lock Ali Williams pulled back Elliot Daly off the ball as he ran clear in support of Joe Simpson. It was surely one of the most obvious offences of its type ever committed in the sport, yet Williams not only avoided a yellow card, but he was on hand to touch down three minutes from time for the try which distorted the final scoreline. Wasps were left battered and beaten, but richly deserving of the ovations from their pockets of supporters around the ground. Captain James Haskell’s work-load was worthy of three men and Andrea Masi also gave body and soul to the cause, while Simpson and Daly were outstanding. Toulon playmaker Frederic Michalak pulls the strings for the defending European champions . Wasps' No 10 Alex Lozowski kicks away from Michalak during their European Champions Cup quarter-final . Toulon fans celebrate after the opening try from their giant French centre Mathieu Bastareaud . CLERMONT v SARACENS, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, St Etienne, Saturday, April 18, 3.15pm (GMT) TOULON v LEINSTER, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, Sunday,     April 19, 3.15pm (GMT) There was a certain sense of inevitability about the outcome, but Wasps refused to accept that they were out-gunned, even when Toulon were able to summon the likes of Matt Giteau and Juan Fernandez Lobbe from their stellar cast of reserves. Young was delighted with how his side had performed, once they stopped being so deferential. ‘I’m really proud of the effort and the commitment,’ he said. ‘There was real frustration in the first half, because we gave them a bit too much respect in the first 30 minutes. We were a little bit frantic, a little bit panicky, but we will learn from that and I thought we played some really good stuff on occasions. I’m pleased that we were in it right to the end.’ Wasps defence descend on Toulon's Guilhem Guirado at the Felix Mayol Stadium on Sunday . Toulon speedster Delon Armitage makes a break for the defending champions . Lozowski makes a diving pass while his ankle is grasped by the Toulon player on the ground . Asked about Williams’ illegal tug on Daly’s shirt, Young added: ‘There were three people (in the ground) who didn’t see it… the referee and the two touch judges.’ Toulon went ahead when Mathieu Bastareaud blasted over the line from close range in the eighth minute and, as their pack took control, Frederic Michalak was able to dispatch five first-half penalties. The Top 14 leaders went into the break 22-6 up, but Wasps turned the tables as Daly scorched down the right to tee up Helu’s first try. Michalak’s sixth penalty appeared to settle the holders, but Helu touched down for the second time after another crucial intervention by the outstanding Daly. When Williams went over to quell the uprising moments later, it secured Toulon a semi-final against Leinster in Marseille, and left Wasps to head home craving another shot at this tournament next season.
target: Toulon beat Wasps in their European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final .
  Toulon and Wasps scored two tries each at the Felix Mayol Stadium .
  No 10 Frederic Michalak kicked six penalties and two conversions .
  William Helu scored two tries for the visitors in a gallant effort .
  They face Leinster for a place in the European Champions Cup final .
  Saracens earlier defeated Racing Metro 92 by 12-11 in a thriller .