Mon 30 Jun 2008 | 05:09

Toulouse win the Top 14 final against Clermont

Seven years after their last championship title Toulouse lifted their 17th "Bouclier de Brennus" on Saturday. Toulouse won with a 26-20 victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Stade de France.

The losing

scored two tries from hooker William Servat and fullback

, and the ASM captain,

replied with two for Clermont. Toulouse edged ahead on 60th minute and put their Heineken Cup defeat to Munster behind them.

A relived Head Coach Guy Novs was proud of his teams performance, This season was so difficult. After our defeat in the Heineken Cup final, to have the will to come back and to win today against the favourites is fantastic. Im proud of my players and my staff, they have really given everything today.

Clermont couldnt hide their misery after suffering their ninth loss in nine finals. The 2007 European Challenge Cup winners had led the Top 14 throughout the season only to fall at the final hurdle. Clermont captain Aurelien Rougerie tried to find something positive in defeat:

Im of course very disappointed. When you believe in something all season and then it disappears, its very difficult to accept. Every season we improve. We need to stay positive. What happened is not a fatality, one day I will win the Top 14 with Clermont.

Time:

05:04