Top 14 Review: Champions Toulon extend lead with Clermont win
Last Updated: 29/11/14 10:01pm
In a battle of the French heavyweights, reigning Top 14 and European champions Toulon claimed a 27-19 victory over Clermont Auvergne in the day’s early kick-off.
Winger David Smith bagged a brace of tries and centre Maxime Mermoz also graced the scoresheet as Bernard Laporte’s men extended their advantage to five points over second-placed Clermont.
The visitors arrived at the Stade Mayol on Saturday knowing an upset would see them usurp Toulon and move to the Top 14 summit, but tries from No 8 Fritz Lee and centre Aurelien Rougerie were not enough for Clermont.
Racing Metro Paris kept pace with the leading duo with a 14-9 victory against Castres away from home.
Flanker Wenceslas Lauret scored the only try of the match and fly-half Johan Goosen kicked the other nine points as Racing downed hosts Castres, who only had three Rory Kockott penalties to their name.
Bordeaux Begles continue to slide down the Top 14 ladder after a 28-23 reverse at the hands of Oyonnax in Mathon.
Despite outscoring the hosts, two tries to one, with full-back Darly Domvo and centre Felix le Bourhis crossing in what proved to be consolation scores.
Oyonnax fly-half Ben Urdapilleta took centre stage, kicking seven penalties and converting Yves Donguy's 10th-minute try as the home side claimed a crucial victory.
Tempestuous
In a tempestuous affair, Lyon held on to claim a 23-20 win over Montpellier, despite picking up three yellow cards along the way.
Montpellier lock Tom Donnelly was first to the sin bin in the 12th minute when he conceded a penalty try, but Lyon suffered the same fate shortly after prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro saw yellow.
Coenie Basson and Juan Manuel Leguizamon also spent 10 minutes in the sin bin after the break, but the latter returned to score Lyon's second try before winger Mosese Ratuvou touched down the decisive score seven minutes from time.
La Rochelle and Bayonne remain at the lower end of the Top 14 spectrum after playing out a 19-19 draw at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
The hosts held a 13-6 lead at the break after being awarded a penalty try, which scrum-half Julien Audy converted before adding a penalty and fellow half-back Jules Lebail also slotted a three-pointer.
However, Bayonne fought back in the second period with No 8 Charles Ollivon racing home within five minutes of the restart with Martin Bustos Moyano adding the conversion and three more penalty to earn a share of the spoils for the visitors.
Grenoble are just one point behind Racing-Metro in fourth after a 25-22 win ended hosts' Toulouse's run of six straight victories in all competitions.
Watch Stade Francais v Brive live on Sky Sports 4HD from 11:25am on Sunday 30th November
