Top 14 round-up

Defeats for Biarritz and Toulouse; Clermont up to second

Last updated: 15th September 2012  

Top 14 round-up

Karena Wihongi: Scrum battle in Castres

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The Top 14 standings were given a major shake-up on Saturday as Biarritz and Toulouse both lost, allowing Clermont to climb into second place.

Biarritz's four-game winning streak came to an end in Castres meaning Toulon are now four points clear at the top of the table.

Clermont needed a late try from Naipolioni Nalaga to beat Mont-de-Marsan, who are still without a point.

The big winners of the day were Racing, who claimed a crucial win on the road in Bayonne to break into the top half of the standings.

Agen bagged their first win of the season against Grenoble, who continue to surprise after claiming a losing bonus point.

In the Saturday's late game, Stade Français were sent back to the capital empty handed by Bordeaux-Bègles.

Earlier in the day, Perpignan thumped defending champions Toulouse in Barcelona.

Aviron Bayonnais 18-25 Racing-Métro 92

After being denied at the death in Clermont last week, Racing finally got their away victory on Saturday but they left it very late.

Bayonne led 15-12 at half time as the opposing place-kickers traded three-pointers.

After the scores were locked at 15-all on the hour mark, South African lock Francois Van der merwe crashed over the 12 minutes left to play to secure victory for les Franciliens.

Stade Montois 6-14 ASM Clermont Auvergne

It wasn't pretty but Clermont got the job done in the end to deny Mont-de-Marsan their first points of the season.

It was all square at 3-3 at half time and 6-6 going into the final ten minutes.

But Naipolioni Nalaga got Clermont out of jail with a try three minutes from time after Benson Stanely and broken through the home defence.

Castres Olympique 28-13 Biarritz Olympique

Biarritz were fianlly brought back down to earth. South African scrum-half Rory Kockott came off the bench to star for Castres, finishing with 16 points from a converted try and three penalties.

Biarritz led 13-12 at half time thanks to an early try from fly-half Julien Peyrelongue

The complexion of the game changed totally after the interval as CO upped the tempo and Biarritz were unable to keep up with given away penalties and yellow cards.

SU Agen 32-26 FC Grenoble

Agen finally get their first win of the season but it was close-run affair with Grenoble hanging on gamely.

Agen led 23-13 at half time but 23-23 after 53 minutes!

But the hosts could count on the reliable boot of Conrad Barnard, who came to the party with another 100 percent effort.

Union Bordeaux-Bègles 30-22 Stade Français Paris

Stade Français continued to struggle on their travels, Bordeaux-Bègles leading 12-9 at the break before pulling clear in the second half.

A late consolation try from Paul Williams gave the Parisians a whiff of a losing bonus point but a last-minute penalty from UBB ensured they leapfrogged above their visitors, whop are now a lowly 12th in the standings.

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