Top 14 Round Six: Review

Biarritz claimed their first win of the Top 14 season while Agen caused the shock of the round by winning in Perpignan.

Dupuy helps Stade get the better of Brive; Bayonne end losing streak

Biarritz claimed their first win of the Top 14 season on Friday while Agen caused the shock of Round Six by winning in Perpignan. Biarritz came from behind at half-time to rumble to victory over Bordeaux-Begles. Not to be outdone, Montpellier also grabbed their first win of the season in a hard-fought battle with Toulon. Bayonne ended a four-game losing streak with a narrow win at home to Racing Métro, while in the capital, Julien Dupuy scored all of Stade Francais's points as they got the better of Brive. Elsewhere, Castres went top at least until Saturday, when Clermont put their perfect record on the line against Toulouse, thanks to an 18-16 win at Lyon, who are now bottom. Bordeaux 11-13 Biarritz Olympique
Stade André Moga, Bègles Five-time French champions Biarritz clinched their first win of the season with a gritty, forwards-inspired victory on their travels. After one draw and four defeats, the two-time European Cup runners-up were six points down at the interval before turning the match around in the second half. An early drop from 22-year-old full-back Camille Lopez and a penalty from Kiwi fly-half Gerard Frazer gave the hosts a 6-0 lead at half time. Jean-Pascale Barraque got Biarritz on the scoreboard after the restart from the kicking tee but Bordeaux centre Felix le Bourhis touched down just before the hour mark to move his side further ahead. The Basque pack dragged their team back into contention however, winning a penalty try and sending UBB prop Richard Davies to the sin bin. A second Barraque penalty was enough to secure the spoils though. Montpellier HR 19-6 RC Toulon
Stade Yves Du Manoir, Montpellier It wasn't pretty but last season's runners-up finally have on win in their account. The hosts led 6-3 at the break and generally dominated territory and possession. Fijian winger Timoci Nagusa grabbed the only try in the 56th minute with Argentine team-mate Martin Bustos Moyano kicking the other 14 points. Toulon's points came from the boot of former Springbok fly-half Andre Pretorius, who had a poor game. RCT continue to blow hot and cold and will have to go back to the drawing board after failing to create a single try-scoring opportunity. USA Perpignan 12-19 SU Agen
Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan Perpignan were finally made to pay for their sterile attack and poor discipline as they conceded their first home defeat of the season. Agen were ahead 13-3 at half-time thanks to a try from Aussie centre Junior Pelesasa. The hosts' cause was not helped by a red card handed to flank Gregory Le Corvec for headbutt in a scuffle after the half-time whistle. As usual, it was left to full-back Jerome Porical to kick the points for USAP, and his accurate boot pulled the Catalans back into striking distance and they laid siege to the Agen line in the closing minutes. But it wasn't to be and Jacques Delmas will have to settle for a losing bonus point. Lyon Olympique 16-18 Castres Olympique
Stade Matmut, Lyon Castres take the provisional lead as they continue their strong start to the season. All of Castres' points came from the boot with Pierre Barnard successful with five but South African import Rory Kockott put over the decisive penalty five minutes from time with his team trailing 15-16. It was all square at 9-9 at half-time and Lyon playmaker Regis Lespinas scored the only try of the game for the hosts but LOU were ultimately the victims of their own poor discipline. Stade Français Paris 28-17 CA Brive Corrèze
Stade Charléty, Paris Stade Francais maintained their unbeaten home record with captain Julien Dupuy scoring all of his side's points from a converted try and seven penalties. It was Stade's fourth home win of the season and the perfect response to the 34-8 mauling the Paris giants suffered at the hands of Toulon last weekend. The hosts had their noses in front at 15-14 at half time thanks to the accurate boot of scrum-half Dupuy, but their defence was looking as shaky as ever after wing Guillaume Namy and loose forward Petrus Hauman touched down for the visitors. The Stade Français pack got the upper hand in the second half though, setting up Dupuy for a try ten minutes from time. The Parisian scrum hammered Brive allowing Dupuy to secure victory from the kick-tee in the closing stages. Aviron Bayonnais 27-23 Racing Métro 92
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne Benjamin Boyet won the battle of the kickers as Bayonne second their second home win of the season. Fly-half Boyet got the better of opposite number Jonathan Wisniewski with eight penalties, leaving Pierre Berbizier's team failing to capitalise on scoring the game's only two tries through Fijian duo Josh Matavesi and Virimi Vatakawa. Racing took the early lead thanks to a try from centre Matavesi but three penalties from Boyet and Cedric Garcia drop gave Bayonne a 12-10 lead at half time. Two more Boyet penalties soon after the restart to stretch the hosts lead. Racing finished strongling with Vatakawa touching down with two minutes left on the clock to claim a losing bonus points for the visitors.