Clermont hit the top, Perpignan finally win

Clermont Auvergne moved to the summit of Top14 by beating Bordeaux-Begles, while Perpignan won for the first time on Saturday.

Clermont were a cut above Bordeaux in a 40-20 success, although the visitors’ hopes were hindered by a red card for Blair Connor in the 53rd minute.

Alexandre Fischer, Peceli Yato, Paul Jedrasiak and Alexandre Lapandry each scored tries and Greig Laidlaw was instrumental with the boot.

Toulouse can reclaim top spot by beating Racing 92 on Sunday.

#TOP14 #ASMUBB | J16
 Dans la confusion, l’essai de J. Gimbert (81′) a bien été accordé pour l’@UBBrugby face à l’@ASMOfficiel ! La transformation n’est en revanche pas passée.

Feuille de match : https://t.co/Qvv7LvXPzs pic.twitter.com/IMm3gHvFQk

— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) February 16, 2019

It has been a miserable season for Perpignan but at the 16th time of asking they finally earned a Top14 win in a 28-10 triumph at Montpellier.

Jean Bernard Pujol scored the visitors’ only try, while Enzo Selponi kicked 23 points in an expert display off the tee to give Perpignan that rare winning feeling.

Rudi Wulf and Noa Nakaitaci both dotted down as Lyon ran out 24-13 winners at fellow top-six hopefuls Stade Francais.

Toulon were narrow 33-30 winners over Stade Francais last time out in Top14, but it was another lacklustre outing in a 19-10 reverse at Agen this time around.

Tries from Antoine Miquel and Benito Masilevu coupled with nine points from Leo Berdeu’s boot had Agen 19-3 up and, despite Francois Trinh-Duc’s late consolation, Toulon failed to claw back the deficit, and they have now lost three of their last four league outings.

Rounding out the action, Castres earned a narrow 14-9 triumph at Pau.

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