Lyon bounce back in style to go top, Racing 92 continue fine form

Lyon bounced back from a miserable run of form to thump Bayonne 52-9 and move into first place in the Top 14 table.

Last season’s semi-finalists had lost five of their last six games in all competitions, including a dire defeat away to Castres last weekend.

But Lyon rebounded with style on Saturday, scoring an unanswered 35 points in the second half as they ran in seven tries in a one-sided match.

Hendrik Roodt dotted down twice, with Pierre-Louis Barassi, Dylan Cretin and Jean-Marcellin Buttin also going over in a dominant second-half display.

Lyon had earlier raced into a 17-0 lead inside 12 minutes with Patrick Sobela and Charlie Ngatai crossing, the hosts keeping their opponents at bay during two periods down with 14 men after yellow cards for Killian Geraci and Rudi Wulf.

Bayonne, who had Mariano Galarza in the sin bin when Cretin and Buttin scored late on, only had three Romain Barthelemy penalties to show for their efforts.

The bonus-point win moved Lyon two clear of Bordeaux-Begles, who have the chance to return to top spot when they play Pau on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Racing 92 made it four straight wins and jumped up from 10th to fifth with an entertaining 44-20 win at Brive.

Finn Russell scored the first of four first-half tries for Racing, who led by 16 at the interval – Camille Chat claiming a double.

They extended their advantage with two more scores in the second half, Teddy Thomas and Brice Dulin going over.

Beau clap de fin pour 2019 ! #RacingFamily #R92CAB pic.twitter.com/VnNtJyC05m

— Racing 92 (@racing92) December 28, 2019

Bottom-of-the-table Stade Francais followed up their win over Pau last time out with a battling 20-20 draw at Montpellier.

Handre Pollard looked like he had given hosts Montpellier victory with a 68th-minute try, which he converted himself, just after Stade’s Sekou Macalou had been sent to the sin bin.

But Joris Segonds was on target with a late penalty for the visitors, who are now just a point behind Agen.

KEO.co.za News wire is powered by opta