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Top 14 wrap: Round Three

Saturday 06th September 2008

Can't keep a good man down: Juan Martin Hernandez stared for Stade Français

Stade Français answered all their critics in the best way possible on Saturday with a convincing 26-11 away win over Perpignan while Bayonne created the upset of the weekend at home to Clermont.

Toulouse also made a statement of intent, beating Biarritz 20-6 in Toulouse on Sunday to bounce back from defeat at Montpellier and an unconvincing win over Dax last week.

What would the Top 14 be without upsets? Mont-de-Marsan proved all the cynics wrong once again by beating their far richer former ProD2 compatriots Toulon to record their first ever Top 14 win.

Stade Français' result on the Catalan coast sees the Parisians retain the lead of the Top 14, one point clear of Bayonne.

Elsewhere the much-anticipated clash between Brive and Castres was even closer affair than expected as France's middleweights battled out a 16-all draw.

Results:

Bayonne 17-6 Clermont
Perpignan 11-26 Stade Français
Brive 16-16 Castres
Dax 6-9 Montpellier
Montauban 18-14 Bourgoin
Mont-de-Marsan 25-18 Toulon

Sunday September 7
Toulouse 20-6 Biarritz

Table after Round 3

1 Stade Français 13
2 Bayonne 12
3 Toulouse 10
4 Montauban 10
5 Biarritz 8
6 Perpignan 8
7 Montpellier 8
8 Toulon 7
9 Clermont 6
10 Mont-de-Marsan 5
11 Brive 4
12 Castres 3
13 Bourgoin 3
14 Dax 2

Bayonne 17-6 Clermont

True to form, the Top 14 weekend kicked-off with an upset. It's early days yet, but with three wins from three games against quality opposition (Castres, Montauban and now Clermont), Bayonne are fast confirming their status as outside contenders for the Top 14 play-offs.

After laying the platform for victory with a massive performance up-front, Bayonne laid the killer blow with the game's only try from Jean-Baptiste Peyras, five minutes from time.

Clermont fans, who are used to their team playing brilliant, flowing, running rugby, must be starting to worry. Apart from not being able to crack the Bayonne defence with their once-formidable back-line, the Clermont pack were pushed around like we've rarely seen before.

Perpignan 11-26 Stade Français

After coming in for massive criticism for their below-par performance of a week ago, the Top 14 leaders bounced back to in the most convincing way possible. It was the first real test of the season for two of last year's semi-finalists, and Stade passed with flying colours.

The return of Juan Martin Hernandez (at fly-half) and Lionel Beauxis (at full-back) proved lethal. With the Parisian forwards dominating in the tight phases, Hernandez had the Catalan defence all at sea as he bombarded them with pinpoint up-and-unders and Beauxis finished them off from the kicking tee.

The visitors led 13-6 at half time thanks to two Beauxis penalties, a Hernandez drop and a try from wing Dave Vainqueur. Beauxis added another three-pointer after the break and wing Julien Arias also crossed the Catalan try-line.

A late try for centre Christophe Manas - to add to penalties earlier in the game from South African fly-half Steve Meyer and his replacement Nicolas Laharrague - was scant consolation for Perpignan who were outplayed in front of their home fans.

Brive 16-16 Castres

After defeats to Bayonne and Biarritz, Castres came breathtakingly close to notching up their first win of the season. But it wasn't to be as Brive's Fijian wing Norman Ligairi scored a late try to save a draw for the home side - their second in three games.

In pouring rain, neither side's performance was able to justify their lofty Top 14 ambitions. Despite having the better of the opening exchanges, Brive trailed for most of the game, as fly-half Andy Goode failed to capitalise on nearly half his opportunities from the kicking-tee.

A storming run from Samoan lock Josefa Tekori allowed Capo Ortega to score a 24th minute try for Castres, who led 8-6 at half-time. Castres fly-half Anthony Lagardère completed a brilliant solo effort to put his side 16-9 up with half-an-hour to play.

With both sides frustrated by the number of errors being made, the yellow cards weren't long in coming. The ref dished out three in total and being a man down eventually cost Castres the game as Ligairi scored with centre Lionel Mazars off the pitch.

Despite breaking the bank and shipping a boatload of new players, Brive have failed to impress so far and would not have needed the whistles from the home fans to remind them of the improvements needed before heading to Biarritz.

Dax 6-9 Montpellier

Montpellier will be happy to head home with an away win under their belts but with little else. A Mark McHugh penalty with ten minutes to play earned the visitors the victory that sees them claim a place in the top half of the table.

Dax's full-back and former Montpellier player David Bortolussi and visiting fly-half Federico Todeschini scored a penalty a piece in the first half. Todeschini and Dax fly-half Maxime Petitjean scored another each in the second period as neither side were able to excite the crowd in a mediocre encounter in sodden conditions.

After three straight losses, Dax seem unlikely to move themselves off the bottom of the table anytime soon.

Montauban 18-14 Bourgoin

A disappointing result for Bourgoin who are still winless and will have to be content with a third losing bonus point. Montauban owe their win to the boot of Fabien Fortassin, who scored all their points - five penalties and drop goal.

Three first-half penalties from fly-half Sebastien Laloo and a second-half try from loose forward Yann Labrit were not enough for Bourgoin, who fought valiantly until the final whistle.

Mont-de-Marsan 25-18 Toulon

Mont-de-Marsan recorded their first win in France's top division - and they thoroughly deserved it. Toulon's "stars" will have to be content with a losing bonus point.

In their first game at home this season les montois proved to be the more enterprising team in the battle of the newly-promoted clubs.

The sides scored a try each in the first half as the home side led 13-5 at the break. A Falconetti try early in the second period brought the visitors back into the game at 13-12 but another four penalties and a drop goal were enough to see Mont-de-Marsan home.

Toulouse 20-6 Biarritz

Toulouse were ruthless, and Biarritz barely stood a chance once Byron Kelleher had opened the scoring.

Perhaps it would have been different had Jean-Baptiste Gobelet's effort in the corner for Biarritz after five minutes had counted, but once Kelleher had touchd down under the posts, there was only one team in it.

Toulouse won both halves 10-3, and Cedric Heymans' late try secured a bonus point for the home side as well - wing Manu Ahetaeiloa scored the second after former Toulousain Valentin Courrent had reduced the gap to 10-6 with a penalty.