Biarritz on a roll

Try for Clermont: Alexandre Lapandry

Biarritz took a step towards safety with victory in Lyon on Saturday while Perpignan slipped closer to the drop zone despite claiming a losing bonus-point in Clermont.

With Toulouse going down to a shock loss in Bordeaux on Friday, Clermont now trail the leaders by a single point.

Castres Olympique 27-18 Montpellier HR
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres

Castres ended a three-game winless streak thanks to a great defensive effort to regain fourth place (synonymous with a home play-off) from their visitors.

Montpellier did most of the playing but failed to turn their territorial domination into points at crucial times.

Castres led 14-5 at half time thanks to a Marc Andreu try from turnover ball. Lucas Amorosino replied almost immediately for Montpellier but Romain Teulet's boot ensured the hosts held the advantage at the break.

Romain Martial's touchdown early in the second period gave CO a healthy lead despite struggling at scrum time.

Alex Tulou's try proved too little, too late for Montpellier, who head home empty handed.

ASM Clermont Auvergne 29-23 USA Perpignan
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand

USAP gave their hosts a real run for their money but ultimately paid for their indiscipline.

Clermont were made to work very hard to retain their unbeaten record at home (their 40th successive win at their fortress) against a combative Catalan side that are fighting for their Top 14 lives.

The result leaves Clermont one point short of the championship lead and USAP teetering on the edge of the relegation zone.

Perpignan were far cry from the side that has struggled all year and were rewarded with two tries for their aggression at the breakdown zone.

But in the end David Skrela's boot won the day for the hosts as he landed eight penalties.

Clermont took their opportunity despite a bruising start that saw their prop Lionel Faure and Perpignan hooker Charles Geli both yellow-carded for a second-minute punch-up.

Alexandre Lapandry scored early for Clermont but the hosts replied with a try from full-back Joffrey Michel to leave the scores at 17-13 to the home side.

Adrien Plante touched down to level matter early in the second half but Skrela kept the scoreboard ticking.

A late penalty from James Hook secured a vital losing bonus point for USAP, who face a relegation showdown with Bayonne next week.

"I am satisfied, especially by our tactics," said Clermont coach Vern Cotter.

"It was important to have that sort of commitment ahead of our European Cup quarter-final tie."

Lyon Olympique 17-34 Biarritz Olympique
Stade Matmut, Lyon

Biarritz will breathe a massive sigh of relief as the climb up to tenth in the standings with their third consecutive win.

Lyon on the other hand looked condemned to relegation.

The scores were locked at 10-all at half time and a repeat of the 15-all draw earlier in the season looked on the cards after LOU scrum-half Ricky Januarie score his first Top 14 try.

But in the second half the power of Biarritz's returning internationals came to the fore as skipper Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili both scored.Stade Français Paris 53-27 SU Agen
MMArena, Le Mans

Stade Francais moved into the play-off places on Saturday with a bonus-point mauling of Agen, running in seven tries in the process.

Argentine star Felipe Contepomi grabbed a brace, with Italian national skipper Sergio Parisse, Australian forward David Lyons, Aussie centre Morgan Turinui, French winger Julian Arias and Kiwi forward Aled de Malmanche also scoring.

The win put Stade onto 52 points, the same as fifth-placed Montpellier, and three ahead of Parisian rivals Racing Metro.

Despite the win, Stade coach Michael Cheika refused to accept that a play-off spot was guaranteed, especially with a match against defending champions and league leaders Toulouse up next.

"A place in the play-offs? We'll talk about that after the match against Toulouse who are a class above us," said the Australian.

RC Toulon 32-20 Racing-Métro 92
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon

Toulon look set to host a play-off after recovering from a slow start to consolidate their place in third spot.

Racing had led 20-19 at the interval but failed to add to their total as the home side stepped up the pace at once again impressed on defence.

French centre Henry Chavancy and Fiji winger Isireli Bobo scored tries for Racing in the space of seven first-half minutes with Australian full-back Luke Rooney crossing to keep Toulon in touch.

Jonny Wilkinson, who had converted Rooney's first half try, as well as kicking four penalties, was successful with two more penalties after the break as Toulon seized the lead.

Scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde stretched the advantage on the hour mark with his team's second try. Wilkinson again added the extras as RCT took control of the game.

Aviron Bayonnais 19-12 CA Brive Corrèze
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne

Bayonne are still alive! It wasn't pretty but at the end of a hard-fought 80 minutes the Basques are now just one point short of climbing out of the relegation zone.

Bayonne lie just behind Perpignan, whom they visit next week in what is set to be a massive clash.

A losing bonus point clinched in the dying minutes for Brive means they are four points clear of the drop zone.

The scores were locked at 6-6 at half time but the game was turned on it's head when Brive's Scott Spedding was sent off early in the second period.

The visitors' full-back was given his marching orders following a second yellow card (for offside) after he had seen yellow for a dust up with Bayonne flank Guillaume Bernad in the first half.

But Bayonne weren't able to build a decent lead until centre Lionel Mazars scored in the 74th minutes after Marvin O'Connor had broken through.