England fly-half Andy Goode kicked six points as under-pressure Brive hung on to beat Castres 11-9 at the Stade Amédée Domenech.

Goode marked his first start of the season with a first-half penalty and drop-goal as the Limousin club edged the first period 6-3. Flanker Vincent Forgues then scored the game's only try three minutes after the restart, but the home side  still had to withstand a nervous finale after Romain Teulet kicked two penalties in five minutes to leave it 11-9 with 20 minutes to play.

Goode missed a series of kicks thereafter as the hosts struggled to close out the match, with two more attempted drop-goals and a pair of penalties all failing to extend their lead.

Fortunately for the former Leicester man it didn't prove costly, except for allowing Castres to return home with a defensive bonus. But the most important thing for Brive was to win as they sought to stop a disappointing set of results which had seen them lose four and draw one of their last six games.

Over in Albi, meanwhile, there were tears of joy from the home side after the final whistle in their 19-14 victory over Bayonne.

Albi had gone into the match rock bottom of Top 14 with six defeats from six, but it proved seventh time lucky as they raised their game sufficiently to see of the Basques.

Fly-half Frédéric Manca was the home side's hero with four penalties and a conversion as he contributed 14 of Albi's 19 points. Scrum-half Kevin Boulogne got their other score with his 36th-minute try as they opened up a 13-3 half-time advantage.

Bayonne were clearly given a wake-up call by coach Richard Dourthe during the interval and emerged a different outfit as they sought to fight their way back into the contest. Cédric Garcia's 47th-minute penalty reduced the deficit, before Jean-Baptiste Peyras-Loustalet brought them within a point with his fourth try of the season just six minutes later after an excellent break from Craig Gower.

Garcia missed the ensuing conversion and a later penalty, but was on target again in the 61st minute as the visitors took the lead for the first time in the match. With 20 minutes to go it seemed Bayonne were set to register their maiden away win of the season, but two more Manca penalties in the closing stages ensured it was home joy when the final whistle finally arrived.

There was still time for prop Christophe Lafoy to see red after he picked up a second yellow card in the last minute - adding to his 11th minute sanction for punching - but Albi's joy was clear for all to see as the players thanked their delirious fans after the final whistle.

Their emotions were in stark contrast to Dourthe's, who was clearly incensed that his team had fallen to yet another away defeat - their fifth of an increasingly frustrating season for a side which last year pushed for a top six finish.