Top 14, r19: Castres beat Stade Francais  to reclaim the lead after Racing down Clermont

27 January 2010

Castres have reclaimed the Top 14 lead after coming back from 6-14 down to beat Stade Francais 32-14.

Their latest win saw them climb back above Clermont Auvergne, who had earlier came down from their Heineken high with a resounding bump as they crashed to a 33-24 defeat away to Racing-Métro 92.

Vern Cotter's decision to rest a handful of first-teamers backfired spectacularly, with Racing surging into a 24-0 lead after just 25 minutes thanks to tries from Henry Chavancy, Dan Scarborough and Sireli Bobo.

Fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski ensured the hosts got maximum return for their supreme opening by landing all three conversions (as well as a sixth-minute penalty) against the shell-shocked visitors.

Top 14 Table  / Top 14 leading scorers / Top 14 Results / Top 14 Fixtures / Top 14 Transfers

Francois Steyn then slotted a brace of penalties either side of half-time to put Racing 30-0 ahead before Clermont finally got on the board when Seremaia Bai slotted one in reply in the 50th minute. Jacquet Loic's try 10 minutes later - converted by Bai - reduced the deficit further before Wisniewski kicked another three-pointer to leave Racing 33-10 up with 15 minutes left.

A late rally then saw Clermont score two more tries in three minutes through Gavin Williams and recalled France winger Julien Malzieu, with Bai adding the extras on both occasions as 'Les Jaunards' fought back to within nine points. they continued to push for an unlikely defensive bonus in the final minutes, but Racing held out for an excellent home win that maintains their play-off hopes.

Castres kicked off two hours later than Clermont, so knew that a home win over Stade Francais would be enough to propel back into pole position.

Romain Teulet and Lionel Beauxis traded two penalties apiece in the opening quarter of an hour, before both then struck woodwork with their third attempts. Stade, who were looking for their maiden away win in the league this season, then gave themselves a boost when centre Geoffroy Messina crossed for the game's opening try on 30 minutes.

Scrum-half Benjamin Tardy missed with the conversion, but fly-half Ignacio Miéres pulled them 14-6 ahead at half-time when he landed a 38th-minute penalty.

Castres emerged re-energized after the break and were given a crucial advantage when Sam Gerber was sin-binned four minutes after the restart. Former All Black flanker Chris Masoe then rubbed salt in Stade's wounds by powering over from a close-range maul as he celebrated his new three-year contract with Castres.

Teulet kicked the conversion and followed up with three more penalties before the hour mark as the home side opened up a 25-14 lead as they began to take control of the match.

It remained like that until six minutes from the end when Castres' mounting pressure finally resulted in a penalty try for a collapsed scrum, with Teulet adding the conversion to seal the 32-14 win which lifted them back into first position.

Stade Francais, meanwhile, have now slipped to eighth position and are five points adrift of the play-off zone.

Toulon, however, bolstered their own play-off aspirations with a 31-19 bonus-point home win against Montpellier that lifted them (temporarily at least) up to fourth.

The home side made a dynamic start, scoring two tries in the opening nine minutes with centre Mafileo Kefu and flanker Fotu Auelua both going over, with fly-half Felipe Contepomi - deputising for the absent Jonny Wilkinson - kicking both conversions.

Two Fédérico Todeschini penalties brought Montpellier back within eight points and the visitors got further encouragement just before the interval when Sonny Bill Williams was yellow-carded for the hosts. Sakiusa Matadigo then went over two minutes later, and with Todeschini again on target it was 14-13 to Toulon at the interval.

Scrum-half Pierre Mignoni was forced off the pitch five minutes after the restart and Toulon then slipped behind for the first time in the match when Olivier Sarramea's 40m drop-goal put Montpellier into the lead.

Bit the visitors' joy was short-lived and Toulon's response was instant as Scottish full-back Rory Lamont then ran in their third try after good work from Fabien Cibray, Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Williams. Contepomi kicked the conversion and a subsequent penalty to make it 24-16 to Toulon and although Todeschini added another penalty of his own it was the home side which continued to dominate.

The Stade Félix Mayol then erupted as Olivier Missoup wrapped up a good evening's work by scoring the home side's fourth try four minutes from time - thus ensuring the attacking bonus - although Philippe Saint-André will be disappointed that lock Jocelino Suta blotted his copybook in the final minute by getting sent-off for a needless punch.

But the five points will be more important, as Toulon maintained their unbeaten home run and followed up impressively on their weekend quarter-final qualification in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Rejuvenated Brive were also victorious, beating Montauban 19-14 to make it five league wins from six as they continue to push for a top six finish.

Fly-half Fabrice Estebanez celebrated his first call-up to the France squad with an individual third-minute try that set Brive on their way, and fellow French international Alexis Palisson added the conversion.

But Montauban made light of their abysmal recent away record - seven successive league defeats - and powered back to take an 8-7 lead after Olivier's fifth-minute penalty and a subsequent try from Scottish centre Andrew Henderson.

Palisson and Oliver then traded penalties before the former edged Brive into a 13-11 half-time lead with his second success of the opening period. Both teams were down to 14 at the time following yellow cards for Godezi Shvelidze and Par Barnard.

The second half was a tighter affair, but Brive moved 19-11 ahead courtesy of two more Palisson penalties before Montauban secured a defensive bonus at the death after Cedric Rosalen's last minute penalty.

© Copyright FrenchRugbyClub.com. All rights reserved.