Great matches today, and Castres took number 1:
Quote:
Castres returned to the Top 14 summit with a 32-14 victory over Stade Francais at Stade Pierre-Antoine on Wednesday night.
This season's surprise package battled back from a 14-9 half-time deficit to record their 12th victory of the campaign and edge out Clermont Auvergne at the top of the table. A try from centre Geofffroy Messina and the kicking exploits of fullback Lionel Beauxis and fly-half Ignacio Mieres gave the Parisian side the edge with Romain Teulet keeping the hosts in touch with three penalties.
A yellow card for Stade replacement Rayno Gerber handed the initiative to Castres soon after the break and they soon capitalised wit a try from flanker Chris Masoe. Teulet turned the screw with the conversion and three further penalties and a converted penalty try set the seal on the win.
Clermont Auvergne failed to follow up their recent Heineken Cup exploits as they succumbed to a 33-24 defeat against Racing Metro. The hosts stormed into a 24-0 half-time lead thanks to tries from centre Henry Chavancy, fullback Dan Scarbrough and winger Sireli Bobo. But back came Clermont after the break with three scores of their own through replacement lock Lois Jacquet, centre Gavin Williams and fullback Anthony Floch. But Pierre Berbizier's side held on for the win thanks largely to the boot of fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski who finished the game with 12 points that helped lift Racing to third place in the table.
Toulon are another side on the up after their 31-19 victory over Montpellier at Stade Felix Mayol. First half tries from centre Mafileo Kefu and No.8 Fontunuupule Auelua put Toulon on course for victory but back came Montpellier with a try from Sakiusa Matadigo after the home side's Sonny Bill Williams had been sin-binned.
Rory Lamont crossed for Toulon's third try after the break to give his side some more breathing room before replacement flanker Oliver Missoup notched his side's fourth try. Felipe Contepomi's conversion took his personal tally to 11 points while a late red card for lock Jocelino Suta took some of the shine of their latest league victory.
In Wednesday night's other game, Brive continued their revival with a 19-14 victory at home to Montauban. Fly-half Fabrice Estebanez grabbed the home side's only try with the fullback Alexis Palisson weighing in with 14 points.
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http://www.scrum.com/francetop14/rug...ry/108620.html
The table now shows these top 6 who would advance if it remained:
1. Castres 60 pts
2. Clermont Auvergne 56 pts
3. Racing Metro 52 pts
4. Toulon 51 pts
5. Perpignan 50 pts
6. Toulouse 50 pts
French Top 14
French Top 14
