Clermont topple champions
Clermont lead the Top 14 thanks to a hard-fought 22-17 win over Perpignan at Stade Marcel Michelin on Friday.
Last Updated: 06/03/10 1:09am
Clermont took over at the summit of the Top 14 on Friday thanks to hard-fought 22-17 win over champions Perpignan.
The teams were level at 6-6 at the break after Nicolas Laharrague nailed his second drop goal just before the hooter in reply to a drop goal for Anthony Floch and a penalty from Brock James.
Clermont threw everything into their attack in the first 40 minutes but were unable to find a crack in the dogged Catalan defence.
The Top 14 champions were not over-extending themselves in attack in the first half, rather looking to play percentage rugby.
Intensity
In the second half however Stade Marcel Michelin saw the protagonists lay into each other at a level of intensity rarely seen.
The visitors drew first blood when hooker Marius Tincu finished off a fantastic line break by loose forward Ovidiu Tonita to put the Catalans up by five.
But the clash's first try only raised Clermont's game even higher as les Jaunards turned on the class. James reduced the gap with two penalties as the locals turned the screw.
Under the relentless pressure Perpignan lost Damien Chouly to a yellow card for cynically killing the ball before Floch scored a magnificent try for Clermont off the back of some tireless work from their pack.
James and David Mélé exchanged penalties as the visitors mounted a late rally but the evening belonged to Clermont, who took a small piece of revenge to two consecutive defeats to Perpignan, including last year's final.
