Clermont through to semis
Clermont's quest for a Top 14 title continues after they booked a semi-final against Toulon with a 21-17 win over Racing Metro.
Last Updated: 07/05/10 10:17pm
Clermont's quest for a Top 14 title continues after they booked a semi-final against Toulon with a 21-17 win over Racing Metro on Friday.
A flawless kicking display from Morgan Parra, including three penalties in the final quarter and after taking over from the profligate Brock James, took the Jaunards to the win in a tight, tense match at the Marcel Michelin.
James landed kicks in the fourth and 15th minutes to take Clermont into a 6-0 lead and it was one well-deserved as they laid on their usual expansive game. Napolioni Nalaga was introduced often, as was Julien Malzieu as the home side stretched the blue and white defence.
But there was no breakthrough and as James missed two further kicks, the crowd and players grew a little restless.
Racing made the breakthrough instead, after a break by Julien Saubade down the left and the ball was moved right. It was Jacques Cronje who got the ball to the line in the end. Jonathan Wisniewski - who also missed a shot at goal earlier on - missed the extras and Clermont took a slender one-point lead into the break.
Boomer
It got worse for the home side before it got better, with Wisniewski giving Racing the lead after the break and Francois Steyn landing a boomer from distance to make it 11-6.
Parra took over from an out-of-sorts James to reduce the gap to two, but Wisniewski once again made it a five-plint game with a drop goal.
Again Parra reduced the gap, but again Racing brought it to five, this time with a trademark monster drop goal from Steyn.
But the visitors were wilting. Anthony Floch's introduction gave the visitors too much to cope with and the penalties came thick and fast.
Parra landed one more, 15-17. The next gave Clermont the lead again at 18-17, also with a yellow card to Santiago Dellape.
Andrew Mehrtens came on to try and bring a territorial stability to the visitors and he missed a drop at goal with six to go, but then a high tackle by Steyn gave Parra another shot for posts. He didn't miss and there was no way Racing were going to score a try by this point.
