Top 14: Saturday round-up
Toulouse scrapped to a narrow win over Montauban, while Perpignan's match in Bayonne was called off because of swine 'flu.
Last Updated: 29/11/09 11:03am
Toulouse scrapped to a narrow win over Montauban on Saturday, while Perpignan's match in Bayonne was called off because of an outbreak of swine 'flu.
Bayonne president Francis Salagoïty has launched an official protest with the LNR after the Basques' match with the defending champions was postponed at the last minute when three Perpignan players came down with the H1N1 virus.
Elsewhere, Brive finally found some form and romped past Montpellier in a morale-boosting win for the struggling big spenders.
On Friday, Castres moved five points clear at the top of the standings with a 34-6 win over Biarritz while Toulon edged Stade Français 22-18 in Paris.
Stade Toulousain 17-12 Montauban
After all Guy Novès' kicking and screaming, he still managed to line-up a starting XV packed with internationals. That said, Florian Fritz had to start at centre despite his knee injury and David Skrela came off the bench long before reaching full-fitness.
Toulouse dominated the opening exchanges, but Montauban were first to touch down when former Toulouse player Mathieu Bélie fed his half-back partner, Len Olivier, who scored after 23 minutes.
The visitors led 7-6 at half time but were down to thirteen men after Emanuel Etien and Mathew Clarkin were shown yellow cards. It didn't seem to matter though as Julien Laharrague scored in the corner after an attacking line-out.
With Novès throwing his toys on the touchline, Toulouse stepped it up a gear as Rémi Lamérat took Fred Michalak's pass to barge over from short range.
Michalak then put Toulouse ahead with a penalty before young Nicolas Bézy secured the game with a effort from halfway.
Montauban must settle for a losing bonus point, but it could have been much more but for their poor discipline.
Montpellier HRC 3-25 CA Brive-Corrèze
Montpellier's winning streak came to a grinding halt as Brive finally hit their straps. The scoreline is a little harsh on les Montpelliérains, who conceded two intercept tries in the final ten minutes.
A bonus-point win will do the world of good for les Brivistes as they look for some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone.
Alexis Palisson gave Brive a 5-0 lead at the break thanks to same fancy footwork from Nicolas Jeanjean.
The wheels came off the Montpol cart with ten minutes to play, however, when Fijian Viliame Waqaseduadua made the score 16-3 with an intercept try from half way.
With the home side in full attack mode, Palisson secured the bonus point in the final minute with another intercept try from 70m out.
Aviron Bayonnais P-P USA Perpignan
Bayonne president Francis Salagoïty is fuming. According to reports from France, he was only told the match would be postponed late on Friday.
The hosting club are not convinced that Perpignan are playing fair, pointing out that if the Catalan players had come down with the swine 'flu, they would have know about it at least 72 hours before.
Perpignan will now be able to play the match with all of their internationals back.
