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Chris Ashton set a new try-scoring record for a Top 14 season in a 32-17 victory for Toulon over leaders Montpellier and Oyonnax beat Brive in the battle of the bottom two on Saturday.
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Former England wing Ashton made history by scoring his 22nd try of an outstanding first campaign in France early on at Stade Mayol, racing away to dive over after taking a pass from Ma’a Nonu.
The ex-Saracens flyer bettered Napolioni Nalaga’s long-standing tally and set his side on the way to a triumph which leaves them eight points behind table-toppers Montpellier.
Semi Radradra, Mathieu Bastareaud and Facundo Isa also went over in the first half, with a converted Vincent Martin try all Montpellier could come up with as they went into the break trailing 29-7.
Gabriel Ngandebe and Kelian Galletier touched down after the interval for Vern Cotter’s men, but the damage had already been done.
#TOP14, J24 | #RCTMHR
@ChrisAshton1 (@RCTofficiel) détient désormais le record du nombre d’essais inscrits en une saison pic.twitter.com/irMAVVUDrA— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) April 14, 2018
Oyannax leapfrogged Brive in the table with a 40-17 victory at Stade Charles Mathon.
Ben Botica scored 20 points, including Oyannax’s only try of the first half, and Valentin Ursache claimed a second-half double as the home side enhanced their chances of avoiding the drop.
Oyannax are only four points adrift of Stade Francais, who suffered a 44-3 battering at Lyon, while Agen eased their relegation fears with a 33-22 win at Pau, Filipo Nakosi scoring a hat-trick, and Clermont Auvergne thrashed Bordeaux Begles 33-3.
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