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Racing 92 were thrashed 40-17 at home by Clermont Auvergne in a scrappy Top 14 contest as their ill discipline proved costly on Sunday.
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A game of three yellow cards saw Racing pair Bernard Le Roux and Cedate Gomes Sa in the sin bin together for a spell, during which the visitors accelerated out of sight.
Following a first half in which Greig Laidlaw kicked 11 points to add to Camille Lopez’s drop goal and a Wesley Fofana try, Racing belatedly responded as Virimi Vakatawa crossed shortly after the restart.
The home side failed to build on that foundation, though, and Peter Betham scored while Racing were down to 13 men, before Damian Penaud added another prior to Gomes Sa’s return.
Fofana saw yellow, too, late on, but Simon Zebo’s last-ditch try counted for little on a miserable day for the hosts.
#TOP14, J2 | #R92ASM
?C'est fini entre le @racing92 et l' @ASMOfficiel !
Clermont s'impose largement à la Paris la Défense Arena. pic.twitter.com/2dhDR8X3ax— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) September 2, 2018
Newly promoted Perpignan are still waiting on their first win after going down 25-23 to an Agen side inspired by Jake McIntyre.
McIntyre scored 17 of his side’s points – crossing twice – and, although Karl Chateau responded to Sam Vaka’s try late in the first half, the visitors were left with too much to do.
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Enzo Selponi scored to close the gap just over 10 minutes from time, but Agen held on for their first victory of the campaign.
