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Top 14 leaders Clermont hang on to beat Montpellier
Clermont Auvergne held on despite a late Montpellier rally to claim a 28-23 win that extended their advantage at the top of the Top 14 table to eight points.
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Clermont appeared to be cruising with 16 minutes to go when 28-9 ahead, with Wesley Fofana, Damian Penaud and Isaia Toeava having all crossed in the opening hour.
However, Vincent Giudicelli and Yvan Reilhac scored Montpellier’s tries late on to ensure a nervy finish for the league leaders, who held on for their eighth win from their first 11 games.
France internationals Mathieu Bastareaud and Guilhem Guirado were among the try-scorers as Toulon staged a second-half fightback to beat Grenoble 22-3.
#TOP14 #MHRASM | J11
? L' @ASMOfficiel remporte une victoire précieuse à l'extérieur face au @MHR_officiel ! pic.twitter.com/8ANw5yaTmv— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) December 1, 2018
France internationals Mathieu Bastareaud and Guilhem Guirado were among the try-scorers as Toulon turned on the style in the second half to beat Grenoble 22-3.
Toulon were locked at 3-3 at half-time, but Bastareaud, Josua Tuisova and Guirado all crossed to ensure a relatively routine win.
Guirado’s score came two days after the France captain had revealed he would be joining Montpellier at the end of the season.
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La Rochelle moved above Racing 92 thanks to a narrow 16-11 success, with Pierre Aguillon the victors’ only try-scorer and Ihaia West slotting over three penalties.
Lyon’s success over Pau was more convincing as five players went over in a 30-10 victory.
Toby Arnold, Jean-Marcellin Buttin and Liam Gill all scored prior to the interval, while Virgile Lacombe and Charlie Ngatai added further tries after the break.
Andres Zafra Tarazona’s 78th-minute try earned Agen a dramatic 16-13 win over Castres.
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Benjamin Urdapilleta’s second penalty 10 minutes from time left Agen needing their first try to secure the victory and they got it late on as Zafra delivered a triumph for his team over the reigning champions.
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