Paris (AFP)

Brilliance from Bordeaux-Bègles to Clermont: the leader of the Top 14 struck hard by winning Saturday 31-22 at ASM, finalist of the championship last year.

With 4 registered trials, the UBB starts even with the offensive bonus from Marcel-Michelin where the Jaunards have long remained in a circle on the lawn at the initiative of their captain Morgan Parra.

"We can not give 21 points like that," regretted the scrum half, at the microphone of Canal +, believing that the match was "captive". With this 7th setback of the season, the place of the Auvergne in the top 6 is threatened.

La Rochelle, beaten on the siren by the Stade Français (21-20) in Paris a week ago, was reassured against Toulon (17-12).

At the end of a tense match, the Maritimes preserved their invincibility at Marcel-Deflandre and consolidated their place in the top 6 thanks to an end-of-line test by Arthur Retière, released by the coaching staff of the Blues.

For his second return to La Rochelle - which he has coached for seven seasons - Patrice Collazo leaves him with the defensive bonus. A point that could count on the evening of the 26th day when two of the eight teams contending for the final phase will remain at the side of the road.

The Castres offered for the birthday of their trainer Mauricio Reggiardo, an 8-point mattress on the red zone by winning 26-16 against Pau, who never stops sinking.

This 7th consecutive defeat sent the Section to the last place. Even though the Bearnais were on the podium before the start of their dreadful series.

The fault for Agen's success in Brive (30-16) on Saturday, the second in a row away from home for the SU which abandons the red lantern label and even leaves the relegation zone for the first time since the mid-October at the expense of the Stade Français.

The maintenance mission promises to be laborious until the end for the Parisian club defeated 28-17 at Bayonne, a direct competitor who had not tasted victory since October.

Results of the 16th day of the Top 14:

Saturday

La Rochelle - Toulon (bd) 17 - 12

Bayonne - Stade Français 28 - 17

Brive - Agen 16 - 30

Castres - Pau 26 - 16

Clermont - Bordeaux-Bègles (bo) 22 - 31

Sunday

(12:30 p.m.) Lyon - Racing 92

(4:50 p.m.) Toulouse - Montpellier

© 2020 AFP