Bayonne (AFP)
Lyon relaunched in the race for qualification for the finals, Saturday during the 18th day of the Top 14, by winning on the lawn of Bayonne (28-20), always penultimate.
Thanks to their fourth away victory of the season, after having already won in Toulouse, Montpellier and Agen, the Lyonnais put pressure on Toulon, sixth, which receives Racing 92 at 9:05 pm.
For its part, Rowing wasted the joker brought back from Mayol eight days earlier (14-16) and remains 13th and barrage.
The victory of Pierre Mignoni's men is quite logical as the LOU, more powerful and master of the ball, dominated often muddled debates.
The Basques were however ahead at the break (10-8) thanks to a test at the end of the line from Aymeric Luc just before returning to the locker room.
A lesson in realism to Rhone residents who had only been able to achieve their domination with a try from winger Xavier Mignot at the half-hour mark.
The LOU took back the entry controls of the second period thanks to a try from Thibaut Regard, before Jonathan Wisniewski inflated the score with a drop and a penalty.
The Bayonnais did not abdicate, however, and on their only major action in the second act, Arthur Duhau planted a try.
Their realism nevertheless came up against the coldness of the Lyonnais, who immediately reacted with a third attempt, signed Pierre-Louis Barassi.
From more than 50 meters, the Basque striker Gaëtan Germain tried to save the defensive bonus in stoppage time but in vain.
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