Top 14 Round 5 Review
Perpignan were the big winners on Friday, snatching victory in Biarritz to leave the Basque giants without a win this season.
Last Updated: 24/09/11 4:28pm
Perpignan were the big winners of Round Five on Friday, snatching victory in Biarritz to leave the Basque giants without a win this season.
Biarritz aren't the only team yet to taste success this term as last season's losing finalists Montpellier were also upset at home, going down to newly promoted Bordeaux.
As expected, Racing beat Lyon in an unconvincing display while Clermont had a tough time to get the better of Bayonne.
Luke McAlister converted his own try after the final hooter to give Toulouse a one-point victory in Agen.
Elsewhere, Castres edged Brive, who claimed yet another losing bonus point.
Biarritz Olympique 24-29 USA Perpignan
Parc des Sports d'Aguilera, Biarritz
Biarritz will be wondering just how they were unable to claim victory after spending almost their entire final quarter camped in the Perpignan 22m area.
Biarritz led 21-12 at half-time thanks to tries from prop Sylvain Marconnet and Fijian wing Ilikena Bolakoro.
But the Catalan visitors came back strongly in the second half, with loose forward Damien Chouly crashing over soon after the restart before Jerome Porical slotted his fifth penalty to give USAP the lead.
Perpignan wing Armand Battle scored on the hour mark before BO were refused a try by the TMO who could not see the ball under a pile of bodies.
It was all Biarritz in the closing stages but their impotence on attack was once again flagrant as they had to settle for last minute penalty to save a losing bonus point. They remain anchored to the bottom of the standings.
SU Agen 23-24 Stade Toulousain
Stade Armandie, Agen
Luke McAlister was the hero for Toulouse once again, scoring the second of his tries in the dying seconds before adding the conversion to hand Toulouse victory in a thrilling game.
Toulouse crusied to a 14-3 lead at half time thanks to tries from wing Yves Donguy and fly-half McAlister.
But Agen launched a magnicficent second-half comeback, profiting from Toulouse centre Florian Fritz's yellow card as Tongan loose forward Opeti Fonua scored a deserved try.
Conrad Barnard kept the scoreboard ticking and his late drop had the hosts 23-17 in front.
With home crowd already celebrating victory, McAlister broke clear to spring home and score under the posts from 80m out.
Montpellier HR 20-16 Bordeaux-Begles
Stade Yves Du Manoir, Montpellier
A great result for Bordeaux, who claim their second win of the season.
Deprived of their best players, Montpellier are unrecognisable from the team that made the final last season. They are joint last in the standings.
It was all square at 10-10 at half-time with former Bulls scrum-half scoring for Bordeaux.
But Kiwi fly-half Gerard Frazer was the hero for the visitors, converting his own try in the second half to finish with a tally of 15 points.
Castres Olympique 30-24 CA Brive Correze
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres
54 points and not a single try! All the points came from penalties. Castres won't be complaining as they consolidate their place in the leading quartet.
It was 12-12 at the break with Romain Teulet keep the scorebaord ticking for Castres in the first half before Pierre Barnard took over in the second period.
Mathieu Belie and Julien Caminati did the kicking for Brive.
Racing-Metro 25-12 Lyon Olympique
Stade Yves Du Manoir - Colombes (Paris)
After two losses, Racing got the job done but failed to impress as they were outscored two tries to one.
Despite dominating territory and possession, the Parisians needed five penalties from Jonathan Wisniewski to seal victory.
Racing led 16-7 at half-time thanks to South African loose forward Jacques Cronje's in the second minute.
Regis Lespinas converted his own try to keep the visitors in touch in the first half while Georgian prop Guram Kavtidze's added a consolation try.
