toulon beat clermont to go top in france
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Toulon beat Clermont to go top in France

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Toulon beat Clermont to go top in France

RC Toulon's winger David Smith (L)
Paris - Arab Today

Reigning French and European champions Toulon defeated arch-rivals Clermont 27-19 to move top of the Top 14 on Saturday.
Clermont had held a three-point advantage over Toulon going into the top-of-the-table clash at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.
But in an intense game, Toulon prevailed largely thanks to three tries -- from New Zealand winger David Smith (14, 73) and Maxime Mermoz (37) -- with the France centre also instrumental in two decisive passes.
The clash lived up to expectations as the champions had trouble pulling ahead of a tenacious Clermont, who scored two tries from Fritz Lee (31) and Aurelien Rougerie (60), and only caved in following the second late Smith try.
"We were able to level the score during the first 20 minutes of the second half," lamented Clermont manager Franck Azema, whose side are now a point behind Toulon after 12 games.
"But then we suffered too much, we took knocks and we were too naive about certain defensive actions with several missed tackles."
Clermont, with 36 points, could be joined in second spot on Sunday by Stade Francais, who have 31 points and host Brive in Paris.
Toulon took the lead after less than a quarter-of-an-hour with a spectacular 40-metre sprint from Mermoz, serving wing Smith two metres from the line and he crossed despite pressure from Clermont's Jean-Marcellin Buttin.
Clermont got their hand on the ball with Lee scoring a try on the half-hour mark following a move initiated by Australian centre Benson Stanley to make it 10-8.
In response, Mermoz built on good work by the forwards and a long pass from scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde as Toulon led 17-8 at half-time.
Toulon seemed to lose their way just after the break, allowing Clermont back with Stanley breaking through and Rougerie crossing for a try.
With just one point separating the rivals at 20-19, a Steffon Armitage break, well relayed by Smith, led to the New Zealand winger's second try on 73 minutes, assisted on the inside by Mermoz.
A Nicolas Sanchez penalty and Smith's try closed down the tie as Clermont were hit by the late sin-binning of Julien Bonnaire for a dangerous tackle two minutes later.
The win is a boost for Toulon ahead of their upcoming European Cup clash at Leicester, as Clermont look to bounce back against Irish side Munster.
Elsewhere, Racing-Metro provisionally moved up to third place with 33 points, ahead of Stade Francais, after a 14-9 win at 2013 champions Castres.
Grenoble are just one point behind Racing-Metro in fourth after a 25-22 win ended hosts' Toulouse's run of six straight victories in all competitions.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, failed to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at home to Toulouse, losing 28-23 at Oyonnax, despite leading for most of the match.
Bordeaux failed to score in the second half and were in the end frustrated by Argentine centre Benjamin Urdapilleta who accounted for 23 of the hosts points, after Ivory Coast winger Yves Donguy had opened the scoring with his 11th minute try.
The visitors however went away with a bonus point.
Montpellier remain locked in their current crisis which resulted in forwards coach Mario Ledesma resigning, losing 23-20 at Lyon.
Fabien Galthie's side were deprived of victory through Fijian Mosese Ratuvou five minutes from time, suffering a fifth straight loss in all competitions.
They remain in eighth position with Lyon moving off the bottom of the table, to sit 11th ahead of La Rochelle and Castres.
In a bottom table clash, La Rochelle and Bayonne played out a 19-19 draw.
Source: AFP

 

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

toulon beat clermont to go top in france toulon beat clermont to go top in france

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

toulon beat clermont to go top in france toulon beat clermont to go top in france

 



GMT 14:55 2017 Thursday ,08 June

UAE Weather: Temperature may near 49°C today

GMT 08:44 2017 Saturday ,25 November

UAE weather: Temperatures dip to 6.9 °C

GMT 23:29 2017 Tuesday ,07 November

Al Tawosi is not angry for losing Throne

GMT 15:09 2017 Tuesday ,21 March

OECD: New Zealand's 'green' image under threat

GMT 07:26 2017 Tuesday ,07 March

Mai Omar happy for participating with Adel Emam

GMT 23:38 2017 Friday ,26 May

Mai Al-Khalili creates new

GMT 20:53 2017 Thursday ,09 November

Profits edge up for 21st Century Fox

GMT 05:32 2016 Sunday ,08 May

English Premier League results

GMT 16:52 2016 Wednesday ,25 May

Shoukry hails Canada's efforts in regional issues

GMT 12:49 2012 Wednesday ,11 January

Bangalore university to start course

GMT 11:32 2012 Saturday ,03 November

\'Militia attack\' kills 13 in Sudan\'s Darfur

GMT 03:16 2011 Friday ,14 October

All preserved as they were arranged 200 years ago

GMT 16:46 2013 Wednesday ,10 April

Inge Sempre debuts her Vapeur Motif Lamps
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice