Seven-try Lyon beat Pau, climb to Top 14 summit / Photo: Alex MARTIN - AFP
Seven-try Lyon beat Pau, climb to Top 14 summit
Lyon defeated Pau 51-25 in a clash of the early top two on Saturday to rise to the summit of the French Top 14 table, while Racing 92 charged back to beat La Rochelle.
Lyon dotted down seven tries at the Stade de Gerland to extend their perfect start to three wins in as many games.
After a dominant display at Racing 92, Karim Ghezal's men inflicted a first defeat this season on visitors Pau.
The two teams traded tries for much of the game but Lyon pulled ahead after Pau's Baptiste Pesenti was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Mickael Guillard after 51 minutes.
Pau scored four tries themselves, with Portuguese centre Rodrigo Marta touching down twice in a three-minute spell around the quarter-of-an-hour mark.
But Lyon stalwarts Jiuta Wainiqolo, Guillard and scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud all scored, with Adrien Seguret's late try securing a bonus point.
Last season's runners-up Montpellier notched their first home win of the season, 50-13 against Perpignan, as Bayonne blew hot and cold before seeing off Clermont 46-24.
Racing 92 bounced back after two dismal performances with a spirited 20-10 comeback win at La Rochelle.
The capital club were 10-0 down at the interval but turned the tide, sparked by a magnificent break by Max Spring to score a 52nd-minute try.
The visitors took the lead six minutes from the end, with Romain Taofifenua securing victory with their second try in the final minute.
Toulon fell 29-27 on the road against Castres, their third straight defeat.
Argentine fly-half Tomas Albornoz failed to convert a winning drop goal for Toulon after the final hooter.
L.Cattaneo--MJ
