Bordeaux edge Bayonne to keep pressure on Toulouse

Bordeaux-Begles kept the pressure on Top 14 leaders Toulouse with a 19-14 victory over Bayonne on Saturday.

Toulouse, who are on 28 points and play away at Pau on Sunday, stand one point ahead of Bordeaux-Begles.

Bayonne paid the price for two yellow cards as the home side, in front of almost 33,000 spectators, scored tries through Matis Perchaud and Hugo Reus.

Guillaume Cramont and Alexandre Fischer hit back for Bayonne, but Bordeaux winger Hugo Avogadro went over in the 78th minute to seal the win.

"It's a huge relief," said Bordeaux captain Nicolas Depoortere, with English backrower Tom Willis producing a last-minute, game-saving turnover as Bayonne pressed.

"We knew their game plan, we'd seen their bench, and it worked out pretty well because in the second half we started to doubt ourselves, but we didn't give up.

"We kept the intensity very high, and that's what won it for us in the end."

Elusive Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo was again on the scoresheet as Lyon notched up eight tries in a bonus-point 48-25 thrashing of bottom club Vannes to go third on 23 points.

Italy hooker Giacomo Nicotera bagged a hat-trick as Stade Francais went sixth with a comprehensive 43-24 win over La Rochelle.

Clermont bucked a three-match league losing streak with a 37-30 home victory over Racing 92.

Racing are 13th in the table after their third successive defeat.

Racing scored three times, thanks to Fijian wingers Selestino Ravutaumada and Wame Naituvi, as well as Romain Taofifenua.

But an ill-performing lineout and a forwards game well contained by Clermont meant the Parisians were always on the back foot.

Clermont, with three tries disallowed by the video referee, still scored four through Kylan Hamdaoui, Pita Gus Sowakula, Nohem Ez Zahouany and Barnabe Massa, Kiwi fly-half Harry Plummer kicking 17 points including a crucial 72nd minute penalty.