James keeps perfect Clermont top in France - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

James keeps perfect Clermont top in France

18/09/2011 02:44:56 AM Comments (0)

Australian fly-half Brock James kicked 17 points as Clermont defeated Racing-Metro 22-11 to make it a perfect four wins in four matches to lead French Top 14 rugby on Saturday.

Defending champions Toulouse had temporarily deposed them on Friday with a 24-0 wipeout of Biarritz, but Clermont took advantage of poor Racing discipline to sink Pierre Berbizier's ambitious side.

Veteran New Zealand centre Regan King, who switched to France from Welsh region Scarlets in the summer, scored Clermont's only try in the 17th minute which Brock converted.

The Australian also nailed three penalties as well as two drop goals in the second period.

South African flanker Jacques Cronje scored Racing's only try in the second half with full-back Gaetan Germain kicking two penalties.

On Friday, Toulon gave coach Philippe Saint-Andre a winning send-off with a 27-16 victory over Bordeaux-Begles.

Saint-Andre, who will succeed Marc Lievremont as coach of the French national team after the World Cup, saw Julien Dumora kick seven penalties and Benjamin Lapeyre succeed with two.

Bordeaux scored the only try of the night when hooker Fabien Rofes went over five minutes from time, but the home side were undone by their indiscipline.

Saint-Andre leaves Toulon having fallen out with owner Mourad Boudjellal who reacted angrily to the 44-year-old's pursuit of the national job.

Former All Black fly-half Luke McAlister played a key role for Toulouse in their win over struggling Biarritz, scoring one of his side's three tries and adding a conversion and a penalty.

Stade Francais saw off Bayonne 33-18 while Perpignan were 19-12 winners over Montpellier.

All of Stade's tries came in a blistering first-half display with New Zealand winger Francis Fainifo crossing in the second minute, No 8 Pierre Rabadan adding the second on 12 minutes before Australian fly-half Paul Warwick scored the third in the 23rd minute.

Promoted Lyon clinched their first win of the campaign, 15-12 at Brive.

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