Defending champions Perpignan leap-frogged Clermont into top spot of the French first division Saturday with a hard-fought 19-3 home win over their rivals.
Perpignan scored three tries through Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, Gerrie Britz and Julien Candelon, the latter a result of outstanding teamwork that saw a forward breakaway diverted from a ruck and the winger crossing in the corner.
Outside-half Nicolas Laharrague also hit two conversions, with Clermont's sole points coming from a penalty by Australian playmaker Brock James.
Toulon went down 23-9 to Biarritz, leaving the latter's coach waxing lyrical about his team which surged up to third in the standings.
"That was our best match of the season, with our best rugby," said Jean-Michel Gonzalez.
"We showed that we knew how to make passes to score tries. We beat a great Toulon side by controlling our passion."
Toulouse remained in fourth spot after battling to a 9-9 draw with Stade Francais, who remain rooted in mid-table.
The home side's half-bak pairing Frederic Michalak (2) and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde both kicked penalties, while Lionel Beauxis hit a hat-trick of drop-goals for the visitors in a game Toulouse dominated for long periods.
But a doughty defence from the Parisian club ensured the spoils were shared between two of the league's giants.
Racing-Metro notched up a much needed 18-14 home win over Montpellier to end a run of four defeats that saw them hovering above bottom-placed Albi.
The build-up to the match had been dominated by the arrival in the French capital of outstanding Springbok back Francois Steyn.
And the Parisian public was not disappointed as he was rushed into action for the final half-hour of the game.
He was not, however, required to demonstrate his prodigious kicking skills as former All Black Andrew Mehrtens booted two penalties and a conversion, with lock Sebastien Chabal and Henry Chavancy crossing for tries for Racing.
"It's very different from South Africa," acknowledged Steyn. "We didn't start the match as we wished and didn't play as we wanted.
"We had some chances that would have put us clean away if we'd taken them.
"For my first game, I felt at ease on the pitch but I was a little disappointed with my own performance."
Bourgoin edged Montauban 15-12, the visitors' Benjamin Boyet hitting five successful penalties to four from Julien Audy.
On Friday, England fly-half Andy Goode, desperate to stake his autumn international claims in the face of stiff competition from rejuvenated, fellow French exile Jonny Wilkinson, endured an anxious conclusion to Brive's 11-9 win over Castres.
Goode kicked a first-half penalty and a drop goal to help his side to a 6-3 interval lead before backrow forward Vincent Forgues scored the game's only try early in the second half for a 11-3 lead.
Castres full-back Romain Teulet reduced the deficit with two penalties of his own before Goode missed a drop goal attempt as well as two penalty kicks in the last 15 minutes, forcing his teammates to hang on grimly for the victory.
In Friday's second match, bottom club Albi won their first game of the season at the seventh attempt, beating Bayonne 19-14.
Copyright 2009  AFP Global Edition
