French Top 14 round six: Bayonne squeaks past Clermont Auvergne
Bayonne was able to sneak past Clermont Auvergne at home in Stade Jean-Dauger in their round six match-up over the weekend.
Bayonne won a close one against Clermont, as two strong French sides took to the pitch against one another in round six. The two sides remained in a tight defensive match-up throughout the 80 minute affair and Bayonne was only able to muster a six point
lead heading into halftime. After the break Clermont came back, to take the lead; however a late thrust by the home side earned them a close 18-16 win.
Recap
Clermont Auvergne got on the board first with a penalty in the eighth minute from centre Gavin Williams, giving his side a 3-0 lead.
Williams then knocked through a second penalty in the 20th minute, extending the lead to 6-0.
Bayonne answered back with a slew of points off the boot as Benjamin Boyet took control of the contest, hitting three penalties and a drop goal. The penalties came in the 25th, 30th and 38th minutes respectively, while the
drop goal found its way through the uprights in the 40th minute. The scores gave the home side a 12-6 lead heading into halftime.
After the break Williams answered back quickly for Clermont, with a penalty in the 45th minute, cutting the lead to 12-9.
The game had its first and only try in the 51st minute, courtesy of the guest’s winger Napolioni Nalaga. Williams put the conversion through to claim a 16-12 advantage for his side.
Bayonne answered back with their second drop goal of the night from scrum-half Cedric Garcia in the 54th minute cutting the advantage to 16-15.
The game remained separated by a point until Garcia hit Bayonne’s fourth penalty in the 73rd minute, claiming a hard-fought 18-16 win for the home side.
Analysis
Bayonne was able to go head-to-head with the best defence in the League and although they were unable to score a try, sound kicking paved the way to victory. Sitting at the top of the table Bayonne continues to make a living on defence and the ability to
score from the tee.
Clermont Auvergne now settles back into a 3-3 record, but still holds the League’s best defence with only 98 points-against so far this season. Moreover, at plus-33 they also hold the League’s second best point-differential. If Clermont can continue playing
their game throughout the course of the 2010-11 campaign they should finish in the top seven.
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