Ashley-Cooper steers Bordeaux to key win
The win lifted Bordeaux into sixth spot in the standings – the final play-off spot – three points ahead of Castres who have a game in hand.
The game was over before the hour mark as Bordeaux raced into a 17-0 lead.
Ashley-Cooper, the 31-year-old wing who joined the club in southwest France on a two-year deal after Australia's run to the 2015 World Cup Final, where they lost to New Zealand, opened the scoring in the 36th minute.
Set-up by a probing high-kick from Fijian fullback Metuisela Talebula, the Wallaby star was able to score in the corner, rewarding Bordeaux for their early pressure.
Simon Hickey added the extras and the New Zealand flyhalf was just as accurate two minutes after the interval to convert wing Sofiane Guitone's try.
Grenoble, with only pride left to play for this season, also scored two tries in the second half courtesy of replacement wing Armand Battle.
Remaining fixtures for the weekend.
Saturday, May 7 (kick-off times are GMT): La Rochelle v Montpellier (13.00), Pau v Clermont (13.00), Stade Francais v Oyonnax (13.00), Brive v Racing 92 (14.30).
Sunday, May 8: Toulouse v Agen (14.15), Toulon v Castres (19.00).
Top 14 table (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points).
Clermont 22 15 1 6 615 381 13 75
Montpellier 22 16 0 6 633 456 9 73
Toulon 22 13 0 9 630 387 16 68
Racing 92 22 15 1 6 474 437 6 68
Toulouse 22 12 2 8 528 332 9 61
Bordeaux 23 13 2 8 499 433 5 61
Castres 22 12 0 10 516 425 10 58
La Rochelle 22 10 0 12 475 492 9 49
Brive 22 10 1 11 409 450 6 48
Grenoble 23 10 0 13 555 652 7 47
Pau 22 9 1 12 358 558 3 41
Stade Francais 22 7 0 15 422 526 4 32
Oyonnax 22 5 0 17 365 705 2 22
Agen 22 4 0 18 450 695 5 21
Agence France-Presse
