Bonus point key for hat-trick hero Ashley-Cooper
The Wallaby import ran in a hat-trick of tries for the second time since joining Bordeaux-Belges, following last year's World Cup.
The 32-year-old was making only his second appearance of the season for Bordeaux due to international commitments with Australia.
But having already run in a trio against Oyonnax last season, Ashley-Cooper was in scintillating form to dot down following a chipped pass from scrum-half Baptiste Serin just eight minutes in.
He then caught another kick from Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan on 17 minutes before benefitting from Serin's quickly-taken penalty to finish off a pass from Julien Rey just before the hour mark.
A fourth try from New Zealander flank Luke Braid ensured Bordeaux, who moved up to fifth, earned their first attacking bonus of the season – awarded for scoring at least three tries more than the opposition.
"We had a really good win, particularly gaining the bonus point," said the former Brumbies and Waratahs wing after Saturday's match.
"Last year we struggled to win with three-plus tries to enable us to get that bonus point, and that hurt us later on in the season.
"To be able to win and win well certainly helps the outcome and the result of the final six later on in the year.
"So to come away with a bonus point is a great achievement, particularly coming off a disappointing loss last week against Clermont [40-16].
"We turned it around, we worked well and trained well this week and were able to go out there and put it onto the park during the game, so it was good."
Bordeaux just missed out on the play-offs last season, finishing seventh and behind sixth-placed Castres only on bonus points.
Top 14 table (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points):
La Rochelle 6 4 1 1 183 131 3 21
Clermont 5 3 2 0 173 108 2 18
Castres 6 3 1 2 160 110 2 16
Montpellier 5 3 0 2 128 83 2 14
Bordeaux 6 3 0 3 135 133 2 14
Brive 5 3 1 1 120 120 0 14
Racing 92 6 3 0 3 140 153 2 14
Pau 6 3 0 3 129 144 2 14
Toulouse 6 3 0 3 114 132 1 13
Stade Francais 6 2 1 3 157 149 2 12
Toulon 5 2 0 3 128 127 3 11
Lyon 6 2 1 3 116 152 1 11
Bayonne 6 1 1 4 95 155 0 6
Grenoble 6 1 0 5 135 216 2 6
Agence France-Presse
