On-form Maqala fires Bayonne past Farrell-less Racing
WRAP: Fiji centre Sireli Maqala scored his sixth try of the season as Bayonne beat Racing 92 32-15 at home in the French Top 14 on Saturday.
Maqala’s second-half effort moved the Basques to third place in the table and placed him at the summit of the scoring charts for the season.
Racing, without the rested former England captain Owen Farrell, suffered their fourth defeat of the campaign and languished in 10th.
Bayonne led 13-3 at the break as veteran Argentina hooker Facundo Bosch scored a try and flyhalf Joris Segonds slotted a conversion and two penalties.
The hosts’ only score of the first half was a Nolann Le Garrec penalty, with the scrumhalf expected to be named in France’s November Tests squad next week.
Maqala’s contribution came after 45 minutes as he stretched to dot down before Argentina wing Mateo Carreras and Bosch’s replacement Lucas Martin put the home side 32-3 up with a quarter of an hour to play.
The only negative for Maqala’s outfit was their inability to hold onto the attacking bonus point.
Flyhalf Dan Lancaster, the son of Racing’s director of rugby Stuart, and scrumhalf Clovis Le Bail’s late tries denied Bayonne the chance to go just one point below second-placed champions Toulouse.
Bayonne’s uncapped Tongan-born prop Tevita Tatafu came through the game unscathed before a possible inclusion in Fabien Galthie’s squad for next month’s fixtures.
The 24-year-old Maqala’s good form is also good news for Fiji before they face Scotland, Wales, Spain and Spain in November.
All Saturday’s results:
Bayonne 32-15 Racing 92
Clermont Auvergne 55-33 RC Vannes
Castres 35-13 Stade Francais
Perpignan 29-26 Lyon
Toulon 30-17 Montpellier
Pau 14 Toulouse 22
