Rock-bottom Bayonne stun leaders Clermont
Bayonne registering their first win in almost three months, despite playing with 14 men for the entire second half.
Clermont were missing five first-choice players away on French international duty and Bayonne, on an 11-match streak without a win, seized their chance to record a first Top 14 victory since they downed Toulon 28-23 on August 21.
Skipper and flank Jean Monribot scored their only try in the 25th minute while Damian Penaud and Benson Stanley crossed for the league leaders.
Bayonne were reduced to 14 men after 36 minutes when Welsh prop Ben Borster was red-carded for a dangerous tackle.
Despite the loss, Clermont stay top with a five-point lead over Montpellier who saw off Lyon 25-20.
However, La Rochelle can cut the gap to a point if they defeat Toulouse on Sunday.
All Black Tom Taylor and Conrad Smith marshalled Pau to a convincing 26-17 victory over Racing 92 to snap a four-match Top 14 losing streak.
Taylor, capped three times by New Zealand and preferred at flyhalf to compatriot Colin Slade, kicked four penalties and converted Pau's two tries from Watisoni Votu and Baptiste Pourailly to guide his team to a much-needed win.
Racing managed a sole James Hart penalty in the first-half, before notching up two converted tries through Dimitri Szarzewski and Chris Masoe, also a former All Black.
"It's an important victory against opponents who wanted to play," said Pau coach Simon Mannix.
"It's a step in the right direction."
Racing, missing a raft of big names including Dan Carter, were left ruing their ill-discipline, lock Ali Williams having been yellow carded early in the game for repeated fouls.
Table after Saturday's matches (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points):
Clermont 11 7 2 2 327 233 4 36
Montpellier 11 7 0 4 250 195 3 31
La Rochelle 10 5 2 3 264 197 6 30
Bordeaux-Bègles 11 7 0 4 280 260 2 30
Toulon 10 5 1 4 251 210 5 27
Toulouse 10 6 0 4 210 199 3 27
Racing92 11 6 0 5 239 238 2 26
Castres 11 5 1 5 278 223 3 25
Brive 11 5 1 5 238 286 1 23
Lyon 11 4 2 5 231 259 2 22
Pau 11 4 0 7 231 269 5 21
Stade Français 10 4 1 5 254 260 2 20
Grenoble 11 2 0 9 236 350 5 13
Bayonne 11 2 2 7 167 277 0 12
Agence France-Presse
