Bordeaux-Begles closes in on French summit

WEEKEND WRAP: Bordeaux-Begles rested a dozen of the starters from last week’s Champions Cup quarterfinal, but still eked out a 26-22 win at Pau to cement their grip on second in the Top 14.

Pau took the lead three times, but the visitors kept hitting back.

One of the three holdovers from the European victory over Munster, France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, scored the crucial try by accelerating past the home defence to finish a dazzling 80-metre counter-attack after 68 minutes.

Irish flyhalf Joey Carbery converted to take his match tally to 13 points and put Bordeaux-Begles 23-22 ahead.

Mateo Garcia booted a 53-metre penalty in the last minute to ice the win.

Prop Sipili Falatea had scored the other try for Bordeaux-Begles after 48 minutes. Lock Jimi Maximin replied 10 minutes later to put Pau ahead for the last time.

Bordeaux-Begles moved a point behind their Champions Cup semifinal opponents Toulouse, who visit Stade Francais on Sunday, and stayed two points ahead of third-placed Toulon.

Toulon beat Clermont 31-24 in Saturday’s late game, rebounding from their elimination at European level by local rivals Toulouse in the Champions Cup last weekend.

Gael Drean, the top scorer this season in Top 14, was among the try scorers as Toulon remained unbeaten at home.

Fourth-placed Bayonne were losers by a point at struggling La Rochelle, who won for the first time since January 4.

La Rochelle ended a run of nine straight losses in all competitions by scraping a nervous 29-28 victory.

The hosts led 16-8 at half-time but seemed to be reliving recent collapses when they fell 25-19 behind after 57 minutes.

France captain Gregory Alldritt scored the crucial try when he battered over on 70 minutes, immediately after Bayonne had been reduced to 14 men by a yellow card for Facundo Bosch.