Try time: Brent Russell scores the first of Clermont's four
Clermont took provisional lead of the Top 14 on Friday thanks to a bonus-point win over Bordeaux while Toulon drew with Bayonne.
Biarritz continued their poor start to the season, losing at home to Castres, meaning the Basques have yet to win after three games.
Agen maintained their unbeaten record with a hard-fought win over Lyon while Perpignan battled past Brive in a try-less encounter on the Catalan cost.
Montpellier score their first points of the season after coming from behind to snatch a draw against Stade Français.
Results:
Agen 24-18 Lyon
Bayonne 12-12 Toulon
Biarritz 18-23 Castres
Clermont 34-6 Bordeaux-Bègles
Perpignan 12-9 Brive
Stade Français 19-19 Montpellier
To follow on Saturday:Toulouse v Racing Métro
Aviron Bayonnais 12-12 RC Toulon
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
The crowd at Stade Jean Dauger witnessed a true battle but were not treated to much high-quality rugby. Toulon will have to settle for two points in game they could have won at the death while Bayonne have yet to score a try this season.
Bayonne led 9-6 at half time and the scores were locked at 9-9 soon after the restart when Toulon fly-half Julien Humora added his third penalty in reply to Benjamin Boyet's three, all of which came within the first half-hour.
Boyet edged the Basques in front just after hour mark when his kicked bounced over off the upright. Dumora drew Toulon level with just three minutes left before Benjamin Lapeyre missed what would have been a match-winning penalty after the final hooter.
Biarritz Olympique 18-23 Castres Olympique
Parc des Sports d'Aguilera, Biarritz
Things go for bad to worse for Biarritz, who are still winless. Castres by contrast are the only team to win away from home on Friday.
The teams were level at 12-12 at half time but a try from Castres fly-half Rémy Talès, who also kicked a drop in the first period, proved the difference between the sides.
USA Perpignan 12-9 CA Brive Corrèze
Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan
Perpignan missed two golden chances to score in the first half leaving the teams all-square at 6-6 at the break.
The pattern continued in the second half and Mathieu Bélie levelled the scores again (9-9) on the hour to match Jerome Porical's three penalties.
A Porical penalty three minutes from time handed the hosts victory.
SU Agen 24-18 Lyon Olympique
Stade Armandie, Agen
Lyon led 13-9 at half-time thanks to a try from wing Franck Romanet.
A ding-dong battle saw Lyon's other wing Remy Grosso score the game's second try but Agen moved 21-18 in front with ten minutes to go as South African fly-half Conrad Barnard and his replacement Valentin Courrent kept the scoreboard ticking as the hosts maintained the pressure and forced LOU into mistakes.
Agen climb to provisional second in the standings while Lyon are last, although a losing bonus point represents their fist of the season.
ASM Clermont Auvergne 34-6 Bordeaux-Bègles
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand
Easy does if for Clermont. Four unanswered tries and a bonus point sees Les Jaunards take the provisional championship lea.
The hosts led 20-3 at the break and never looked troubled. Brent Russell scored in the first half before Fijina loose forward Noa Seru Nakaitaci, lock Loïc Jacquet and scrum-hald Kevin Senio added tries in the second period.
Stade Français 19-19 Montpellier HR
Stade Charléty, Paris
Stade Français will be kicking themselves as they allowed Montpellier back into the game after taking a ten-point lead.
Montpellier pick up their first points of the season to climb off the bottom of the standings.
In low-standard game, the Parisians led 13-6 at the break thanks to a try from centre Jonathan Danty.
Montpellier replied in the second period when Eric Escande scored a break-away try on the hour-mark
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