Lyon too good for Clermont

Editor

Lyon continued with their fine recent form when they edged out Clermont 19-13 in their Top 14 clash at Matmut Stade de Gerland on Sunday.

As the scoreline suggests, this was a close contest and both sides scored a try apiece with former All Blacks centre Charlie Ngatai crossing the whitewash for Lyon while Paul Jedrasiak scored Clermont’s try.

However, Jonathan Wisniewski was the home side’s hero as he contributed 14 points after slotting four penalties and a conversion. Clermont’s other points came via the boot of Patricio Fernandez, who added a couple of penalties and a conversion.

The result is a significant one for Lyon as it is their fifth successive win – after victories over Agen, Montpellier, Racing 92 and Stade Français – and it moves them into third place on the table, four points adrift of second-placed Clermont.

The match started brightly for Clermont, who opened the scoring via a Fernandez penalty but Lyon struck back with Ngatai’s try and a penalty from Wisniewski.

Clermont fought back bravely with Jedrasiak’s five-pointer which meant the sides were deadlocked at 10-10 at half-time.

The second half was an arm wrestle and Wisniewski’s goal-kicking proved crucial as he added three further penalties while Fernandez only managed to add one for the visitors.

[playbuzz-item item=”e24c5589-315a-4dc9-bc88-ec9b6e6a0b60″ info=”false” shares=”false” wp-pb-id=”56519″]

Earlier, Castres moved above Racing 92 into seventh position on the table – one point adrift of the play-off places – after claiming an 18-9 victory over the Parisian outfit at Stade Pierre-Fabre.

Neither side crossed the whitewash and Benjamin Urdapilleta led the way for the champions as he kicked six penalties. Racing’s points came via penalties from Ben Volavola (2) and Teddy Iribaren.

Photo credit: Official Lyon Rugby website