Racing 92 beat Bordeaux-Begles to lead Top 14

Thirteen points from the boot of Dan Carter and tries from Dimitri Szarzewski and Alexandre Dumoulin secured a 23-18 victory over Bordeaux-Begles which moved Racing 92 to the summit of the Top 14 table on Saturday.

Three Simon Hickey penalties put a Bordeaux side who had won four of their previous five matches 9-0 up at Stade Yves du Manoir, but Szarzewski ploughed his way over just before half-time and Carter added the extras to reduce the deficit to 9-7 at the break.

Hickey made no mistake again from the tee to increase the visitors' lead, but Dumoulin crossed after good work from former New Zealand fly-half Carter and Brice Dulin.

Carter converted to put Racing in front for the first time, then added another three penalties to ensure six points from the boot of Lionel Beauxis were in vain as Racing took over as Top 14 leaders.

Clermont Auvergne are level on points with Racing, who are top because they have more victories, after beating bottom side Agen 33-16.

Three penalties from Burton Francis raised hopes of a surprise Agen win as they took a 9-0 advantage at half-time, but that proved to be a false dawn for the strugglers.

Camille Gerondeau scored two tries and Clermont were also awarded a penalty try, while Camille Lopez helped himself to 18 points to ensure Clermont avoided a surprise defeat to move up to second.

Rory Kockott scored all of Castres points but it was not enough to avoid a 25-21 defeat at La Rochelle, while Grenoble dished out a 42-17 hammering to second-bottom Oyonnax.

Brive fought back from 12-6 down at the break to edge Montpellier 19-18 in the final game of the day.