Clermont return to Top 14 summit with narrow Brive win

Clermont Auvergne moved back to the Top 14 summit on Sunday with a 26-21 victory over Brive in a hard-fought battle at Stade Amedee-Domenech.

Having lost top spot earlier in the weekend to Toulon, Clermont bounced back thanks to a crucial late try from Albert Vulivuli.

The Fijian centre escaped two tackles to race away and score the visitors' second try of the match with 20 minutes to play, giving them a crucial advantage that Brive failed to claw back.

A tense opening 40 minutes saw the boot dominate proceedings with Brive's Gaetan Germain kicking four penalties, while Morgan Parra scored two from the tee before converting Aurelien Rougerie's try.

Clermont's one-point advantage at the break was wiped out soon after the restart by another Germain kick, but Parra was just as accurate as the lead changed hands on a regular basis.

With an hour played the game's pivotal moment arrived for the visitors, Vulivuli breaking clear to touch down before Parra successfully kicked the extras to put Clermont 26-18 ahead.

Germain cut Brive's deficit with a 74th-minute penalty and, although the hosts continued to push for a late try, Clermont were able to hold on and climb back above Toulon and Toulouse.