TOP 14 HIGHLIGHTS: Clermont Auvergne Vs Union Bordeaux Begles
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A remarkable result for Bordeaux as they beat Clermont 36-37 after 90 minutes of rugby! Without some of their star players, Bordeaux hit the ground running early with two tries in the opening 10 minutes through Clement Maynadier and Romain Buros. Ben Botica missed both shots at goal before Lopez opened the scoring for Clermont in the 17th minute with a penalty. Botica missed another shot in the 20th minute. A late finish from Clermont in the first half saw them lead at the break as Lopez slotted another penalty in the 32nd minute and |Fritz Lee charged over the line just three mintues later. Lopez was accurate from the tee slotting the conversion for Lee's try as well as the one for Barraque just before the break after Peceli Yato's intercept saw Clermont score from their own 22. Maxime Lucu took over the kicking duties in the second half and was first on the board just two mintues after the break before slotting another on the 50 minute mark after Lopez's penalty. While it was Clermont who ended the first half superbly, it was Bordeaux who dominated the closing stages of the match. Jean-Baptiste Dubie finished a stellar Bordeaux try started by 20-year-old winger Nathanael Hulleu, who danced past a few defenders to sprint away into the Clermont half, with Dubie rounding out the try in his 100th game for the club. Lopez and Lucu traded shots at goal before Lee grabbed another try off the back of a maul to give Clermont a handy four point lead. A yellow card to Roumat and another three via the boot of Lopez looked to sink Bordeaux but the visitors did not give in. Lucu made it a four point game with four minutes to go before Bordeaux made a move for the win. Hulleu was the centre of the action again as he acrobatically finished in the corner only for the try to be dissallowed for Ben Lam stepping into touch in the build up. However, Hulleu would not be denied again as he dived over for his first try for the club and the match winner in the 89th minute, this time with Alverti Raka tackling him around the neck.