Bourgoin and Stade Francais compete for a lineout during their clash at the Stade Pierre Rajon © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Top 14 Orange

Teams: France | Toulouse

Toulouse cemented their place at the Top 14 summit with a 25-8 victory over Agen at the Stade Armandie on Wednesday night.

Fly-half David Skrela steered the Heineken Cup holders to their ninth win of the campaign with 20 first half points courtesy of six penalties and a conversion following winger Vincent Clerc's 17th minute try. The only points of the second period came from Agen flanker Ueleni Fono whose try along with an earlier penalty from fly-half Valentin Courrent added a little respectability to the scoreline.

Montpellier remain hot on their heels after holding off a second half rally from Biarritz to notch a 22-16 win at Stade Yves-du-Manoir. A try from fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc and 14 points from the boot of winger Martin Bustos Moyana gave the home side a commanding lead with a penalty from Julien Peyrelongue and a yellow card for lock Pelu Taele-Pavihi the visitors' only response.

But they rallied further after the break with the sin-binning of Montpellier centre Santiago Fernandez proving the springboard for a try from wing Ilikena Bolakoro. The score was converted by Peyrelongue who also added a penalty before Bustos Moyana struck back with one of his own. But a drop goal from centre Damien Traille in the final minute saw the visitors snatch a losing bonus point.

Racing Metro lie third after they battled back to claim a share of the spoil in a 6-6 draw with lowly Brive. A penalty from fly-half Mathieu Belie gave Brive an early lead that was cancelled out by Racing's Mirco Bergamasco. Belie edged his side ahead again soon after but Bergamasco struck again just past the hour mark to ensure a draw.

Castres kept the pressure on the leaders with a 25-10 victory over La Rochelle at the Stade Pierre-Antoine. A hat-trick from lock Joe Tekori powered the hosts to the win while fullback Romain Teulet finished the game with 10 points and a yellow card to his name. A second half try from La Rochelle winger Manoel Dall'igna offered hope of a comeback but fullback Benjamin Dambielle could only add another penalty to his conversion.

Clermont Auvergne recovered from a first half deficit to notch a 22-16 win against Perpignan at the Stade Marcel Michelin. A try from winger Julien Candelon and the kicking exploits of fullback Jerome Porical gave the Catalans a 13-9 lead at the break with fly-half Brock James keeping Clermont in touch. But they had the lead shortly after the break thanks to a try from centre Gonzalo Canale and the conversion and two penalties from James kept their visitors at bay.

Elsewhere, Bayonne leap-frogged mid-table rivals Toulon with a 20-9 victory at the Stade Jean Dauger. A try from winger Jean-Baptiste Peyras-Loustalet gave Bayonne a narrow lead at the break after Toulon's hopes had been dealt a severe blow following a red card for lock Jocelino Suta.

Scrum-half Cedric Garcia edged Bayonne further ahead in the second half with two penalties before Toulon flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe reduced the arrears with a try to add to two earlier penalties from fly-half Jonny Wilkinson. But Garcia struck twice more before the end to put the result beyond doubt.

Stade Francais heaped woe on basement side Bourgoin with a 26-16 the Stade Pierre Rajon. Two penalties from scrum-half Julien Dupuy and a drop goal from fly-half Lionel Beauxis put Stade in control before Bourgoin No.10 Alberto di Bernardo brought his side back within range. But two tries in six second half minutes from No.8 Sergio Parisse and centre Mathieu Bastareaud restored the visitors' dominance before Dupuy extended their lead. Replacement Ratu Nasiganiyavi notched a late try for the hosts but it was too little too late.