Biarritz slump to new low, Clermont stay perfect

Five-time French champions and two-time European Cup runners-up Biarritz slumped to their fourth defeat of the Top 14 season on Friday when a 29-24 loss to Perpignan left them bottom of the table. Biarritz had been cruising to a first victory of the campaign when they led 21-12 at the interval thanks to tries from hooker Arnaud Hegut and Fijian centre Ilikena Bolakoro. They were also aided by a first-half yellow card for Perpignan number eight Jean-Pierre Perez, which allowed them to score 16 points in an 18-minute spell. But Perpignan racked up 29 unanswered points after the interval, with tries from flanker Damien Chouly and winger Armand Batlle while full-back Jerome Porical kicked 19 points. A late penalty from Jean-Pascal Baraque cut the deficit but it was not enough for Biarritz, who have complained that their campaign has been dented by losing eight players to the World Cup, including influential French duo Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili. Biarritz and Montpellier both have just a point each but it is Patrice Lagisquet's side who prop up the division on points difference. Montpellier were beaten 20-16 at home by Bordeaux-Begles."We did some good things, but gave away too many gifts," said Lagisquet. "Is this crisis time? There are still 20 matches left, but it's painful. These are tough times." Clermont, the 2010 champions, stayed top of the table thanks to a tight 19-13 win over Bayonne that delivered a fifth win in five matches -- the league's only 100 percent record. Centre Regan King, a one-cap All Black, scored Clermont's only try with Australian fly-half Brock James kicking his side's other 14 points. Bayonne had taken the lead through a 16th-minute try from centre Thibault Lacroix. Champions Toulouse snatched a last-gasp 24-23 win over Agen to go third. Former All Black fly-half Luke McAllister scored his second try of the night as the clock ticked down and then converted his own score for a personal tally of 19 points. "We can be very proud to have a player of the calibre of Luke McAlister," said Toulouse back-row Yannick Nyanga. "We said what is he doing playing in Top 14 matches. His place is at the World Cup." Castres defeated Brive 30-24 with all the game's 54 points coming from the boot. Romain Teulet and Pierre Bernard shared Castres' 10 penalties, while Brive fly-half Mathieu Belie was successful with five of his team's penalties with full-back Julien Caminati adding three more.