GRENOBLE RETURNED TO winning ways in the Top 14 on Saturday evening with a 24-15 victory at home against Bayonne.
Head coach Bernard Jackman, backs coach Mike Prendergast and team manager Andrew Farley will have been pleased by the result as FCG secured seventh position in the league.
21-year-old Ulsterman Chris Farrell came off the bench in the 55th minute to make his third Top 14 appearances for the club in the centre, while scrum-half James Hart was an unused substitute as Charl McLeod’s strong form continued in the nine shirt.
Earlier in the day, Racing Métro secured an impressive 27-16 victory at home to Toulouse to move up to fifth position. Johnny Sexton was missing due to his jaw injury, but defence coach Ronan O’Gara would have been happy that his men conceded only one try.
In the Pro D2, Pau’s excellent start to the season shows no signs of abating after a 22-15 win at home to Dax on Saturday, the club’s fifth win from five fixtures.
Former Munster man James Coughlan was again a strong performer at No. 8 for Simon Mannix’s side, although it was centre Damian Traille who stood out as the game’s best player.
Elsewhere, ex-Ulster and London Irish wing Conor Gaston played 80 minutes of Aurillac’s 15-10 win at home against Carcassonne. Jeremy Davidson‘s men move up to seventh in the league thanks to those four points. Brian Hayes and Paddy McAllister remain sidelined, but Aurillac hope to have both back in action soon.
Dave Nolan made his third appearance of the season for Bourgoin in a 27-25 defeat away to Massy. The 26-year-old lock, an international at U20 level, moved to France from Connacht during the summer and is looking to nail down a first-team place.
Former Leinster and Munster back Eoghan Hickey came off the bench in the 66th minute for Massy, who move off the bottom of the table with the morale-boosting win at home.
Hooker Denis Fogarty played 60 minutes of Agen’s defeat in Perpignan on Saturday evening, a result that sees them drop to 14th on the league ladder. The promotion hopefuls will hope for a sharp upturn in form in the coming months after just one win in their opening five games.
In the final fixture of the weekend, Eddie O’Sullivan‘s Biarritz enjoyed a six-try 52-10 success at home to Tarbes. The Basques, who were relegated from the Top 14 last season, move up to fifth as a result.
