Clermont kept themselves at the top of the Top 14 table after beating fellow semi-final hopefuls Perpignan 29-15 at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.

The win takes the league leaders five points clear of second-placed Toulouse, while Perpignan remain in the final semi-final place despite the loss.

Toulouse also won, defeating mid-table Montauban 28-6 at the Stade Ernest-Wallon

Stade Francais stay in third place despite losing 11-3 at struggling Brive. The win at the Stade Amedee-Domenech opens the gap between brive and the relegation places to seven points.

Castres missed the chance to put the pressure on Perpignan by losing 27-16 at Bayonne.

The side from the Pyrenees are now six points behind the Catalans with 56 points.

Biarritz's own hopes of snatching a place in the top four took a major dent after they lost at lowly Dax.

Dax grabbed a valuable win in their quest to escape from the relegation zone by beating the Baque side 17-12.

Albi heaped more misery on bottom club Auch by beating them 29-0. Auch are now 21 points from safety with five matches of the season remaining.

Eighth-placed Montpellier beat ninth-placed Bourgoin 12-6.

Eurosport