Simmonds guides Pau to Top 14 summit with Bayonne win / Photo: Gaizka IROZ - AFP
Simmonds guides Pau to Top 14 summit with Bayonne win
English fly-half Joe Simmonds scored 22 points to lifted Pau to the summit of the French Top 14 on Saturday with a 47-24 success over in-form Bayonne.
Simmonds, 28, crossed for a try and kicked 17 points from the tee as Pau, promoted in 2016, won for a fourth time in six games this season.
Fiji centre Sireli Maqala dotted over for the Basque visitors, who had dominated champions Toulouse last Sunday but drop down from top spot to fifth.
Pau led 20-10 at the break, thanks to tries from Gregoire Arfeuil and hooker Lucas Rey as Simmonds contributed two conversions and two penalties.
Former Exeter playmaker Simmonds then added a further 13 points in the second half near the Pyrenees to make sure of victory.
Elsewhere, Stade Francais climbed to second behind Pau after Louis Carbonel's 81s minute penalty claimed a 26-24 victory over La Rochelle, who are struggling in 11th.
Maqala's compatriot in winger Jiuta Wainiqolo was also on the scoresheet, crossing twice as Lyon hammered bottom side Perpignan 44-19.
Castres held on for a 32-28 win at promoted Montauban while another exciting Fijian back in Vinaya Habosi crossed as Racing 92 held on to edge Montpellier 32-25.
Later, Clermont host a much-changed Toulon with Argentina pair Marcos Kremer and Bautista Delguy making their first appearances of the season for the home side.
On Sunday, there is a re-run of last season's final as holders Toulouse welcome Bordeaux-Begles, who have rested winger and the league's top try scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
D.Nelson--RTC
