Lyon go top after Stade Francais beat Montpellier

Lyon took over as Top 14 leaders with a 25-6 win at Agen after Stade Francais beat big-spending Montpellier 31-20 on Saturday.

Montpellier started the day at the top of the table, but suffered a second defeat of the season at Stade Jean-Bouin to slip down to second.

Big Fijian wing Waisea Nayacalevu scored two first-half tries and Tony Ensor added a third after the break as Stade secured back-to-back victories.

Montpellier, missing expensive recruit Aaron Cruden and Jannie du Plessis due to injuries, reduced the deficit to three points in the second half with converted tries from Bismarck du Plessis and Nemani Nadolo.

Stade were not to be denied in Paris, though, Jules Plisson taking his tally from tee to 16 points prior to Ensor scoring the final try of the game.

Lyon grasped their opportunity to take over at the summit, outscoring Agen by three tries to nil, extending their winning run to four matches.

Thibault Regard, Jean-Marcelin Buttin and Richard Choirat crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Agen only able to muster two Jake McIntyre penalties.

Bordeaux-Begles occupy third spot following a 30-27 victory over Toulon, while Brive claimed their first Top 14 victory of the season with a 27-22 success against Castres, and Pau were 19-16 victors at struggling Oyonnax.