The National Times - Toulouse claim summit at halfway point in Top 14

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Toulouse claim summit at halfway point in Top 14

SPORTS 29.12.2024

Toulouse claim summit at halfway point in Top 14 / Photo: © AFP

Toulouse returned to the summit of the Top 14 rankings on Sunday with a 38-23 home win against Stade Francais despite missing Antoine Dupont after the star scrum-half's late withdrawal through sickness.

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The reigning double champions took back top spot from Bordeaux-Begles and claimed the title of "autumn champions" as the French league reached its midway point.

First-half tries from Julien Marchand and Paul Graou gave Toulouse a 14-6 lead at the break against their Parisian opponents.

France international fly-half Romain Ntamack scored his first try of the campaign shortly before the hour as Toulouse then fought on to earn a bonus point win thanks to two further tries by hooker Peato Mauvaka.

Bordeaux-Begles had gone top on Saturday with a 21-17 win over third-placed Toulon, which took them to 45 points.

But Toulouse's bonus-point win moved them one point clear of the southwestern rivals after 13 rounds of the 26-match season.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Racing 92 were held to a 25-25 draw with 13th-placed Lyon and Perpignan beat La Rochelle 21-13.

P.Murphy--TNT

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