Skrela maintains Clermont's proud home run

PARIS (AFP) –

Clermont’s fullback Lee Byrne (2ndL) is tackled by a Biarritz player during their French Top 14 Rugby Union match at the stadium Marcel Michelin in the French center city of Clermont-Ferrand. Clermont won 19-12.

Veteran fly-half David Skrela kicked 14 points as Clermont defeated Biarritz 19-12 on Friday in the French Top 14 to maintain his team’s undefeated home record which stretches back to November 2009.

However, they were unable to clinch the bonus point which would have taken them above Toulon at the top of the table.

Clermont went into Friday’s game on a high after beating Scarlets and Exeter in two highly impressive European Cup outings that earned them two bonus points — the only club to do so.

But it was a far more restrained performance which got them past Biarritz on Friday.

Clermont were in front after just two minutes when Nao Seru Nakaitaci charged over for what proved to be the only try of the game with Skrela adding the conversion.

Skrela added three penalties while Biarritz got on the board thanks to penalties from Benoit Baby and Jean-Pascal Barraque, but the home side were in charge at 13-6 at half-time.

Clermont were quickly 16-6 to the good early in the second period thanks to two more successful kicks from Skrela before a dogged Biarritz stayed in touch at 16-12 when Baby and Julien Peyrelongue fired over a penalty apiece.

Skrela calmed Clermont’s nerves with another penalty late in the game.