Montauban lose at home

Montauban 19 Clermont Auvergne 24

Clermont Auvergne picked up their first points of this season’s Heineken Cup with a narrow victory in the all-French Pool One battle against Montauban.

Napolini Vonowale-Nalaga opened the scoring with a try for Clermont after only three minutes, Brock James converting.

Petre Mitu and James then exchanged penalties before Mitu closed the gap to one point with another two kicks.

Alexandre Audebert crossed for the visitors’ second try in the 25th minute, with James again adding the extras, but Mitu kept Montauban in touch with his fourth penalty.

The home side then took the lead for the first time 17 minutes into the second half when Mitu converted Antoine Battut’s try to make it 19-17.

Anthony Floch missed a penalty that would have put Clermont back in front, but they sealed victory five minutes from time thanks to Vonowale-Nalaga’s second try and James’ third conversion.