Brive hold off Aurillac to stay top of Pro D2

Brive remain provisionally top of Pro D2 after surviving a late Aurillac fightback to claim their fourth victory in four rounds. The result extends the Corrèze club’s unbeaten start, while Aurillac have now lost three of their opening four matches.

Brive won 29-28 at Stade Jean-Alric, having led 19-9 at half-time. Yanis Charcosset and Gatien Massé scored their tries, with John Cooney adding 19 points from the tee. Aurillac responded through Ben Houston, Tedo Abzhandadze and Irakli Mtchedlidze, while Jake Strachan supplied 13 points with his kicking.

The hosts moved ahead late after Mtchedlidze’s try and a further Strachan penalty, despite the fly-half missing an earlier attempt that could have put Aurillac in front. Brive were also reduced to 14 men for the final stages after Samuel Maximim was shown a yellow card.

Cooney then settled the derby in the final minute of normal time. Aurillac were penalised for an offside infringement, allowing the Brive kicker to convert from in front of the posts and secure the narrow win. Brive’s lead at the summit is provisional, with Oyonnax and Provence Rugby able to move ahead if they win away on Friday.