Joe Simmonds joined Pau in 2023

Paris (AFP) - English fly-half Joe Simmonds scored 22 points to lift Pau to the summit of Top 14 on Saturday with a 47-24 success over in-form Bayonne.

Simmonds, 28, crossed for a try and kicked 17 points from the tee as Pau won for a fourth time in six games this season.

Fiji centre Sireli Maqala dotted over for the Basque visitors, who had dominated champions Toulouse last Sunday but now drop down from top spot to fifth.

“We have to take the next step,” Pau centre Fabien Brau-Boirie said.

“We can’t keep telling ourselves we’re a small team in the league. We have to be confident in our ability,” the 19-year-old added.

Pau led 20-10 at the break, thanks to tries from Gregoire Arfeuil and hooker Lucas Rey as Simmonds contributed two conversions and two penalties.

Former Exeter playmaker Simmonds then added a further 13 points in the second half to make sure of victory.

Elsewhere, Stade Francais climbed to second behind Pau after Louis Carbonel’s 81st minute penalty claimed a 26-24 victory over two-time European champions La Rochelle, who are struggling in 11th.

Maqala’s compatriot, winger Jiuta Wainiqolo, was also on the scoresheet, crossing twice as Lyon hammered bottom side Perpignan 44-19.

Castres held on for a 32-28 win at promoted Montauban while another exciting Fijian back, Vinaya Habosi, crossed as Racing 92 held on to edge Montpellier 32-25 at home.

Later, Australian centre Alex Newsome took his tally for the season to four tries with a double to inspire Clermont to a 27-10 success over a much-changed Toulon.

Argentina pair Marcos Kremer and Bautista Delguy made their first appearances of the season for Les Jaunards but winger Delguy was forced off in the second half with concussion.

On Sunday, there is a re-run of last season’s final as holders Toulouse welcome Bordeaux-Begles, who have rested the league’s top try scorer, Louis Bielle-Biarrey.