It was an uncomfortable victory though, after Lionel Nallet's try ten minutes from time made the score 27-23 before Brock James landed a late penalty.

All the action came in the second half. Castres floanker Alexandre Bias scored right after half-time, but that sparked the hosts into action, and first hooker Mario Ledesma and then lock Jamie Cudmore's scored tries to make the score 27-16 with 20 to play, before Nallet set up a nervy finale.

Elsewhere, Albi continued their good run of form, beating Agen 16-6 at the Parc Municipal to climb further away from relegation.

Narbonne beat local rivals Montpellier 32-9 in a south coast derby, heaping the pressure on Montpellier who look doomed to relegation in the year they are to move to a custom-built 20,000 seater stadium.

Wing Julien Candelon and lock Ludovic Michaux scored Narbonne's tries, and Cedric Rosalen added 22 points with the boot for the home team.

The pressure is also on Brive at the bottom, who suffered a rare home defeat to Montauban, 11-16.

Sylvain Jonnet scored the try for Montauban, with Sebastian Fauqué the hero with the boot. Terry Fanolua got a try for Brive, but the visitors were deserved winers.