JONATHAN SEXTON KICKED a flawless five kicks from five as Racing Metro recorded their fourth league win of the season to move within striking distance of the Top 14 lead.
The Irish outhalf kicked four penalties and a conversion for a 14-point return in Racing’s 19-16 victory over Bayonne. The win see’s the Parisien side move up to seventh in the table but only three points behind first placed Clermont.
Sexton landed two penalties in a low-scoring first-half at Stade Jean Dauger. A Bayonne response came courtesy of Martin Bustos Moyano and the half ended 6-3.
Two Bustos penalties turned the tables on Racing and saw them fall 9-6 behind. The Bayonne lead lasted a solitary minute as Racing a penalty from the restart and Sexton slotted it over.
Tongan international Lisate Fa’aoso powered over for a 53rd minute try and, after a lengthy video review, Bustos knocked over the extras. Once again, the visitors rumbled upfield with intent from the restart and earned another penalty. Sexton bisected the posts to make it 16-12 going into the final quarter.
Racing flanker Camile Gérondeau benefited from sharp play from Sexton as he finished off a sweeping move that featured another intelligent kick from the outhalf. Once again, video replays were needed but the try was given and Sexton kept up his 100% kicking record to make it 19-16.
The match-winning try from Gérondeau justified the decision of the 25-year-old’s coaches to start him at blindside ahead of the struggling Welsh international Dan Lydiate.
