Three Ihaia West penalties gave La Rochelle a 9-0 half-time lead at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, but Damian Penaud's try just after the break got Clermont on the board.

The 2016/2017 champion was reeling 57 minutes in when Uhila was dismissed for a high tackle on Pierre Bourgarit, reducing it to 12 men soon after Peceli Yato and Etienne Falgoux were set to the sin bin.

A penalty try increased the home side's lead and although John Ulugia's score 10 minutes from time gave Clermont hope, it was unable to avoid a second defeat of the season.

Lyon closed the gap to four points with a 19-13 victory at Paris La Defense Arena.

Lionel Beauxis booted 14 points and Liam Gill scored a first-half try, ensuring Simon Zebo's five-pointer in the second half was not enough for Racing.

Perpignan has now lost seven out of seven after going down 12-9 at Pau, while second-bottom Agen suffered a 10-0 defeat at Toulouse.

Grenoble celebrated only its second triumph of the campaign, Adrien Latorre, Leva Fifita and Etienne Fourcade scoring first-half tries in a 28-25 win over Bordeaux-Begles.