28 August 2009: Brive 9 Clermont 9. One for the place kicking fans as Orquera and James boot their teams to two points apiece

The mid-France derby ended in a bore draw as a kicking contest between Brive's Luciano Orquera and Clermont metronome Brock James ended three penalties apiece.

Brive had the better of the first half, leading 9-3 at the break, but it was Clermont who had the first chance, Anthony Floch, rather than James, missing a 40-metre penalty attempt after seven minutes.

Orquera opened his account with a 37-metre penalty on 17 minutes after Clermont pulled down a maul, and double his tally on 22 minutes when a long period of Brive pressure on the Clermont line earned another three points.

Clermont struck back three mintues later, James kicking his first penalty after Brive flanker Simon Azoulai was adjudged to have played the ball on the ground. But Orquera re-established the six-point lead with a superb 40-metre effort from the right of the posts, awarded when Jason White pulled the maul down.

Brive spent most of the last 10 minutes of the half in the Clermont 22, but had little to show for it, less so when Orquera missed his first attempt of the night on 38 minutes, although it was from a brave 45 metres.

Clermont started the second half stronger, and James made it 9-6 on 48 minutes from in front of the posts, before levelling the tie on 59 minutes with an easy 30-metre effort after Davit Khinchagishvili was penalised in a ruck.

A nervous last 20 minutes saw both teams put together good moves but a succession of knock-ons and poor passes from, among others, Clermont's Napioloni Nalaga, Brive's Gerhard Vosloo and les brivistes' England centre pairing of Jamie Noon and Riki Flutey meant that the score remained level.

Brive may be relieved to come away with two points after last week's humiliation at Toulouse. The result marks the end of Clermont's 100% record, but Brive see this as their local derby, and a draw won't seem a bad result on their return to the Auvergne. TV viewers may disagree...