Late scores deny Le Bugue third win at home of the league leaders

Tyrosse 27 Le Bugue 20: Le Bugue left Stade La Fougère with a losing bonus point but looked set for more when they led 20-17 with 15 minutes to go. But a 71st minute try from Tyrosse scrum-half Julien Lesgourgues handed the pool leaders their eighth win in nine, and left les Chevalliers eight points adrift of the play-offs.

Our boys wasted no time getting off the mark, Tom Marks kicking a penalty in the first minute and responding to Thierry Dupré's levelling penalty to kick his first drop goal of the season after seven minutes.

Then it was all Tyrosse, hooker Jonathan Krieff being driven over for his fourth try of the season on 10 minutes, and kiwi winger John Rapana racing in to make it 17-6 on the half hour.

Les buguois bounced back at once, centre Neric Hervé and winger Aloisio Butonidualevu combining to put the Fijian over in the corner for his fourth try of the season.

The visitors took the lead 10 minutes into the second half, centre Cedric Gilbert equalling the try count and Marks adding the extras for a 20-17 lead. But with their home record in danger, Tyrosse responded, Dupré kicking a penalty for 20-20 on 65 minutes before a strong forward charge sent Lesgourgues in through the gap to win the match.

Second string: Tyrosse B 75 Le Bugue B 7

Also in Pool 6: Lourdes 14 Oloron 9; Langon 9 Graulhet 15; Perigueux 60 Vallée du Girou 13

Next up: Le Bugue vs Perigueux, Stade Gaston-Simounet, Bergerac, Sunday 13 December. Le Bugue's last match of 2009 is also the Dordogne derby, and a chance for revenge after their 12-17 defeat at Perigueux back in October. Perigueux sit in second place in Pool 6, and are the only team to have beaten Tyrosse this term. They arrive in Bergerac - Le Bugue have given up home advantage for the gate receipts - fresh from an eight-try win over Vallée du Girou that made them the top try scorers in the pool with 21, Renaud Delmas leading the way with four touchdowns.

Of more concern to Le Bugue will be Perigueux's defence, the meanest in all of Federale 1 with just four tries conceded in their nine matches, and all of them on their own patch. Expect them to try and keep it tight, while Le Bugue's new-found confidence and the form of Butonidualevu and his fellow backs could see them spinning it wide. Stade Simounet will no doubt be bursting at the seams to see if Le Bugue can take another step towards an unlikely play-off place before the month-long Christmas break.

The news Fed-lines: Carcassonne won the big clash at the top of Pool 4, beating Marseille-Vitrolles, Jonah Lomu and all, 23-10. In a physical battle, the unbeaten Audois picked up two penalty tries, and four points from their next match should see them become the first team into the play-offs. Beziers could join them after another five points from their eight-try win over bottom club Bedarrides, Anthony Tesquet contributing 23 points in a match reduced to 14-on-14 after Beziers flanker Anthony Martrette and Bedarrides hooker Guillaume Marquis took the rap for a 36th-minute bagarre generale.

There's a thrilling finish developing in Pool 5, where just a single point separates third from sixth place. Lavaur (4th, 21pts) staked their claim for a play-off place with a 26-21 win over leaders Valence d'Agen, while Orthez (3rd, 21pts) scraped past St Jean de Luz (5th, 20pts) 20-15, and Cahors (6th, 20pts), missed a chance to go third by conceding an injury time interception try to Christophe Benedetti at bottom club Morlaas to lose 34-28.

They can all still dream of promotion to Pro D2, unlike Epernay, who would need to win their remaining matches with bonus points just to finish fourth in Pool 2. Their latest reverse came at home to Montlucon as they lost 36-10, scoring their 100th point of the season but conceding their 400th and leaking their 58th try. As the next worst defence is Bedarrides on 32 tries, the Champagne club really are in a league of their own. We're calling it Federale 1.5.

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Fédérale 1 Pool 6 table: