Clermont beat Montpellier 28-23, while there were also French Top 14 wins for Agen, La Rochelle, Lyon, Toulon, Bordeaux and Toulouse.
With Morgan Parra back in the No 9 jersey, Clermont were able to grab a crucial away win in Montpellier.
The visitors started strongly, taking an early lead thanks to a try from star centre Wesley Fofana, which was converted by Parra.
Three Ruan Pienaar penalties put Vern Cotter’s men ahead, before Parra kicked his first penalty to allow Clermont to take a narrow lead at the break.
The second half was tight to begin with, but the team on top of the table showed their quality with a 12-minute blitz from the 45th minute onward.
First, Damian Penaud touched down, before Camille Lopez kicked a drop goal. Parra slotted his second penalty, with Isaia Toeava also going over to open up a 17-point gap.
Montpellier hit back through tries from Vincent Giudicelli and Yvan Reilhac, both converted by Frans Steyn, but it was not enough for the home side.
Meanwhile, La Rochelle claimed an important 16-11 win against Racing 92, their fifth in a row, which allowed them to climb above their opponents into third place. Flyhalf Ihaia West kicked three penalties and converted their only try of the match, scored by centre Pierre Aguillon, to see the hosts home.
In other results, strugglers Agen stunned defending champions Castres with a 16-13 victory away from home, Lyon stayed in fourth by thrashing Pau 30-10, Toulon won their basement battle against Grenoble 22-3, Bordeaux climbed into the playoff places with a 22-11 win against Perpignan, and Toulouse beat Stade Français 49-20.
Round 11 results:
Castres 13 Agen 16
La Rochelle 16 Racing 11
Toulon 22 Grenoble 3
Montpellier 23 Clermont 28
Lyon 30 Pau 10
Perpignan 11 Bordeaux 22
Toulouse 49 Stade Français 20
Photo: Alexandre Dimou/Icon Sport via Getty Images
