Arizona Tribune - Leicester, Saracens edge close to Champions Cup knockout round

Charlie Atkinson kicked 13 points while Jasper Wiese and Julian Montoya scored a try apiece in the Tigers' 23-16 win over Clermont.

Anthony Belleau kicked three penalties and a conversion for the French side with Sebastien Bezy scoring their only try.

Leicester's victory added to last Sunday's 23-17 triumph over Ospreys to give them eight points in Pool B, with a trip to Clermont and a home game against Ospreys to come.

"It's a productive two-week period as we will take two from two and we have a few players coming back now which will add to our strength," said Leicester director of rugby Steve Borthwick.

Three-time champions Saracens also made it two wins in two when they defeated Lyon 28-20 in France despite being reduced to 14 men after prop Alec Clarey was red-carded for a dangerous tackle.

Scotland winger Sean Maitland paved the way for victory by finishing off a length of the field try as Saracens maintained their perfect start after defeating Edinburgh 30-26 last week.

Edinburgh held on to edge tenacious but error-prone Castres 31-20 while Exeter gained their second win by crushing the visiting Bulls 44-14.

- 'Pitch up physically' -

"You have to pitch up physically against the French sides, and I thought we did that," Edinburgh flanker Luke Crosbie told broadcasters BT.

Edinburgh took the lead when No. 8 Viliame Mata powered over from a tap penalty under the posts.

Pierre Colonna replied with a rampaging try. The Castres hooker threw in to a lineout and when the ball rebounded to him, turned and scattered Edinburgh backs as he charged over the line.

Julien Blanc finished off a passing move to give Castres the lead but fullback Julien Dumora missed both conversions.

Edinburgh went in at half time a point ahead after a 35th minute penalty try.

Replacement fly-half Charlie Savala increased the lead to eight, racing through a gap in the Castres defence seven minutes into the second half.

Castres then gave Edinburgh a gift. Winger Martin Laveau stumbled behind his own line as he stooped to touch the ball dead and scrum half Ben Vellacott pounced, gleefully touching down for an Edinburgh try.

Adrien Seguret responded withing a minute for Castres but Emiliano Boffelli kicked a late penalty to stretch Edinburgh's final lead to 11

In Exeter, the home team rebounded from an early Bulls try with 39 unanswered points.

Winger Stravino Jacobs ran in untouched from 20 metres to open the scoring in the seventh minute.

Exeter flanker Dave Ewers scored from close range following a tap penalty. Hooker Luke Cowan Dickie scored the next two tries, both after Exeter set up mauls following lineouts.

Centre Henry Slade touched down before half time.

After the break, Cowan-Dickie, who is moving to France to join Montpellier next season, completed a hat-trick, taking a tap penalty and charging over.

Centre Chris Smith gave the Bulls a glimmer of hope but, centre Solomone Kata replied for Exeter.

Exeter have collected a maximum 10 points from two matches.

H.Romero--AT