PARIS - Clermont shrugged off the absence of 16 World Cup bound players to defeat Grenoble 25-6 in a scrappy French Top 14 clash on Friday.
Clermont's French centre Aurelien Rougerie runs with the ball during the French Union Rugby match between ASM Clermont and FC Grenoble on August 28, 2015, at the Michelin stadium in Clermont-Ferrand, central France
The win, achieved from 6-0 down early in the opening half, came courtesy of three tries all scored by forwards -- skipper and prop Thomas Domingo, No8 Fritz Lee and lock Paul Jedrasiak.
It meant Grenoble were left still searching for their first win at the Stade Marcel-Michelin since 2004 while Clermont sit on top of the table after two wins in two games.
Both Clermont and Grenoble had started their season with impressive wins on the opening weekend of the 14 season.
Clermont, the European and Top 14 runners-up last season, crushed La Rochelle 44-6. Grenoble saw off promoted Agen 38-23.
It was Grenoble who settled the quicker of the two sides Friday as Irish scrum-half James Hart kicked two penalties for a 6-0 lead while Clermont fly-half Camille Lopez, left out of the French World Cup squad this week, went wide with two difficult attempts.
But the home side went into the interval 7-6 to the good thanks to the half's only try.
Clermont patiently worked the ball across the field before New Zealand winger Hosea Gear released Domingo for the try.
Loosehead prop Domingo barged over from close range after cleverly gathering Gear's tricky pass. Lopez hit the target this time with the conversion.
Clermont were comfortably on top after the interval with Jedrasiak having a try ruled out for obstruction in the build-up.
Lopez popped over two more penalties for 13-6 which soon became 18-6 when Samoan No8 Lee peeled off the back of a rolling maul to score.
Jedrasiak had the final say when he clinched a third try for his side in the dying moments bursting through an inviting gap from the breakdown.
Lopez added the simple conversion.