Luxembourg got their Rugby Europe Men’s Conference Pool A campaign off to the best possible start at the weekend.
On Saturday, they travelled to Estonia and won emphatically 106-5 with a bonus point while there were also wins for Croatia, Cyprus and Israel in the latest batch of fixtures.
At the Estonian National Cricket and Rugby Field in Tiskre, Luxembourg hit their straps early on and, in the end, ran in 16 tries to Estonia’s one. They also kicked 13 of the conversions to take them up and over three figures.
They are now top of the four-team Pool A on five points - ahead of Finland on points difference - while Estonia are bottom after two defeats from two.
Croatia have won three from three and have 14 points from 15 to sit top of the four-team Pool B standings after a 53-8 bonus point home win over bottom side Slovenia.
At the Stari Plac Stadium in Split, Croatia outscored their visitors by nine tries to one.
The home side led 19-3 at half-time and when centre Ivan Proloscic went over for a try soon after half-time they had their foot on the gas.
They never looked back and dominated the second half, their final try coming in the 75thminute when stand-off Niko Vranesevic went over and then converted it himself to finish things off.
Cyprus and Israel are top on five points and second on four points respectively in the four-team Pool D after their own Saturday wins.
At the Europa Sports Park in Gibraltar, Cyprus defeated the home side 48-17 with a bonus point.
The visitors took the lead after six minutes when back-row Pantelis Stylianou went over and stand-off Mihali Joannou converted.
Stand-off Benn Morris then kicked a penalty to get Gibraltar on the board, but, by the 31stminute, Cyprus were in control at 33-3 up.
They were helped during that spell by two Gibraltar yellow cards and Stylianou with his second, full-back Ben Yarrow and Joannou scored tries while a seven-point penalty try was awarded and Joannou kicked two conversions.
Lewis Honey, the second-row, scored a converted try before the break for the home side to make it 33-10.
Tries came from back-row Joseph Ridgewell and subs Alexander Thompson and Aaron Beyzade in the second half for Cyprus with replacement Cian Goldsmith bagging a consolation effort for Gibraltar.
Israel won 33-20 against Andorra at the Estadi Nacional in Andorra.
The victors scored four tries to Andorra’s two so they got the victory, but not the bonus point.
Luxembourg-Norway in Pool A is the only Men’s Conference game taking place this coming weekend.
