Last year’s champions Germany got their Rugby Europe Women’s Trophy campaign off to the perfect start at the weekend.
The tournament has been expanded from three teams to four this season with Georgia joining Germany, Sweden and Finland in the mix.
Finland hosted Germany at the Ruutisavu Areena in Vantaa in the first game on Saturday and the visitors won 85-12 with a bonus point.
Finland actually took an early lead in this match when hooker Sarianna Haavisto scored a try converted by stand-off Essi Kara.
Germany led 41-7 by half-time though with tries coming from centre Mette Zimmat (2), winger Sophie Hacker (3), fellow winger Johanna Klewinghaus Hacker and back-row
Lilli Schüssler with stand-off Charlotte Malaizier converting three of them.
Klewinghaus Hacker scored two tries in the early part of the second half to complete her hat-trick while Malaizier scored one and converted one to make it 58-7.
Finland’s second try of the game then came from tighthead prop Reetta Jokinen before Germany went on to score five more to take their total up to 15 tries.
Sub Sophie Hagemann scored, Klewinghaus Hacker got her fourth, sub Laura Schwinn crossed and then centre Paula Schult bagged a double while Malaizier converted one to finish things at 85-12.
This competition will resume in February.
Finland v Germany (Credit Laura Helminen)
Meanwhile, in the one Rugby Europe Men’s Conference match played at the weekend, Luxembourg made it two bonus point wins from two in Pool A by defeating Norway 41-12 at home.
At the Stade de Luxembourg, the home side built up a 24-0 lead at the interval.
Tries in that period came from loosehead prop Thomas Verlaque, winger Matteo Franzina (2) and hooker Anton Agassi with stand-off Fintan Lawlor converting two of them.
Early in the second half, Franzina completed his try hat-trick and No.8 Lachlan Doyle scored a five-pointer for Norway to make it 29-5.
Luxembourg’s final two tries then came from subs Thomas Deom and Mattia Reuter with Lawlor converting one while Norway’s second try in defeat came from scrum-half James Moody with centre Axel Montgomery converting while their hosts had a man in the sin bin.
This competition will resume in January.
