The Lithuanians are top of the fledgling standings in the six-team competition after a 47-20 home bonus point triumph over Luxembourg.
The teams were tied at 3-3 after the first quarter of the match before Luxembourg stand-off Fintan Lawlor took advantage of a mistake in the Lithuania defence to score a converted try after 28 minutes.
Soon after Lithuania hit back with a try from back-row Donatas Trumpickas which was converted by full-back Arnas Prielaidas to make it 10-10.
A penalty and then a try by second-row Zygimantas Radzius, which was converted, saw the hosts 20-10 up at half-time.
The sides swapped penalties early in the second period to make it 23-13 before another made it 26-13 to the home outfit with 20 minutes to go.
A well-worked converted try soon after, created by Donatas Vilimavicius and scored by his centre partner Arnas Urbonas, gave Lithuania a 20-point lead and broke Luxembourg’s resistance.
Lithuania did score a converted try after 65 minutes via back-row Noe Tropiano to keep their slim hopes alive before two converted tries in the last nine minutes won it 47-20 for Lithuania.
Sweden were hosting Czechia and, in the end, they managed to tough out a 22-16 win.
Centre Alfred Nordgren’s try put Sweden 5-0 up after 15 minutes until a long-range penalty for Czechia made it 5-3 just before the half hour mark.
A well-worked move then saw Czechia score a try out wide and they led 8-5 at half-time.
Martin Cimprich, the Czechia stand-off, kicked a penalty early in the second period to make it 11-5 to the visitors and Sweden were not quite getting into their stride.
Just after the hour mark Sweden did hit their straps though and a powerful run from No.8 Theodor Karlsson eventually helped set up scrum-half Jack Tatu who scored. It was converted for 12-11.
With their tails up, another converted try then made it 19-11 for Sweden and then a penalty made it 22-11 before a five-pointer from back-row Jakub Havel right at the death earned Czechia a losing bonus point as it finished 22-16.
In the men’s Rugby Europe Conference, Hungary and Latvia both secured wins on Saturday.
Hungary won 51-16 in Slovakia with a bonus point meaning they have now won one and lost one in Pool B and are second in that section behind Austria.
And Latvia have won one from one in Pool A to sit third after a 36-19 away win in Norway.
Both of these competitions continue this coming weekend with Lithuania-Sweden in the Trophy and Latvia-Estonia in the Conference.
By Gary Heatly
