Portugal with one hand on Euro Trophy

Czechia began the day in second place in the Trophy standings, but the twice winners of the tournament were always on the back foot against their Portuguese hosts

It took just seven minutes for Portugal to get on the board after a series of penalties culminated in an offence right in front of the posts- easily converted by Ines Barbosa.

Czechia defended well, but the penalty count continued to mount allowing Portugal to retain the initiative, and eventually leading to a try for Ines Spinola, finishing off in the corner from a move that began with a penalty. 8-0 after 23 minutes.

Czechia put together a good period of pressure from the restart, but Portugal’s speed and better handling frustrated their attempts. Then, on 29 minutes, a dummy from a ruck by by Portugal’s scrumhalf Leonor Amaral saw her cut through the Czech line and run 60m to score. 15-0.

While the Czechs made little ground when in possession, Portugal were making yards with every carry, and on 34 minutes a period of continual Portuguese phases ended with a well taken break and try from Ana Freire. 20-0, and that was the score at halftime.

The second half was a continuation of the first. On 47 minutes a series of phases on the right Czech line resulted in a large overlap on the left, which Isabel Ozorio took full advantage of. 27-0.

Matilde Goes proved to be unstoppable in theh hour, breaking through the attempts of half a dozen Czech players to score. 34-0.

With a tiring defence, Portugal took full advantage in the final minutes. Goes showed her speed on 71 minutes, sprinting down the wing for her second try. 39-0.

Quick hands on 77 minutes created a huge two player overlap, Daniela Correia scoring. 46-0.

And finally, from almost the final play of the game, Portugal turned over the Czechs inside their own half, raced away and set up a try in the corner for Ana Santos. 51-0.

PORTUGAL:1 Elsa Santos; 2 Ines Marques; 3 Marta Magalhaes; 4 Ana Freire; 5 Laura Pereira; 6 Maria Teixeira; 7 Arlete Goncalves; 8 Sara Moreira; 9 Leonor Amaral; 10 Isabel Ozorio; 11 Matilde Goes; 12 Catia Joao; 13 Maria Costa; 14 Ines Spinola; 15 Daniela Correia (Cap)16 Sara Fernandes; 17 Beatriz Rodrigues; 18 Neuza Reis; 19 Teresa Pereira; 20 Raquel Costa; 21 Ana Santos; 22 Beatriz Oliveira; 23 Ines Barbosa

CZECHIA: 3 Gabriela Spackova; 2 Aneta Smejdova; 1 Alzbeta Susova; 5 Alice Matejckova; 4 Bohuslava Hostinska; 7 Dominika Holcikova; 6 Viktorie Lancova; 8 Kristyna Plevova; 9 Kristyna Jungerova; 10 Pavla Zahradkova; 11 Pavlina Cuprova; 12 Katerina Novakova (Cap); 13 Vera Gartnerova; 14 Zuzana Mala; 15 Petra Vackova18 Natalie Kollmanova; 16 Dominika Havelkova; 22 Anezka Skalova; 17 Katerina Novakova; 19 Hana Hubincova; 20 Sarka Kyselova; 21 Anezka Hruba; 23 Michaela Kovarova

In the day’s second game, Germany travelled to Brussels to take on Belgium in a game that brough ,

The two teams first met in 2001, but despite being neighbouring nations, this was only their sixth meeting and only the third since 2010. Most results had been very close but, apart from a draw in 2010, all of previous results had gone Germany’s way.

This game followed the same pattern. A small, but loud and enthusiastic, crowd witnessed a terrific battle that could have gone either way.

Belgium had the better of the opening exchanges, their pack very much on top, and it was the Belgians who opened the scoring through veteran Ciska De Grave ending a move that started from a solid lineout, breaking through several tackles to score near the corner. The difficult kick was missed, which was to prove crucial later. 5-0 to Belgium.

Germany soon recovered from this shaky start and for much of the next 10 minutes put Belgium under pressure, which eventually won its reward when the forwards combined to crash over under the posts. With the kick, Germany now lead 7-5.

Now it was Belgium’s turn to fight back, and it was outpacing the German defence to score in the corner. And again it the conversion kick proved too difficult, but after 32 minutes Belgium lead 10-7.

The lead lasted until just before the break, when Johanna Hacker spotted a gap and sidestepped through the Belgian line to score, again under the posts. The whistle went for halftime and Germany went in 14-10 ahead.

The second half was full of tension and incident, with Belgium generally on top, their forwards clearly the stronger, but unable to break down the German defence. Darkness fell, the crowd roared them on, but a further score proved elusive – and Germany were 14-10 winners.

BELGIUM:1Hanna Dessein;2Jade Cloof;3Loise Danguy;4Amelie Delacourt;5Celine Zaman;6Lorisse Ranger;7Jade Carananos;8Helene Simon (Cap);9Jeanne Marquegnies;10Caitlynn Cool;11Ysaline Amond;12Cristina Pecoraro;13Ciska De GraveE;14Romanie Yserbyt;15Charlotte Timperman16Lena Guisoland;17Madeline Loeckx;18An-Marthe Ingelaere;19Marie Rutsaert;20Elodie Musch;21Celine Minon;22Chanel Germiat;23Claire Andries

GERMANY:1Pia Erhart;2Joy Weatherspoon;3Mareike Bier (Cap);4Luise Lauter;5Salome Trauth;6Ronja Stauch;7Muriel Weigel;8Melissa Paul;9Clara Tauschek;10Lara Burger;11Maike Drewenskus; 12Anja Fischer;13Johanna Hacker;14Steffi Gruber;15Laura Schwinn16Tina Schucker;17Michelle Henninger;18Emma Dehnert;19Vivian Gresser;20Esther Tilgner;21Vivian Bahlmann;22Annika Nowotny;23Sophie Hacker;