EUROPEAN SHIELD ROUND UP

The European Shield got underway this weekend, with Leeds producing the result of the round, as they scored 121 points and 19 tries.

In the European Shield match, Worcester coach Andy Keast praised his youngsters after the Zurich Premiership club hammered Rugby Rovigo 48-3 at Stadio Communale.

The visitors scored seven tries, with fly-half Tommy Hayes adding 13 points with the boot. "We rested a lot of players so it was good for those guys who have not been getting much rugby to get a run and it was a good all-round team performance," Keast said.

"We scored our first three tries from driving mauls after kicking for the corner and line-outs before we started to mix up our game a bit more. We dominated the game up front, which is always pleasing."

Italian club Petrarca Rugby hammered Spanish side Bera Bera, with winger Pablo Calanchini scoring a hat-trick and Italy international Luciano Orquera converting all five of side's tries, including his own.

Bayonne travelled to Amatori Catania to dish out a 39-12 hiding, with the French club leading 31-0 before the Italians gave their fans something to cheer about with two late tries.

Portugal got the better of neighbours Spain when Lisboa beat UCM Madrid 17-12, with tries to prop Joao Correia and fly-half Francisco Moreira proving crucial.

Auch beat L'Aquila 42-6, scoring seven tries to build up a lead the Italian side are unlikely to overturn next weekend.

In Sunday's games, Leeds Tykes beat VRAC 121-0, scoring an incredible 19 tries, with four Tykes players scoring try hat-tricks and Gordon Ross adding 13 conversions. Leeds had a 53-0 lead at halftime and added a further 68 points without reply in the second half.

Romanian side Bucuresti stunned Leonessa 18-15 in a European Shield match in Bucharest, despite having a man sent off just before halftime.

Teenage lock Valentin Ursache saw red after a reckless kick at a ruck, but the home side held on thanks to a try to Test winger Ioan Teodorescu and a penalty try. The Italian visitors led 10-8 at halftime, but could add only a Michele Colosio try in the second spell. Ursache was later suspended from all rugby for three weeks.