On Sunday a hat-trick from Michela Sillari sunk Scotland in the first Women’s November international Test with a 38-0 victory over Scotland in Calvisano.
While they were facing off, a whole host of domestic European fixtures were taking place across the Six Nations countries.
This is how it played out:
Lightning strikes eight times
Loughborough Lightning maintained their perfect start to the season by earning their eighth win on the bounce against bottom of the table Worcester Valkyries.
Lightning ran in the tries by recording a 64-12 victory with Canada international Daleaka Menin notching the first try of the match.
World Cup winning England Captain Katy Daley-Mclean was electric from the tee as compatriot and fellow international Leah Bartlett notched up two tries in the fixture.
Harlequins Ladies made it five wins in a row as Davinia Catlin’s double helped them down Wasps Ladies 24-8 on Sunday.
Billed as the match between third and fourth prior to kick-off, Quins gained the upper hand through Catlin as England U20 star Ellie Green played a pivotal role from the tee.
England Six Nations veteran Lotte Clapp and Bryony Cleall combined to secure Saracens Women claimed an impressive bonus-point win over Bristol Bears Women to stay second in the table.
Whitland extend Welsh Premiership lead
Whitland RFC continued their perfect start to the season by pulling off a sterling 44-7 victory over Gwernyfed.
The 2012 plate winners hold a six-point advantage at the top of the table after already scoring 177 points from their three outings this campaign.
Llandaff North RFC moved to second in the table with a 30-8 win over Pencoed RFC as bottom of the table Caernarfon’s match with Swansea Ladies was postponed.
Penybanc RFC’s fixture against Pontyclun RFC was also called off.
Railway Union full steam ahead
Railway Union prevailed 24-15 at home to Blackrock to move back to the top of the Women’s All-Ireland League despite missing a number of star players on international duty.
Seven second-team players were called into the ranks and they performed on the day as Emma Taylor, Niamh Byrne, Larissa Muldoon and out-half Claire Keohane all ran in tries.
Last season’s runners-up Old Belvedere fell to a surprise defeat with a 17-12 loss to Galwegians as super sub Orla Dixon scored two tries in the victory.
Cooke pulled off a 27-22 victory over third placed UL Bohemians.
UL were 17-3 behind, but fought back through Claire Bennett, Niamh Briggs and former Ireland Six Nations player Fiona Hayes.
Tries fromPeita McAllister and captain Beth Cregan secured the win for Cooke.
Rugby Colorno perfect again
Rugby Colorno recorded another high scoring victory to down Verona Rugby in style 81-0 as Italy women beat Scotland on Sunday.
The Pool 1 leaders have yet to concede a point this season from their four league fixtures – scoring 252 points in the process.
Elsewhere in Pool 1 Initiatives Villorba Rugby beat Benetton 40-5, but the result still meant they dropped down to third place when Valsugana Rugby Padova beat Cus Milano 60-0.
In Pool 2 Union R. Capitolina triumphed over Rugby Belve Neroverdi to maintain their perfect start to the season.
Meanwhile in France Montpellier continued their perfect start to Elite 1 with a convincing win over AS Rouen despite missing Montserrat Améndée and Caroline Boujard.
Second placed Blagnac bounced back from their defeat to Montpellier with a 22-19 win over third placed Stade Rennais.
Scotland’s domestic league weren’t in action last weekend.
