Three for Tierney-Martin

Hooker Tierney-Martin crossed for an early try hat-trick as Connacht Rugby battled to a 57-34 victory at Zebre in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Diarmuid Kilgallen, Adam Byrne, Kieran Marmion and Eoin de Buitléar also went over for a free-scoring Connacht side, who are one of the most prolific teams in this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup with 19 tries.

Jack Carty converted six scores as the Irish province held off Zebre, who were eliminated from the EPCR Challenge Cup after finishing bottom of Pool A.

Lane double for Cardiff

Elsewhere in the URC, Owen Lane scored a try brace for Cardiff Rugby as they overcame fellow EPCR Challenge Cup contenders Benetton Rugby 30-13.

James Ratti also dotted down for the Welsh region at Cardiff Arms Park, as did Ben Thomas, who also contributed 10 points from the tee.

Benetton proved stubborn opponents and were just three points adrift at the break amid scores from Rhyno Smith and Marco Zanon, plus a Tomas Albornoz penalty, though the latter was sent off and they failed to notch in the second half.

Conbeer brace in Scarlets drubbing

Ryan Conbeer went over twice for Scarlets in another convincing URC victory for a Welsh region, the hosts running out 42-14 winners over Edinburgh Rugby.

Scarlets replicated their EPCR Challenge Cup form as they ran in six tries, Vaea Fifita, Steff Evans, Gareth Davies and Eddie James also getting on the scoresheet.

Sam Costelow, one of the EPCR Challenge Cup’s leading point-scorers, added the first three conversions before Dan Jones nudged the latter three.

14-man Toulon see off Toulouse

In the TOP 14, there was an impressive win for last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup finalists RC Toulon as they beat league leaders Stade Toulousain 17-6 with 14 men.

Sergio Parisse was sent off with half an hour played but Toulon, one of the leading contenders again in this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup, were inspired by Baptiste Serin, who tallied 11 points.

The scrum-half dotted down, converted and slotted a penalty as well as adding the extras to Facundo Isa’s try.

We’ve recapped some of the best of Saturday’s domestic games involving EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 clubs, with Dylan Tierney-Martin notching a hat-trick of tries for Connacht Rugby in a thrilling win at Zebre Parma.