Germany Championship Final: Rheinland Pfalz 52 Hessen 28

[Der Kaiser]

Rheinland Pfalz managed to become German Champions In near 40 C and beat Hessen containing German Internations Isaak, Schöngen, Koch and Schein. It was closer than the score suggests. Rheinland Pfalz had the Dynamic Duo of Jimmy Keinhorst and Benedikt Rehm to thank for the win But Rheinland Pfalz had other players like Jonas Burkhardt, Brian Shaw, Marius Kessler, Jasper Franke, Benjamin Lauer and Danny Ricciardi who provided a solid platform for the Duo to wrech havoc.

Hessen started off strongly, but just lacked the final cutting edge to score. But then Rheinland Pfalz got the first score, when Keinhorst raced 80 metres after stepping his way through the defence and converted his own try. Junior Saalwai went over after good work by Benedikt Rehm and Danny Ricciardi. Keinhorst converting.

It was all Hessen now with Nico Koch, Liam Doughton and Max Schöngen organizing things.But Thomas Isaak, the man mountain from Calbach Raccoons, shrugged off 4 players but Keinhorst at fullback somehow managed to partially stop him until further teammates completed the tackle. A chip over the top by Koch and the Calbacher, 16 year old Robin Schultz managed to get the ball down wide out, despite the attentions of a couple of players. No convertion.

This shocked Rheinland Pfalz and they hit back with tries to Ricciardi and Captain Rehm with Rehm and Keinhorst converting both tries. Hessen looked to be struggling in coping with Rheinland Pfalz. However the impressive Koch scored a great try from half way after strong running. Friedrich Schäufele converting this time. 24-10 at Halftime.

Second half started with forwards Isaak, Schein and Handy causing big problems for Rheinland Pfalz and Koch again showed power and speed to cross the whitewash. Schäufele converting. But the dynamic duo of Rehm and Keinhorst both added triesand Keinhorst converting both. Then a storming run from big prop Benjamin Lauer saw him add another try to Rheinland. As usual Keinhorst Converting to make the score 42-10.

Game over surely? Again another Isaak break and again no support play. But it brought good field position for Jakob Handy to crash over. Another young player from the Calbach club set up last summer by Max Schöngen.

Rheinland finished the game off with Marius Kessler crashing over wide out and Keinhorst missing his first kick of the day. Falkö Weber went over as well with Keinhorst again converting. But that was it for Rheinland. Hessen scored in the dieing seconds when again another Calbach youngster, Artur Schein went over after great running and aggression from his Calbach teammates Handy and Isaak got Rheinland in a mess. Schäufele adding the extras to make it Rheinland Pfalz 52 Hessen 28.

HESSEN

RHEINLAND PFALZ

 

[Bluebags1908]

Dear Der Kaiser,

Congratulations on organising this tournament, but I have a couple of questions:

If Rheinland Pfalz are German Champions by winning this match, does it imply there was an actual tournament of sorts involving multiple teams? Or was this a one-off match between the only 2 domestic teams?

The photos indicate no Rugby goalposts at the ground. How were conversions taken?

Was this match a proper 80 minute game with 13-a-side + 4 reserves?

 

[Der Kaiser]

If Rheinland Pfalz are German Champions by winning this match, does it imply there was an actual tournament of sorts involving multiple teams? Or was this a one-off match between the only 2 domestic teams?

We do have 2 other States in Bavaria and NRW. Sadly many of the guys are Students and work weekends or are on Holiday or simply cant afford! I Reffed the game and did over 900 km round trip. Players in NRW and Bavaria faced similar sometimes even longer trips especially from Bad Reichenhall. Its not as easy to get a team up and for players pay there own way when students. Even Rugby Union in Germany struggled with this despite having hundreds of thousands of Euros more! For instance it was cheaper for me to fly last week to Belgrade than to travel to Kaiserslautern yesterday. Over 90 euros just on Petrol and then had to hire a car as well.
Also Germany soocer was playing and some players wanted to watch that. But thats the second full 13 v 13 domestic game this year there as we played one in February when it was -2 Degrees and snow!

The photos indicate no Rugby goalposts at the ground. How were conversions taken?

As is Usual in Europe the Try line is before the Soccer Goal with small metal Poles attatched to the goal though its hard to see in this picture. The Euro Under 16s in Serbia last year also used a similar approach. We all just have to adjust.

Was this match a proper 80 minute game with 13-a-side + 4 reserves?

Yes it was a 13 a side game over 80 minutes but with waterbreaks every 20 minutes as playing in 38 Degrees heat is not good and we wanted no problems for players. Depending how the players were we also had a quick 2 minute water break at the odd scrum. Players health comes first.

 

[crimpo]

Great things from little acorns grow. Progress of whatever speed is still progress.

Well done to Deutschland RL

 

[andrew057]

Congratulations Der Kaiser. Champion effort.

 

[Bluebags1908]

We do have 2 other States in Bavaria and NRW. Sadly many of the guys are Students and work weekends or are on Holiday or simply cant afford! I Reffed the game and did over 900 km round trip. Players in NRW and Bavaria faced similar sometimes even longer trips especially from Bad Reichenhall. Its not as easy to get a team up and for players pay there own way when students. Even Rugby Union in Germany struggled with this despite having hundreds of thousands of Euros more! For instance it was cheaper for me to fly last week to Belgrade than to travel to Kaiserslautern yesterday. Over 90 euros just on Petrol and then had to hire a car as well.
Also Germany soocer was playing and some players wanted to watch that. But thats the second full 13 v 13 domestic game this year there as we played one in February when it was -2 Degrees and snow!


As is Usual in Europe the Try line is before the Soccer Goal with small metal Poles attatched to the goal though its hard to see in this picture. The Euro Under 16s in Serbia last year also used a similar approach. We all just have to adjust.

Yes it was a 13 a side game over 80 minutes but with waterbreaks every 20 minutes as playing in 38 Degrees heat is not good and we wanted no problems for players. Depending how the players were we also had a quick 2 minute water break at the odd scrum. Players health comes first.

Hi Der Kaiser, thanks for your reply. OK that's excellent and congrats on all the hard work and getting this game up and running. You have to start somewhere!

Just wanted to check that it wasn't nines or some sort of abbreviated game. If it was a full 13-a-side match that's great. The water break at 20 minute intervals is no big deal as I think the laws of the game allow for this if the teams and referee agree to it. Pre season and early season games in the NRL even have a drinks break sometimes.

 

[PaulyTom]

Spread the word. Hope more teams join you on your crusade.