Berlin Irish players celebrating the victory

Berlin Irish battled to a narrow victory away against table toppers Berliner Sports Club.

Despite lacking some regular first team players, the team were able to match the promotion favourites across the 80 mins and underline the ongoing improvements within the team and playing system under coach Seb Nieveler.

The opening 20 minutes saw both teams neutralizing one another somewhat, as hard-working defences manage to close down more adventurous attacks, leading to good territorial kicking. On 26 minutes BSC were the first to strike, exploiting some ill-discipline to establish a platform in the Irish 22 and grind out a string forwards try, converted to take a 7–0 lead.

A scrum in the early minutes of the match

Irish grew into the game, their kicking particularly causing their opponent’s outside backs trouble, ensuring that much of the rest of the half was played in the BSC half of the pitch. A wide scrum inside the 22 provided a great opportunity for the Irish backline to run with the ball. After a good carry by Walkowski on his first start, speedy winger Marquez was able to dot down in the corner for his 2nd try of the season on the minute 37. Little time was left, and despite more pressure from BSC, the score remained 7–5 to the hosts

Half Time:
Berliner SC 7–5 Berlin Irish RFC

The second half began with more sustained pressure from BSC, who, despite several minutes of possession in the Irish 22, weren’t quite able to convert that superiority into points. Instead, good kicking a dangerous backline regularly freed the lads and posed a serious risk to the hosts.

Marquez scores under the posts his second try of the game

Eventually, the boys in green worked back up the pitch and established themselves in the BSC half. Numerous fast phases disorganized the defence, allowing Opar to slice through a gap in the center. He kept his wits about him, and good support play from Lemos allowed Marquez to wriggle through for his 2nd of the game, duly converted by Daubney to take the lead 7–12.

The lead didn’t last long, with a loose line out leading to broken-field play, giving the BSC backline a chance to level the scores in the confusion with a try in the corner.

Martin scores the last try on the corner

From the resulting kick-off, the lads played several strong phases to stretch the defence, allowing Paterson—celebrating his 30th league appearance—to set up Martin sublimely with a backhand pass for him to score in the corner with 18 minutes remaining.

The last minutes of the game were marked by increasingly confident Irish defence and disorganized BSC attacks as the boys repelled driving mauls, pick and goes and back line strike moves. With a final BSC line-out being contained by the green maul defence, the final whistle blew to the sound of jubilation from the Berlin Irish supporters.

Full Time:
Berliner SC 12–17 Berlin Irish RFC

Tries: Marquez ×2, Martin ×1

Conversions: Daubney ×1

Man of the Match: McKnight

Pl.	Mannschaft	Sp.	Pkt	Spielpunkte
Tabelle
1	Berliner SC	5	21	191	:	37	+154
2	Berliner RC II	4	20	191	:	31	+160
3	USV Potsdam	4	20	186	:	83	+103
4	Berliner SV 92 II	6	15	158	:	148	+10
5	Berlin Irish RFC	4	13	102	:	84	+18
6	SG Oberhavel	4	7	87	:	136	-49
7	SG Scorpions	5	6	57	:	240	-183
8	SG Bruisers/Siemensstadt	5	1	77	:	192	-115
9	RK 03 Berlin II	3	-2	29	:	127	-98

Lads pip the league leaders!

Berlin Irish battled to a narrow victory away against table toppers Berliner Sports Club.

Despite lacking some regular first team players, the team were able to match the promotion favourites across the 80 mins and underline the ongoing improvements within the team and playing system under coach Seb Nieveler.