Tournament Report: RDF #2

BIRFC Women secured qualification to the RDF Championship series in dramatic style on Sunday at RC Leipzig

After a disappointing 5th place finish at the opening round in Velten, Irish knew they would need to place higher than all 3 teams above them and hope results went their way in order to progress as one of the top 4 ranked teams in the eastern division. An unusual 9 team format for this league would see Irish sorted into a pool with 3rd seeds RC Dresden and Berlin Bruisers. Following the pool games, teams would be resorted into top/middle/lower divisions, playing respectively for 1-3, 4-6 and 7-9 places. Qualification without winning the pool would thus be immensely difficult.

Berlin Bruisers were a familiar and always improving opponent in the first game, and in fact they very nearly took the lead, with only some last ditch tackles stopping a flood of purple ball carriers. But 7s is a fast game and when Huisinga jackaled an isolated Bruisers carry, Hirschberg raced away to set up Shaw for a 100m counterattack try. The attack started to click into gear and Vice-Captain Huisinga got herself on the scoresheet with a trademark sprint before Ruf, returning to the league for the first time in 2 seasons struck on the stroke of half time, leaving a 17-0 score. The second half was undoubtedly scrappier as substitutions broke up the play, but Hirschberg powered danced her way to the line to mark her return after an 8 month injury lay-off, before team captain Weber got onto the end of an offload to dot down and finish the game 29-0.

With qualification on the line, the game against Dresden was effectively a final for Berlin Irish, and the nerves showed. Dresden controlled the opening few minutes but were unable to capitalize on their possession, with an aggressive green defense holding firm. As the game swung into Irish’s director thought they found they two were struggling to break down the well organised Saxon defence, and despite creating several good chances, we’re only able to score a solitary try, with Huisinga streaking into the corner for a 5-0 halftime lead. The second half again was a tight affair with neither side giving an inch and well drilled defenses marshaling the attacks well. Finally though substitute Andraka played a beautiful loop to put Huisinga away for what looked like it should be the winning score. Incredibly though, due to unclear pitch markings the ball was ran out over the dead ball line. Confusion rained and Dresden reacted quickest, taking a quick 22 dropout, recovering the ball and running 70m for a simple score under the posts with just seconds to go. The conversion put Dresden 7-5 ahead with just a kickoff to come. Under enormous pressure, knowing Irish HAD to score from this possession, Hein took the ball at pace, beat a defender and played a lovely ball outside to Hirschberg, who linked up with Huisinga who this time made no mistake to win the game 10-7 with the final touch.

This result put Irish at least 3rd and ensured qualification remained a possibility, albeit one which would still probably require beating one of RK03 or hosts RC Leipzig in the last two games.

Coming up against an RK03 team in indomitable form was always going to be tough, and when Andraka left the field injured after just 1 minute it got only tougher as the Weisenseer outfit ran in a 90m counterattack try. Irish struggled to get a handle on the game in the first half and were 20-0 behind at half time following a subdued display. Tough words at half time from the leadership group followed and a much improved display in the second half followed with only 10 points conceded and Huisinga popping up again to score after first a bulldozing carry by Schäffer and then an excellent run from Caron DLA left the RK03 defense in disarray. This would prove to be the only points scored against the Divisional champions all day, and the game finished 5-30

As twilight gathered over the pitch and the floodlights came on Berlin Irish took the field against the hosts for the final match of the entire day, with hundreds of players and local fans and spectators in attendance. This time Irish wouldn’t be denied and brutal defence lead by Caron DLA and Hein repeatedly forced errors from the home attack. Having withstood a few minutes of pressure, possession fell to the team in green, who started to carve the hosts open. First Huisinga ran in a simple attacking move following good work by Ziffels, then Hirschberg took an offload at speed and showed great pace and power to score a second for a 10-0 half time score. The second half saw Caron DLA hit a weak shoulder and cross the white wash before Leipzig struck back with a simple counter to get back within touching distance, but once again Huisinga popped up with another try at the closing whistle to secure a 20-5 victory, 2nd place on the day and qualification to the championship round of the RDF sevens series in April 2025.

Team

Morgane Caron DLA
Aoife Shaw
Anna Weber (c)
Tuana Hirschberg
Ieva Ziffels
Marie Ruf
Margarete Huisinga
Becca Hein
Anaële Lavoué
Farida Elzeftawi
Lara Schäffer
Sarah Andraka

Tries: Huisinga ×6, Hirschberg ×2, Caron DLA, Ruf, Shaw, Weber
Conversions: Ziffels ×2