RCL earns its first points in Munich
7th October 2024
Rugby Club de Luxembourg
The Senior team traveled to Munich on Saturday, October 5th, for the 4th round of the Bundesliga. In wet conditions and on a heavy field, the Royals secured a 13-13 draw in Bavarian territory.
After a start to the season with few points to show, the Seniors headed to Munich with the firm intention of jump-starting their season. Munich, quarter-finalists in the last Bundesliga edition and 4th in the standings before kickoff, provided the Luxembourg team a chance to test themselves after a frustrating result at TSV's ground the previous week.
Well-started in the game with a penalty from Matteo Franzina, RCL showed clear dominance in set-pieces and open play. However, a series of fouls brought Munich into their half. The hosts scored a first "lucky" try following a miscommunication, and while it seemed there was a forward pass, the referee allowed the try, giving the Bavarians a 3-7 lead.
Physically superior and more incisive in contact, RCL responded a few minutes later with a well-constructed try scored by Matteo Franzina on the wing, following a smart pass by Caz Yandall. At halftime, the score stood at 7-8. Like the previous week, RCL was still in the game.
Although the team's discipline improved compared to the previous weekend, small errors allowed Munich to regain control in the second half, leading 13-8 after two penalties. Struggling against the kicking game of the opposing fly-half, RCL relied on their forwards to stay in the game, with overwhelming domination in the scrums. Led by their pack, James Wheeler scored a try (unconverted), bringing the "reds" back to 13-13.
The last five minutes were marked by repeated penalties in the scrum against the hosts, who eventually received a yellow card for a cynical foul just inches from the try line. A final dominant scrum propelled James Wheeler over the line for the second time, only for the referee, far from the action, to disallow the try. The following attack, the last chance to secure the win and four points, was cut short by a good German tackle, causing a Luxembourg knock-on. 13-13, the final score.
Like the final minutes, RCL spent a lot of time in Munich's 22-meter area without managing to score. While the result leaves a bittersweet taste, the players from the Grand Duchy can take satisfaction from having kick-started their season after facing the top four teams in the pool. They can now have high hopes for the rest of the campaign. The next match is on October 19th, away at RSV Koln, currently bottom of the league.