Germany impress on test return

Photo: Vivian Bahlmann

After 7 years of absence, Germany came back with force to secure a dominant win of 36-0 over their rivals Switzerland. German Captain Dana Klein-Grefe put on a particularly outstanding display, with excellent kicking and ingenuity which led to several tries.

Switzerland started the game with a kick into Germany’s half, which was quickly returned by Klein-Grefe. The Swiss team responded by launching into an attack, but were brought to a halt by the Germans who won the first scrum on their own 10 metre line.

The ball was quickly taken by Josi Pora, and brought up to the Swiss 22 metre line where the Germans won their first line. A breakthrough by Kropp and Klein-Grefe gave the German team a penalty, which was successfully taken by Klein-Grefe to put the first points on the board.

The Swiss team then had the opportunity to level the score with the chance for a penalty themselves, but the kick was wide of the posts.

The Germans really started to take control of the game at this point, earning one penalty kick after another, however their attempts to kick into Switzerland’s half only worked against them, as it gave the Swiss a long spell of possession, which was eventually brought to an end by a penalty for Germany.

Duri had a great breakthrough, but stopped just short of the try line, resulting in a lineout for Switzerland.

The first try of the game was instigated by a series of excellent handoffs by Kropp, which led to a try from Susanne Pfisterer, and was converted by Klein-Grefe.

The rest of the first half was full of opportunities for both teams, but the rain forced many a handling error, and half time was called without any more tries.

However, the German women’s run with the ball was short-lived, as they lost the ball only a couple minutes into their attack. Once more, the Swiss pushed forward with a series of aggressive runs, but were stopped again; this time by the strong tackling of Ninja Duri.

Lisa Kropp’s run on the Swiss team’s 10 metre line drew out the defense, leaving space for Klein-Grefe to execute a superb pass to Susan Pfisterer who finished with a try. A second try quickly followed from Salome Traut. Both tries were converted by the German captain.

The German women tried to start the first half with a sneaky pick and go, but were met by a strong Swiss defense. The ball was won by the Swiss, only to be lost again in attack, so the scrum went to Germany.

Again, the play was littered with handling errors from both teams; something both teams will be looking to improve on in future games.

The German win a penalty kick, converted expertly by Klein-Grefe, and a try from Melissa Paul quickly followed.

The substitutions started to come thick and fast for both teams at this point, which brought extra energy to the game.

The Swiss team fought back with a strong attacking line, but were quickly stifled by the German defense. The German team put on a powerful display to win the scrum in front of their own posts, and Dana Klein-Grefe’s kick won them a lineout.

The Swiss team fought back with a very strong attack, but were quickly stifled by a very strong German defense. The German team won the scrum in front of their own posts, and Dana Klein-Grefe’s kick secured them a lineout.

Their run with the ball was short-lived though, as they lost the ball only a couple minutes into their attack. Once more, the Swiss pushed back with a series of aggressive runs, but were stopped again; this time by the impressive tackling of Ninja Duri.

Lisa Kropp’s run on the Swiss team’s 10 metre line drew out the defense, leaving space for Klein-Grefe to execute a superb pass to Franziska Holpp who scored the final try of the match.

Germany: 1 Marlis Gerigk 2 Marlene Lorenz 3 Sabine Schubert 4 Monica Yee 5 Simone Otto 6 Melissa Paul 7 Anja Czaika 8 Elisa Trick 9 Josi Pora 10 Dana Klein-Grefe (C) 11 Susanne Pfisterer 12 Lisa Kropp 13 Lisa Bohrmann 14 Salome Trauth 15 Ninja Duri 16 Noemi Lean 17 Mareike Beer 18 Katrin Vocke 19 Ulrike Borchardt 20 Mona Bieringer 21 Franziska Holpp 22 Annika Nowotny 23 Johanna Hacker

Switzerland: 1 Katja Dick 2 Becky Ellis 3 Patrizia Mancini 4 Bina Walti 5 Vanessa Dantas 6 Sarah McNamara 7 Leonie Roberts 8 Carole Gachet 9 Simi Haymoz 10 Fabienne Ullmann 11 Lami Damachi 12 Natascha Kerhli 13 Claire Pagnot 14 Isabella Bauer 15 Carole Casparis 16 Amanda Wigfall 17 Eva Hollenstein 18 Christa Hermann 19 Judith Oriwal