Italy retained their European Shield rugby league crown but had to overcome a fight back from a young, but determined German side before running out 42-30 winners in Huerth, outside Cologne.
The defending champions were seemingly in cruise mode as they established a 36-6 lead on the hour despite the Germans putting on a good show with a side containing 15 players out of 17 under the age of 26.
Cyril Armani from French Elite 1 team Carcasonne was the stand out for the victors. Armani opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he met hooker Daniele Pasqualini’s pinpoint cross field kick to the right flank.
Ten minutes later, a swift backline movement saw home captain Kristian Keinhorst level proceedings with a try between the posts after a great break outwide by brother Jimmy.
Armani gave the Italians a solid grip on the trophy with the completion of his treble in a blistering eight-minute spell, his last in the 34th minute, a magnificent 40 metre run. The Italians experience with other French Professional players in Tomaso, Fontana as well as former Professional Players England Ferrazzanno and Dubsa-Fisher saw them take chances and expose the inexperience of the Germans.
Crucially, the Italians added a fourth touchdown a minute from the interval from Giovanni Franchi, Filippo Veronese kicking all the conversions to give the visitors a decisive18-point lead at the break.
The fear was Italy would put a high score on Germany which they did not deserve as they often matched the Italians but just failed to take the chances that came there way and then were caught a little in defence at key moments.
Franchi notched his second twelve minutes into the second half and Pasquilini took a cunning offload from Marco Ferrazzano to cross on the right but Italy then switched off. Germany who were led well by the experience of Stocks and Stöcklin and Captain Keinhorst then took a hold of the game
But few in the large crowd expected the Germans to produce such a performance in the next 25 Minutes. First Simon Cooper stemmed the visiting flow with an interception on his own 20 and two plays later Jimmy Keinhorst broke through in centre field on a 40-metre run to the line.
Four minutes later, the boisterous home crowd was brought to life as Germany created an overlap ten metres from their own try line, Nick Keinhorst going 90 metres to score and convert his own try and beating a host of italians who simply were no match for Keinhorst with his pace.
The ever dangerous 19 year old Jimmy Keinhorst maintained the family link with a quick fire brace as Germany inched back to within ten points. Much of the hard work though was done by Micky Reinhold, Bene Rehm and Fabrice Fehlemann who all made good metres to help put Germany in good positions.
Filippo Veronese crossed late in the game to seal victory for Italy,
Veronese maintaining his perfect kicking record before Timo Trosch crossed in the corner for a consolation German try in the final seconds.
The three Keinhorsts – Nick, Jimmy and Kristian – scored 26 of Germany’s 30 points, with player/coach Danny Stocks happy with the overall application of his charges. But this was more than about a couple of players who performed well. Every german player gave everything and to be honest were very unlucky not to get a win with such commitment. Trainer Stocks said after the match
“The players that represented Germany earned the jersey and showed how highly they consider playing for Germany and what it meant to them both in training and in the game. We now have set a level that we need to keep on playing at in future” he commented.
“Twelve of our seventeen have played less than five games in their whole lives, so our inexperienced side held their own against much more experienced opposition and I hope to build on that in the future”
Stocks also paid tribute to the enthusiastic home crowd, “I have to thank them for their support. It was a great atmosphere and this helped the German players to perform so well. It also showed that that the German public can take to Rugby League and love the game with its rough aggressiveness combined with skill and speed that makes it such a great sport to watch and play.”
GERMANY
Nick Keinhorst,
Christop Huber,
Nico Koch,
Jimmy Keinhorst,
Max Shongen,
Danny Stocks,
Kristian Keihorst (capt),
Benny Rehm,
Gwillaume Stocklen,
Basti Vormaat,
Christian Gabriel,
Simon Cooper,
Micky Reinhold,
Subs
Timo Trosch,
Fabrice Fehlemakn,
Markus Krause,
Liam Doughton,
Tries: J.Keinhorst 3, K. Keinhorst, N.Keinhorst, Trosch
Goals: J.Keinhorst 3 from 6
ITALY
Edoardo Lerna,
Filippo Veronese,
Giovanni Franchi,
Cyril Armani,
Marzio Ferraro,
Gaetan Tomaso,
Remi Fontana,
Fabio Berzieri (capt),
Daniele Pasqualini,
Angelo Ricci,
Mattew Sands,
Marco Ferrazzano,
Jason Dubas Fisher,
Subs
Paul Stanica,
Mauro Di Maggio,
Filippo Maserati,
Nicola Facco
Tries: Armani 3, Franchi 2, Pasqualini, Veronese
Goals: F.Veronese 7 from 7
