The team of the online portal "TotalRugby" meant well with the players of RK 03 Berlin.

In a preview of the semi-finals of the rugby league, the prognosis was made that the Berliners would probably have to accept a defeat at SC Frankfurt 1880 with a difference of 38 points.

But by half time, the "eighties" had surpassed the mark and were 40:0 ahead.

In the end it was 66-0, and the Berliners could count themselves lucky that the Frankfurt offensive engine faltered at times due to many player changes in the second half.

Michael Poppmeier, former international and SC 80 assistant coach and striker coach, said later: "Of course we're happy about the win, but a 66-0 is actually not a result for a semi-final of a German championship."

Short pressure phase repelled

The international team of the "eighties" showed straight away that they didn't want to leave any doubt about reaching the final.

In the first half, which Poppmeier was later to call “epic” in the team circle, the wingers Adrian Mazare and Ian Minjire were the main guarantors of success.

The SC 80 made try after try early on, Edo Stella was extremely safe with the raises - only one kick didn't find its way through the bars in the first half.

The SC 80 fended off a brief phase of pressure, after which head coach Byron Schmidt gave some regular players a break and gave substitutes time on the field.

As a result, the rhythm was lost a bit, but that didn't change anything about the clear victory.

"Of course we made the changes with a view to the final," said Poppmeier.

“The final will be much closer”

There is no question that a completely different game awaits Frankfurt at Feldgerichtstrasse.

On June 25, the SC 80 will welcome TSV Handschuhsheim from the rugby stronghold of Heidelberg, it is the rerun of the 2019 final at the same place where Frankfurt triumphed 22:12.

In the second semi-final, TSV played at Hannover 78 and also gave their opponent no chance at 32:3.

In the South/West season, Frankfurt and Handschuhsheim met twice this season – SC 80 narrowly lost away from home, but the eighties won the second leg in mid-May.

"The final will be much closer, like most games against Handschuhsheim," says Poppmeier.

Nevertheless, the giant with South African roots sees no reason to change anything about the team's approach: "It's the same as what each of us said before the semifinals: As soon as we start aligning ourselves with the opponent, we make a mistake.

We have to stick to our game, whether others call us favorites or not."

The SC 80 is still training, so next weekend.

"Over 30 degrees are announced for Saturday, that will be tough.

But maybe it will be the same on June 25th, so maybe you can practice that beforehand,” Poppmeier looks ahead with a wink.