Villach Victorious / Basel Pauses the ‘Jamboree’ / Grenoble’s Absent Offense
Observations & Opinions
From Harold Abrahams – Special Correspondent for TSS
And from Zino Stiles-Johnson and Thill Brenner – Correspondents for TSS
Bern, Switzerland – By Harold Abrahams – Special Correspondent for TSS
On Saint Leopold’s Day, two weeks ago, my colleague Thill Brenner came to the capital of Switzerland and witnessed the Bern Armed Bears begin their defense of the Tyrol Cup they won in March in a decisive 15—0 defeat of a dangerous Zurich team, after which he wrote in TSS, as any of us would have been tempted to do, that he was confident the Bears would repeat as Champions.
A mere fortnight later, the Salzburg Edelweiss strode onto Bern’s Meadow – amid Charmed Bears and Alpenhorns and scores of those distinctive Bernese flags waving – and completely dominated the Bears in a match that ended 27—14 and re-ordered several hierarchies. One is that while Bern is as sound a bet to win the 2026 Tyrol Cup as any team, this season will be a melee, not a pre-ordained coronation. The other is that while Leonhard Brunner is a marvel and deserved the Purtscheller Medal he collected on March 31, he is not currently the best player in the world of the Meadow Game.
Paul Lackner dictated play from the first bell until, some 83 minutes later, he and the other Flowers had silenced 15,000 home fans and offered hope to any number of other teams that they, too, might claim the venerable Cup when Season 154 ends. Lackner’s two skots, 11 total points and brilliant fake and pitch to send the burgeoning Theo Mossman on a 30–yard romp for four points of his own, and his unceasing diligence scampering back to help tackle in the mid-field was a display that no one could match. Mule Brunner, last year’s most imposing player, did not play poorly – he scored one skot, assisted on another, and made 2 kicks out of 3 for 6 points, and his power and speed mean that he will always influence a match. But he was a subdued figure next to the mercurial Lackner. Further, Bern’s defense, which was impenetrable for long stretches of last season and even two weeks ago, had no answer for the Field Mouse.
After the match, those Gates – Tor Medal holder Felix Moser, brother Jonas Moser and man-mountain Otto Von Steiger – were still talking to Lackner, Mossman and a few other Edelweiss on the Bern sideline, drinking water and eating slices of orange, looking like very over-grown children after a youth league match. Steiger punched Lackner’s sculpted shoulder, laughing, gesturing wildly with his hands in what appeared to be a pantomime of a man watching something zip past him: that would be apt, as Lackner sprinted across the Bears’ Meadow with little resistance. Lackner dropped his head and shook it, humility itself. They parted with mutual respect, handshakes and a promise to meet again in Salzburg later this season. Elias Hoffer, with a lump over his left eyebrow from some collision early in the 43, tried to raise Lackner’s arm in the manner of a victorious boxer, but Lackner laughed that off and threw his arm around the shoulder of his oldest teammate as they headed to the locker room.
We’re only three matches into an 18–game season, but some matches do matter more than others, and a resounding win over the Bears in Bern is significant. Salzburg is the most recent back-to-back Tyrol Cup champion (2021 & 2022), and they played today as if they want to deny Bern the chance to tear that distinction away from their Austrian rivals.
Basel, Switzerland – By Zino Stiles-Johnson – Correspondent for TSS
In June, in Round One of the Meadow Cup, the Chambéry Elephants upset the Grenoble Gantiers 7—5, in Grenoble, no less. This was a denizen of the Barrel League traveling 35 miles away to face a 7-Time Tyrol Cup champion and perennial Tyrol League stalwart … and winning; this was a French David defeating a French Goliath. So, while they lost a week later at home to Salzburg, they declared that 2025 was the Year of the Chambéry ‘Jamboree,’ that word being an Americanism for a large, boisterous celebration. And after two comfortable victories to open their season in the circus that is the Barrel League, they brought their party to Basel, the “cultural capital of Switzerland,” a jewel set on the Rhine River.
The Printers, too, were one of the teams seeking to start the season 3—0—0 after 11– and 15–point victories. Their leading scorer from last season, Benzel Kistler, was ailing with an ankle that, purple and swollen, looked like a ripe eggplant (from a pile-up last Saturday in their win at Altötting) and left him on the bench for this contest. Accordingly, the hosts may have worried about their offense’s ability to out-score their Gallic visitors. But Enz Hangartner, a nifty Forward newly–named as Basel’s Captain, addressed that himself from his Forward position with two skots in a 16—13 win over an Elephants team that seemed a bit disorganized; Jean-Paul Clerc was a threat for the French team, but his mates missed assignments and tackles, and in a tight match, that was enough to decide the outcome.
Why the Barrel League? Why attend a match of two teams in the lowest division in the AL? Well, I am always delighted to visit Basel, for it is a glorious city. Arriving on Wednesday, I managed to tour the Kunstmuseum and several other museums, dine and shop, walk along the river, and visit the Roman theatre. So, it was a more cosmopolitan and urbane journalist who arrived at Basel’s Meadow at Noon on Saturday to observe an exciting match played with just as much passion as one encounters in the Tyrol or Alpine League (if with less speed, size and tactical sophistication). Ten or twelve weeks from now, as the Tyrol races to its tense conclusion and playoffs, TSS may not get back to the Barrel or any of the other ‘lower’ divisions, but this was time well spent. My advice: use that Eurail train pass of yours, pick a Barrel or Farm or Harvest League destination, and go watch a team that may climb higher some years hence. But you will have seen them back when they were throwing their version of their ‘Jamboree.’
Grenoble, France – By Thill Brenner – Correspondent for TSS
The Gantiers have posed a riddle for their supporters, three matches into Season 154. In an anomalous start to their year, they have played only home matches, with poor results: including their loss to Cortina on November 29, they have managed to score only 7, 7 and 0 points – again, playing in Grenoble on each occasion. After Kitzbühel overwhelmed them 24—7 on St. Leopold’s Day, they managed a narrow 7—5 win over a Füssen team whose struggles have been similar to those of the Gantiers. After the Riflers completed their 11—0 victory, led by their indefatigable Gate Marcello Rinaldi, the Glovers were left with this dilemma: how can a team with the wonderful Farmhand pair of Henri Tissier and Masson Brunet – brimming with speed, grit and power – and talent throughout the lineup, fail to score points? Fourteen points from three matches is a scanty harvest and a perplexing puzzle for this most successful of French teams.
Two seasons ago, “La Comete” tied for 3rd in the race for the Klammer Medal; currently, he sits 28th in the AL in individual scoring, trailing three Gates, among others who would usually guffaw at the idea of outscoring this Forward with nearly the speed of an Olympic sprinter.
On the Monday following the home loss to Cortina, Gantiers Manager Claude Pompanile showed deep frustration when asked about the team’s sluggishness, frequent loss of possession during play, and conservative approach – all characteristics being counter to the Glovers’ usual flair and energy. After several expressive shrugs, the Manager said something about Wiesespiel and women being equally easy to understand. While the remark was classic Pompanile – and stereotypically French – it did not, one must remind oneself, address a legitimate question about a tangible problem.
One of last year’s darlings, the aforementioned Triskelions of Füssen, have tallied only 16 points in three matches, offering as befuddling a start as this Grenoble outfit. And the runner-up for the Thaler Medal last March, the sparkling Forward Bingo Allerspach, has struggled out of the gate in a manner similar to the Gantiers’ own Farmhands.
Zurich – the revelation of the final third of last season – have scored 0, 14 (in a win) and 4 points (as the Triskelions earned their first win); 18 may surpass the totals of the two teams discussed above, but that anemic total leaves them 27 points behind Brenta and Cortina (next up in the ‘Points For’ column in the standings) and 59 points behind Kitzbühel – after three games.
Perhaps next week, these teams will score 30 points each and we’ll shrug off this concern, but fan bases are nervous. Five teams – half of the Tyrol League – sit on a mediocre 3 points after 3 matches, trailing the Hahnenkamms by 4 points already. Failure to fix these problems can turn rapidly into a gap in the standings that cannot be overcome.
These teams had better start to score some points.
PLAYER of the WEEK:
Abrahams: Hugo Thurner / Gate – Salzburg. During Champions Night, players receive Medals as Best Young Player, Finest Schliessman, etc. And while the herculean Thurner currently holds the Waldmüller Medal, as the finest sport’s Finest Sportsman, I’ll propose a new medal for The Committee to ponder: Bravest Player. And I’ll nominate Thurner, who, on Saturday, during the Edelweiss’ important 27—14 win over Bern, met Mule Brunner at the mid-field mark. Both men – about 12-½’ and 450 pounds of athlete – were roughly at full speed, with Brunner eying a skot from 60 yards out if only he could run over this Gate, as he has done over so many such defenders. Well, I’ll nominate Brunner to share the Medal with Thurner, because both men hit like an Alpine Avalanche, and when the two collided, 15,000 fans collected their breath in a giant, unconscious, simultaneous in-take … and watched as both men staggered backward and fell. Each stood, took a step toward the other. Thurner dropped a massive paw on Brunner’s neck, Mule tapped Hugo’s chest with his own giant fist. “I’m all right. And you?” they were saying. And somehow, they both were. 15,000 fans breathed, looked around at neighbors to express all our ideas: “thank goodness that wasn’t me.” Thurner didn’t de-mythologize Mule Brunner with that tackle – Brunner will usually keep moving forward. But he did stop the Purtscheller Medal-holder from scoring a magnificent skot that would have shifted some momentum back to an Armed Bears team that needed a glimpse of what a victory could look like against an imperious Paul Lackner and, on this day, his most valuable teammate, Hugo Thurner. Thurner tied last season for Runner-Up for the Tor Medal – losing out to his opposite number on this day, Bern’s great Felix Moser. Right now, no defender is playing with the range, power and anticipation of Salzburg’s defensive rock. I think I failed to present that tackle sufficiently: it was the express train known as Mule Brunner. And a pile of Alpine boulders in the form of Hugo Thurner. I felt the impact in my teeth. And they both stood up and played on.
Stiles–Johnson: Anselm Dusl / Forward – Spittal. When I was 8 years old, I received my first Spittal Schuhplattler kit, sent to me by an uncle who claimed that the Schuh’s colors and shirt were the most beautiful team decke of any sports club on Earth: Arsenal soccer, Ireland rugby, Dodgers baseball … all paled. So I wore it – a jersey that was too large until about three years later, when I’d grown into it, and a team-sanctioned hat – green with the golden feather in it. Glory had come to my house, and I have been, ever since, a passionate advocate of all things Spittal. Today, that advocacy includes naming Anselm Dusl as my Player of the Week. Dusl was sensational on Saturday in a comprehensive 23—3 victory over their hosts in Chur. Playing an advanced Wing, Dusl confounded the Winemakers on offense and made countless tackles while tracking back when Chur had the ball. Dusl also made three kicks, one from an outrageous angle, to score 12 points total. Now he can say forever that, on a day when Paul Lackner was undoubtedly the best player in the world, leading the Flowers to their big win over Bern, that he, Anselm Dusl, out–scored Lackner 12—11.
Brenner: Paul Lackner / Center – Salzburg. We writers at TSS know that you readers of TSS know that sometimes we choose players who had perhaps the best match or moment they’ll ever have, and we enjoy their triumph and want to recognize it. Players tell us many times that they’ve cut out a recognition from our pages and taped it to a locker or a mirror. My choice in this column for Week One, Zurich Center Marc Oberholler, kindly called me this week to thank me for featuring him. Such acknowledgement flatters us, and it’s a joy to salute a man who made a great play or produced his best game. But this week, it’s my turn to select Paul Lackner, who, at this rate, may sew up the Purtscheller, Steinwender and Klammer Medals by Christmas.
ONE FINAL NOTE:
Abrahams: Our editor challenged us this week. He said, “make your ‘Final Note’ an actual note. Not more than, to pick a number, 70 words.” Fair enough; my word count starts here …:
Austrian and Swiss coaches have long sought to solve “The Italian Mystery.” Italian clubs are devilishly hard to beat, displaying tenacious defense, stubborn positional tactics, ornery attitudes, and contentment with strategic, low–scoring slugfests. This season, Trento (2—1—0), Cortina (1—1—1) and Brenta (1—2—0), traditionally known as the “Big Three” Italian clubs, are a pedestrian 4—4—1 with little promise for a Tyrol Cup …
Stiles–Johnson: … but no Northern teams fancy a match against them. “They’re great men – I love them. But I hate them,” Villach Manager Toni Wisser famously joked in 1978, and this truth still exists. Three–time Tor Medalist Marcello Rinaldi revels in this reputation, and Cortina’s 11—0 win at Grenoble this week exemplified the unique torment that the Burci, Dolomites and Riflers promise their foes: “It’s a mindset we adopt, a …
Brenner: “… desire to outlast and out-fight our opponents,” Rinaldi says, a handsome (and cruel) smile on his face. Three Tyrol Cups since 1997 – including the 2024 title – say that the Riflers have every reason to play “the Italian way.” A frustrated Vienna Center Nicolas Irmiger, lamenting to the press his team’s 17—12 home loss to Trento in Week Three, said, “Apparently we still haven’t figured it out. ‘The Italian Mystery.’”