Spittal’s Alpine Excellence / Hawksteader’s Woes / Locomotives Lose Steam
Observations & Opinions
From Harold Abrahams – Special Correspondent for TSS
And from Zino Stiles-Johnson and Thill Brenner – Correspondents for TSS
Salzburg, Austria – By Harold Abrahams – Special Correspondent for TSS
After Grenoble’s surprising 23—12 defeat of Salzburg, the Gantiers’ lightning–quick lightning rod, Forward Henri Tissier, accepted handshakes and congratulations from Paul Lackner, Marco Bauer, Hugo Thurner and other Edelweiss players smarting from an unexpected home loss. Then Tissier – whose appellation ‘the Comet’ speaks to the bursts of speed he can produce that terrify opposing defenses – turned to his teammates and fell into the embrace of Gate Pierrick Yves. The affable young Frenchman cried openly.
Remember, at the end of each of the past three seasons, Tissier finished third in scoring; only Lackner (twice the winner of the Klammer and second last season) also finished top three every season. But through four matches this year, Grenoble had experienced an offensive drought, generating only 25 points while falling to 1—3—0 and into a 4-way tie for last in the elite Tyrol League. And only 11 of those points belonged to the heretofore reliably prolific Forward and two–time (and current) Kogler Medal winner.
Tissier recovered himself and walked with your correspondent to the visitor’s locker room, explaining that his tears were not a result of an egotistical anxiety about falling out of the Top Ten in the scoring race (an un-heard of position for him). “No, Ami,” he smiled, a handsome grin emerging through the mud caked on his features after a match played in a muck generated by several days of steady rain, “I merely felt relief that, this week, I did not abandon my brothers who work to defend and to get the ball to Masson (fellow Forward Masson Brunet) and me. Finally, I did my part.”
Tissier’s self-critique is not unfounded; most pundits – including yours truly – anticipated the pairing of Tissier and Brunet to be among the highest–scoring pair of advanced players in the Tyrol League, a distinction held right now by Kitzbühel’s Claus Binder and Florenz Mader. But on Saturday, the Frenchmen both scored skots and were instrumental in producing this victory. Tissier’s 10 total points were double the output of the celebrated Flowers Center, Paul Lackner, though the Field Mouse sustained an ankle injury that clearly hindered him throughout the 43.
Which Gantiers team takes the field next Saturday remains to be seen, but their fans can take solace knowing that their talisman, “Le Comete,” is still a threat to score whenever the ball is in his hands.
The Edelweiss dropped to 4th place after this poor display. Though they retain the League’s highest +/- differential, should that matter later in the season, their loss at home proved that every team in the Tyrol League is among that rank of top ten teams for a reason: if Salzburg assumed a downtrodden Grenoble team would be a relatively easy team to beat, compared to Bern or a suddenly formidable Cortina, then Henri Tissier’s return to form corrected that mistaken view.
Spittal, Austria – By Zino Stiles-Johnson – Correspondent for TSS
The first time I visited Spittal, Austria, in December 2018, I had arrived in that Carinthian town of 15,000 to see the Schuhplattlers face the Villach Tirolerhuts. What could disrupt the placidity of this bucolic village that lies under the shadow of Mt. Goldeck, I wondered, as I walked from the quaint town square out toward the Shoes’ Meadow, sharing with my closest friend a bag of fresh Krapfen and a hot coffee. And then, that peace was broken by voices raised, once again, to address a 133–year old argument. The 133–year old argument … that is now, seven years later, The 140–year old argument. My friend (hello, Daisy) and I stood, amused, as a handful of natives of Spittal engaged in a, shall we say, voluble discussion with a group of visiting Tirolerhut supporters about the outcome, of course, of the 1885 Tyrol Cup Final.
History, TSS, and most attendees of the match believed that they had witnessed a 3—2 victory for the Schuhplattlers, the 2nd Tyrol Cup lifted by the 3rd team to ever form in the AL. But on the Monday following the Saturday Final, the Villach Herald (to be fair, the premier newspaper of the day in the region) famously and controversially declared that the Tirolerhuts had won 6—3, crediting Villach with a skot that the referee had, for a moment, mistakenly awarded the Huts when a Villach fan – a merchant named Willie Windisch – sneaked onto the Meadow, scooped up a dead ball, and ran across the field and slid across the Spittal line. His demeanor was called “jolly,” and his progress was described as “circuitous” and “indecisive,” and most on–lookers assumed that Herr Windisch had consumed a substantial amount of good, stout Austrian beer.
Villach legend Teddy Kogler, laughing uproariously, retrieved the ball, apologized to the Schuhs’ Captain, Brandt Marchner, and returned to his teammates. Villach never did score that skot. Villach Gate Luke Koppensteiner, in Bruno Böhm’s 1906 book The First Eight, said, “We lost 3—2. Simple as that. We couldn’t breach that Spittal defense.”
One hundred and forty years later, you’d think the argument was settled. Maybe after 240 years, or 340, it will be.
So, it’s fair to say that Spittal holds a noteworthy place in the history of the Austrian League, one that began when farmers from this town saw the first Klagenfurt–Villach match and went home to form a team of their own. And this year’s edition of the Schuhplattlers is adding to their long legacy, claiming the lead in the Alpine League through five matches with a crushing 26—9 defeat of a subdued–looking Matterhorn Black Eagles team. Captain and Center Leo Fiser and Schliessman Anselm Dusl [my choice only two weeks ago as Player of the Week] have led Spittal to a 4—1—0 record, but the entire team has excelled in compiling numbers that, to date, overwhelm their league rivals.
Spittal has scored 104 points and allowed only 55 – they’re winning, on average, 21–11 each week. Their +49 scoring differential is 43 points higher than Eisenerz and Vaduz’s +6. Whether the Schuhs can display this kind of supremacy over their pursuers in the Alpine League in future weeks cannot be guessed. But in their past three matches, Spittal has outscored their opponents 67–19.
Even the writers at the Villach Herald would have to acknowledge that those are winning numbers.
Zillertal, Austria – By Thill Brenner – Correspondent for TSS
After five weeks, there is one league that has three teams with four wins each – the Barrel. Come next Spring, the relevant number will be two – as in two teams will have earned promotion (and yes, two others will be sent off into wiesespiel purgatory). But for now, the boys from Chambéry, Aarua, and Sonthofen have dived, dodged, tackled, and stretched themselves to the top, forming a triumvirate intent on creating more distance between themselves and the derisively named bottom of the Barrel. And this past Saturday, as if bound to one another like that first Roman trio of Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Crassus, resources pooled and will united, these three combined to outscore their opponents 74-34. But it was not one outcome played out on three Meadows. On the contrary, each victor relied on their strongest third of the field to earn their 12th points of the (I was going to say young season, but next week marks the end of the first third) season.
The Elephants dominated from the Schliessman, as Wings Willelm Brisbois and Juste Lévêque accounted for 19 of the teams 26 points, while Lock Rémy Rome might have to report himself as illegally being the 10th AND 11th player on the field, virtually barricading the entry into their scoring zone.
Near one of the many forks in the Aare River, looking up at the impressive Jura mountains, the Gables secured their fourth win behind the thighs, better yet, let’s say the trunk, of Gate Magnus Beitel. Captain Lux Dirksen, when asked about surrendering the most unusual five kicks and zero skots, explained that Beitel had promised before he and his mates took the meadow that the previously first-ranked Printers would not cross his line. “He looked us each in the eye and said, ‘I guarantee it.’” And when the 43 expired, his mud-covered smile said it all, reflecting some of the hue of the scoreboard’s 16-5 tally.
In Sonthofen, to no one’s surprise, offense was once again on display, as the second highest scoring team of all 64 sent wave after wave of Center Otmar Simmon and Forward Elijah Unkle left, right, and straight ahead, running around, through, and past the flailing arms (was it only 20 of them?) of the chasing Voiron. The 32 points of the Dairymen were evenly distributed across both halves, and the 24 allotted to Simmon and Unkle also evenly tallied during the 40 and the 43. The balance of the score was a true reflection of the balance of the scorers, as each man proved equally problematic for the Weavers, Simmon with his high gallop and Unkle with his elusive hips. All told, the Cheese and Milk set the mark for points scored at this juncture of the season – their 4-game win streak may yet be eclipsed by their own doing.
PLAYER of the WEEK:
Abrahams: Willi Muhr / Schliessman – Vienna. Despite another defeat for the Composers, a 27—22 loss to dangerous Cortina, their live–wire Wing Willi Muhr claims my Player of the Week Award. Typically, the Riflers finish high in the Tyrol when their Marcello Rinaldi–led defense controls matches, but that unit has been middle–of–the–pack so far, and Muhr’s vibrant performance exposed the Riflers as a step slow. His 12 points on two skots and 4 kicks (a skill on which he has worked diligently), supplemented by Nicolar Irmiger’s 7, were almost enough, but a late skot by Cortina decided the match. Like the Tirggel, the Composers do not project as a last–place team, and if Muhr, the current Grexxam Medal holder, continues to challenge defenders as he did on this day, Vienna will not remain in the doldrums.
Stiles–Johnson: Jovanni Insigne / Farmhand – Trento. Insigne, a vocal advocate of the Italian teams in the Tyrol League (as seen in a recent TSS interview), was more action than talk on Saturday as the Dolomites romped past the struggling Triskelions of Füssen, 24—10. Insigne scored a career single match best 11 points to propel Trento to their third consecutive win and sole second place in the Tyrol. Trento trails only Salzburg in point differential (+33 to +36), though they lead the Edelweiss where it matters – in the standings.
Brenner: Claus Binder / Schliessman – Kitzbühel. In the Hahnenkamms exciting 26—25 win over Zurich, Binder led a relentless attack that assaulted and exhausted the line of Tirggel Gates. Binder’s 10 points placed him four points clear of Mule Brunner at 2nd in the scoring race and edged him closer to Paul Lackner, who collected only 5 points this week. Binder has been a scintillating force in Season 154, an early candidate for the Klammer, Grexxam and Purtscheller Medals.
ONE FINAL NOTE:
Abrahams: Zurich needs to turn things around, immediately. Facing the Tyrol League–leading Kitzbühel Hahnenkamms at home, this was the week to announce their refusal to accept the poor results and descent down the league standings before the season is lost. Now, last season, this team made a symbolic change that spurred a long winning streak; they retired their “Financiers” name and logo and returned to their original and endearing mascot: the “Tirggel.” That shift awoke a new energy in the team, and we saw results that promised Zurich would thrive this season. Actual results have fallen far short of their hopes and expectations of we here at TSS. Kitzbühel came in as the only team without a defeat in all six leagues – among all 64 teams, and the battle was on. In an early candidate for the Match of the Season, the Hahnenkamms defeated the Cookies 26—25 despite a proud, ferocious showing by the home team and the raucous support of 14,000 supporters.
Thaler Medal holder Ozi Mannheim, all of 19 years old, was his best dynamic self after a series of matches in which his influence was minimal, and Forward Armand Flamur scored two brave skots. But for all their resistance and determination, Kitzbühel was a shade better. Claus Binder and Florenz Mader, both in the top four in scoring so far this season, stung the Tirggel defense again and again, but it was a high-arcing kick from 30 yards out that broke a 25—25 tie and broke countless hearts in the biggest city in Switzerland and across the many northern cantons where the Tirggel are beloved. The victors moved to 4—0—1 and became the only team with 13 points at any level in Wiesespiel.
Zurich has time to salvage the season, with 13 matches remaining. But Vienna, at least as talented as Zurich, is also on only 3 points, and they – and Füssen – have a huge climb ahead of them.
Stiles–Johnson: I have been charting the leading scorers in the Tyrol League, and many of you have evinced support for a greater concentration on statistics, numbers, lists. Fair enough. Next week, I’ll return to the race for the Klammer Medal. But, fear not: I am still supplying a list for you who, like me, love such things. I wrote above about walking to the Meadow in Spittal while my friend Daisy and I shared a bag of Krapfen – locally–made donuts. Let’s go from there. Here are the foods that I like best to pick up from a vendor or newsstand or bakery or to–go place and carry with me to the match I am attending. Here they are …
My Ten Favorite Snack Foods in AL Towns:
10. Munich: Leberkässemmel – the famous ground corned beef, pork and bacon meatloaf sandwich. It’s a heavy snack, yes, but I always have one in Munich.
9. Chamonix: The Tartiflette Savoyarde … made with reblochon cheese, bacon, potatoes, and onions. Also substantial, and also indispensable.
8. Innsbruck: The Brezel … specifically from Hansi’s. Crispy, light, fresh. Perfect.
7. Sankt Moritz: Birnbrot. The traditional ones made with dried pears are excellent, but I also adore those with raisin and dried figs.
6. Bern: Carac. Shortbread and chocolate and cream and icing …? Yes. Every time I am in Bern.
5. Vaduz: Furstenturm Wurfel … especially the chocolate ones.
4. Spittal: The afore–mentioned Krapfen. Pastries are my greatest weakness.
3. Cortina: Canederli. These are bread dumplings, usually made with speck (smoked ham), cheese, and herbs. Add butter … and goodness gracious. Granted, it’s a stretch to make this a food one carries and eats on the march, but I always manage.
2. Villach: Strauben. Traditional funnel cakes. Hot, melty, like air.
1. Salzburg: Apfelstrudel. And more Apfelstrudel. Why complicate this? That’s the classic Austrian pastry. I love pastries. And Salzburg has 20 such places where I can buy them, just moments out of the oven and with an aroma that could attract bears from Norway or Romania, as I walk down to see the Edelweiss play.
Brenner: It is one thing for an individual player to struggle, as Jurgen Hawksteader has (see above). It is another thing – both simpler and more complex to understand – when an entire team loses its form, particularly when its excellent form was recent and its roster of players has not changed significantly.
Last summer, Mulhouse captivated the entire Wiesespiel world when they progressed to the semi–final of the Meadow Cup, losing that contest to the Lucerne Cheesemakers. Both the (eventual Finalist and 2nd–place finisher) Besançon Artisans and the Locomotives played with élan, a certain flair that makes French teams French (long–time fans of the Meadow game will know what I mean). Further, Forward Édouard Bombelles was, arguably, the standout player of the Summer Tournament, as he called it repeatedly, Captain Nicolas Calvet excelled as well, and gear for this intriguing team spiked in sales and remains a highly in–demand scarf, badge, jersey and hat, their ‘Locomotive” image and alternate “Railmen” icon both appearing on the backs and heads of many fans not only in Eastern France but across the countries where Wiesespiel is played. Who didn’t see the video on YouTube of Sir Paul McCartney, in concert in Paris three days before Mulhouse played its semi–final, wearing the iconic Railmen shirt?
Only a few months after that heady run, the Locomotive has lost all its steam. On Saturday, Ebensee came to France and utterly controlled the host team. The Salters won 11—0 to maintain a tie at 4—1—0 and 12 points with Passau atop the Wheat League; they have been sharp and played tight defense so far.
But the Locomotives have scored 4 and 0 points the last two weeks in a League in which no team is holding opponents below 10 points a match (Ebensee’s 51 and Passau’s 52 points allowed through 5 matches both come close, of course).
Bombelles was clearly frustrated by the Salters’ use of Konrad Wurz as what, 60 years ago, was called the “Shadow–Lock,” as Wurz pursued Bombelles doggedly wherever the French scoring threat went on the field. The home fans were vociferous in their support throughout the 40 but were also, it must be reported, also clearly frustrated as the 43 wore on and became wholly dispirited before the match ended, their ennui a trait that makes French fans … well … French.