Observations & Opinions / Week Seven
From Harold Abrahams – Special Correspondent for TSS
Aggsbach, Austria
Composers Remain Perfect … Unpredictable Lindwyrms … Wiesespiel’s Only Monk
After an unplanned hiatus, Your Special Correspondent returned this week eager to write once more about the passion that moves him most ardently: Wiesespiel. With the goal in mind of seeing as many clubs in person as I can manage, and with an eye toward history, I took a train to the Krems-Land District of northeastern Austria and arrived in the quaint village of Aggsbach – whose population of fewer than 800 citizens makes it among the smallest towns in central Europe to field a professional Meadow Game team. But, Aggsbach has been mustering up a squad from slim resources since September 1872, when the White Canons – all men of the cloth – became the fourth Austrian town to create a charter and put a competitive Wiesespiel team on the meadow; within two weeks, they had challenged Salzburg’s newly-formed team to an historic first match for both squads. The White Canons lost by the more-than creditable score of 5-2, and their proud history began spooling out behind them. Indeed, these men of the Order of the Canons Regular have even managed, in 1886 and 1904, to capture two Tyrol Cups.
After a smashing campaign last season during which Aggsbach finished 14-2-2, the Canons were promoted from the Wheat to the Alpine League, in which, after a rather surprising 26-22 loss to the Diplomats from Vaduz, they stand in 6th place with a 3-4-0 (+3) record. By tradition, the former Carthusian monastery in Aggsbach, which became the current Charterhouse, is the site where the team gathers to walk to the Pfarrhaus – the Rectory – the affectionate name of the meadow where the team plays. And, by tradition, one player on the Wiesespiel team is also a representative of the Catholic Church. I spoke with that gentleman – Brother Martin Eder – about that 150-year old tradition and his team’s prospects this season. Here are several remarks from the burly fourth-year Gate:
“We are a feisty team,” Eder said in his Austrian-inflected English, “and we have had several matches this season that made us believe we could earn promotion to the Tyrol for next year. We defeated Klagenfurt 23—9, in Klagenfurt, mind you, and few teams can best the Wyrms by a margin like that on their own meadow.”
“But,” Eder shrugged and smiled, “A week later, here, at the Rectory, we lost badly to Lucerne, and Lucerne’s captain was out with an injury that day. I played terribly, and our Manager was gracious to not withdraw me from the team after I let in two skots from distance.”
Regarding his unique status as a monk and a Wiesespieler, Eder added:
“Originally, the White Canons combined matches with ministry, and while that is not the case anymore, our team always prays before a match. For health and safety, for fair play. We give thanks for the beautiful places to which we travel and the joy of being outdoors, surrounded by others, often with mountains looking over us or rivers nearby. Sometimes, our opponents come across and join us for this ritual. It’s a lovely moment before we face each other on the meadow.”
Eder’s gentle prediction that the Canons would beat the Diplomats – who entered the game with just one win from six matches – proved incorrect as Vaduz ran at will through a porous defense, but both teams said a prayer before the match and shook hands and exchanged jerseys afterwards. Fair play, health and beauty, indeed. If you have not made it to Aggsbach for a match, it is a day well spent.
Of course, 14 other matches were contested last Saturday, and they supplied their share of surprises and wonders as well.
After a tactical battle that resulted in a 5-2 loss at Kitzbühel, Matterhorn finds itself at 3-3-1, with the three losses occurring away from their stunning home meadow in Zermatt. Not shocking, that: most teams fare much better at home. But Matterhorn is averaging 15 points a game at home, while scoring only 1.33 points per game away; their 2-point harvest against the Hahnenkamms improved their road scoring average.
Brenta’s dominance over Munich was so complete in their 23-9 victory that, with 6 minutes remaining, three quarters of the Lederhosen faithful had made for the gates. In fact, Franz Medal holder Jurgen Hawksteader failed to score for the first time this season. Dismal times for a team from a major city that expects excellence from itself each season.
But that was not the result that most stuns this correspondent this week – not when the Riflers came up from Cortina and routed the Edelweiss in Salzburg, 28-7. While the home fans continued to sing the Rodgers and Hammerstein-penned song that is the namesake of this team well after the game’s outcome was decided, the Kletterpack faithful didn’t put the usual gusto into the repeated renditions.
Trento tried for an Italian sweep to match Brenta and Cortina’s road exploits, but fell one point short against a very skilled and determined Zurich team. The Financiers took the 22-21 lead with 4 minutes remaining and held on doggedly against the Dolomites desperate attempts to break through and pick up a second win. Well done, Dolomiti, to show such spirit during a trying season.
But, for my Team of the Week, we visit the Alpine League, in which Klagenfurt traveled to Lucerne and shredded the Cheesemakers 31-4. The Lindwyrms have been an uneven squad this season (“un-bettable,” one colleague at TSS says ruefully, regretting the money he has squandered trying to figure them out), but when Allie Wurter is in the form he displayed on Saturday, the Wyrms like their chances against any opponent. This convincing win gives Klagenfurt the best +/- in the Alpine League short of Vienna, who can boast of a sparkling 7-0-0 record after their comfortable 25-16 win at Spittal.
It’s good to be back – in the game, in Austria, in mid-season!