Quiet and serene, Eisenerz is causing a bit of commotion in the Wheat League
Observations & Opinions / Week Eight
From Harold Abrahams – Special Correspondent for TSS
Champions Collapse … Composers Control … Cortina Commands
Every veteran of Wiesespiel understands that playing in the Wheat League presents a Meadowman with the chance to know sport at its purest, its wildest and its zaniest. Look at the mercurial rise of the Interlaken Yodelers during the three seasons of 1968-71: from the depths of being deemed a ‘Village’ team (a provisional team that could scrimmage the Wheaters when another team was unable to appear for a match) to entry into the Wheat League in 1968 … to winning the League at the end of the 1970 season … to winning the 1971 2-3 match in the Alpine League before losing to eventual Alpine champion Villach.
Well, this season, the Wheat League has seen one team impose some order on the usual chaos as Eisenerz has claimed the league lead as the season’s mid-point looms next week. Their workmanlike 13-7 win at home against Chamonix leaves them at 6-2-0 with a +36. Not sure what is more lovely: the view of the mountains ringing the Oresmen’s Meadow or their offense, modelled after the old ‘Unbroken Chain’ design implemented by Hans Delbruck’s Salzburg Edelweiss dynasty of the 1960s. The Oresmen are a very sound outfit.
Remember when Kitzbühel won the Tyrol Cup last spring with a tense 3-2 victory over Cortina? In claiming their 10th Tyrol Cup, the Hahnenkamms seemed to declare that they would be a force for many seasons to come. While their dangerous form may return next season, this year seems a loss. One-win Trento came to this idyllic Alpine village and absolutely embarrassed the defending Cup Holders 25-6; a Dolomite team that has looked disorganized and amateurish for most of the season had put this match away, 16-4, by halftime. Wither have you gone, ‘Kamms?
In the meantime, Cortina is reminding everyone that they fell one point short of forcing extra time in the Cup Final last season, and the Italian club look as complete and determined as any team in the Tyrol League. They and the Financiers are locked in a tie with 6-1-1 records, though the Riflers have the more impressive numbers … and a fierce defense that yields fewer than 10 points a match.
Since no one in the Tyrol League seems close to loosening Paul Lackner’s annual grip on the Klammer Medal, that challenge may fall, in a season or two, to Vienna’s Captain Willi Muhr, whose physical power and willpower have urged the Composers to the only 8-0-0 record in any of the three Wiesespiel leagues (as well as a commanding +59 point differential). Muhr’s second skot pushed the ‘Mozarts’ to an insurmountable lead as Vienna won in Aggsbach, 23-16. They seem destined to gain promotion with a 6-point lead over the Rioteers and 8 points in hand against the very lively Innsbruck Downhillers.
Transylvania and Innsbruck’s smothering victories (at an uneven Klagenfurt for the Rioteers and at home against a helpless Vaduz) certainly indicate that they are worthy contenders for the 2-3 match if Vienna doesn’t falter. The muddled middle of the Alpine League makes this trio of teams appear to be lined up to compete for the Alpine Cup and promotion. But, knowing that the Meadow Game defies expectations and expert analysis (not that this column claims to provide that!) at each turn, let’s check back in a month or so and laugh at the unpredictable twists that will upend the Tables as they stand now.