Defending Champs Fall … Lackner Sparkles … Imst Makes History
Bern’s fans blow Alpenhorns before Bern’s comfortable win against Trento
Observations & Opinions / Week One
From Harold Abrahams – Special Correspondent for TSS
The good people of Vienna turned out in massive numbers on St. Leopold’s Day to march through this grand capital city, listen to the musicians playing in the squares, try the wares on sale in the bustling markets, and, of course, stream down by the thousands to see their beloved Composers begin Season 152 of Wiesespiel, the Meadow Game, as the home-standing team welcomed the Troupers of Oberammergau into each team’s Alpine League opener. Many purists argue that this first match of the season should always pit Klagenfurt against Vienna as a tribute to the famous 26-3 victory by the so-called ‘Farmhands’ from the Tyrol, but no matter: the visitors from southern Germany were giddy to participate in their first-ever St Leopold’s Day clash, and despite losing a 14-11 decision, their immersion in the post-match celebrations bespoke the virtues of allowing different squads to travel to Vienna and play in this historic match. Once the swelling crowd of fans had assembled, plates of ham, cheese and bread in hand, a team of cattle was released, festooned with flowers, and were then prodded across the playing field. Once the gate closed on their exit, Burgermeister Max Schuhoff blew a mighty blast on an alpenhorn, and, seconds later, the Composers went about trying to win for the 152nd time on November 15th. Man of the Match Willi Muhr muscled over two skots, and Oberammergau’s late efforts were not enough. If defeat can ever look like blissful victory, it is on this day, as the Troupers cheered the Viennese fans, saluted St. Leopold, and sang a drinking song or two with the Composers’ squad.
The rest of the Austrian League teams had to wait until Saturday, November 18 to unleash the energy and designs on greatness they’d saved up as the season neared. The Match of the Day, across all three Leagues, featured another German-Austrian pairing, with Salzburg, the 2022 Champions and a playoff loser in the Two-Three match in 2023, traveling to Munich, a difficult place to steal a victory. No surprise that the attention of the media and the eyes of every fair Fraulein were riveted on two men, for the Edelweiss’ Center Paul Lackner and Munich’s Schleissman Jurgen Hawksteader are both young, gifted, mercurial … and brilliantly handsome. On this day, the Feldmaus had the honors as Lackner began his defense of both the Klammer and Purtscheller Medals with a blistering performance, contributing three skots, countless tackles, and boundless energy in a narrow 21-18 win. Franz Medal-holder Hawksteader’s dazzling light was dimmed by Lackner’s greatness, which suggested that no player is quite ready to wrest the Field Mouse’s scoring and MVP trophies away from him just yet.
Elsewhere, Bern played a strong match under the glorious din of a bank of alpenhorns, holding Trento to one late Donn for a 10-1 win. Otto Von Steiger was imperious in commanding the Armed Bears’ rock-solid midfield.
Brenta reminded all comers that earning automatic promotion from the Alpine League does indeed mean something as they utterly stifled the current Tyrol Cup champion Kitzbuhel Hahnenkamms, 21-12. If there is a wilder game being played on this fine planet, please tell your correspondent all about it.
Fans of the Meadow Game must rejoice to see Original Eight teams Spittal and Aggsbach back in the Alpine League, and though both teams suffered opening losses, the Schuhplattlers and White Canons showed a grit and endeavor that marked their easy promotion from the Wheat; remember, the Schuhs went unbeaten last year at 15-0-3, and their Floating Formation is hard to master … but I predict it’ll win them many matches against mystified opponents this season.
My Alpine League Player of the Week, though, ran his boots off in leading that most ancient of teams, the iconic Klagenfurt Lyndwirms, to a routine 16-6 victory over Vaduz that would have seemed pedestrian except for the festive atmosphere; the Diplomats were never closer than 10 points, and a stout Worms’ defense did not look like offering any mercy. Allie Wurter may not be faster than Paul Lackner, but few can stay with this fleet Tyrolean winger, and those nursing bruises this morning may claim that Klagenfurt’s talisman packs a punch equal to any but the most stout defensemen in the Tyrol.