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The Kookaburras traveled with just 15 players to St Louis and that meant the luxury of having options to change up your team if things go wrong was never there for Coach Mike Powers. This may have been a telling point in the outcome as the Kookas got off to probably the worst start in recent memory. On a small and very uneven St Louis field the game was played in perfect weather conditions in front of a small and enthusiastic crowd. A welcome inclusion into the Atlanta team was BJ Gambaro for his first game of the year selected to the Center Half Back position. Interestingly the Kookas once flush with Aussies had only two on this trip, old timers Jim Batten and Wayne Kraska. Is this a new era for the Kookas?, perhaps so. First bounce and it was all St Louis, the Kookas looked helpless as the Blues piled on goal after goal setting up shots with crisp passing and plenty of fast repetitive running that Atlanta had no answer for. It was a quarter to forget for the Kookas who looked slow and unfit with perhaps only one or two chances to score going begging and St Louis hitting their targets with every opportunity. At the first break it was Atlanta 0.1.1 to St Louis 7.4.46 That was nearly the day over for the Kookas right there, so with only pride on the line now they set about ensuring their trip north was not all for nothing. Into the second term Mobley had moved to the full back line and was doing an excellent job. Ben Crist had started to curtail Sarbackers flair in the middle and when Jones slotted back to his more familiar spot in the back line and the Gambaro went into the ruck the Kookas were far more competitive. Jim Batten was able to break free and slot through a handy goal mid way through the term and when Crist finished off some great physical work with a goal kicked off the ground the Kookas started to realize they were not done quite yet. Mick Frost was also continuing his good form from the previous week picking up kicks out on the flanks. At the main break however it was Atlanta 2.2.14 to St Louis 10.7.67 The second half could have been a total disaster but the traveling Kookas stuck to their guns. There was little Coach Mike Powers could do with already two injured players in Van Putten and Broughton but plead to the rest of the team to close ranks and try at every opportunity to team together and never give up. For St Louis Sergott in the middle and Sarbacker were still damaging as was Schomaker up forward and Gafney was having the better of Batten. For Atlanta Wayne Kraska was helping out around the packs and with the aid of some tidy ruck work kicked the Kookas third goal soon after the start of the third quarter. Not long after a long handball again by Kraska set up the Marty Hyder for one of his much celebrated goals and the Kookas were actually winning the quarter. Crist and Kewley again trying hard with Tim Roberson doing well the Kookas came into the last break with their heads up. Atlanta 4.5.29 St Louis 12.10.82 The last term was a similar affair with only one goal scored by both teams the Kookas coming from the boot of Kraska after some tidy passing of Batten and Jones. Gambaro had certainly made a difference in the ruck and the game had developed more into a game of defenses with Mobley and Jones at one end and Jagger, Mills and Gray certainly having a say for St Louis at the other. At the final siren it was comfortable and well deserved win for the home team but the Kookaburras, save for their disastrous first quarter, had virtually matched the Blues the rest of the day. But you know what they say footy games are won in 100 minutes, well here in the US its 80 minutes, but you know what I mean. Atlanta going down by 59 points. Atlanta 0.1 2.2 4.5 5.8.38 St Louis 7.4 10.7 12.10 14.13.97 Best Players: ATL: Crist, Gambaro, Mobley, Frost, Jones STL: Not supplied Goalkickers: ATL: Kraska 2, Batten, Crist & Hyder 1 each STL: Schomaker 4, Lipman 2, Sarbacker 2, Gray, Brereton, Jagger & Carrol 1 each (2 Unknown)
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