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A hot spring day in Baton Rouge Louisiana awaitied a depleted Kookas team. They say in the USAFL you are only as good as you travel and that was going to be only too true this weekend with many players for variety of reasons not making the trip. Luckily the Kookas had hospitable hosts who were sympathetic to the Kookas predicament and lent a few new and inexperienced players to help out. The Kookas also collected on the way from Montgomery AL a former New York player (originally from Boston) in Brian Flaherty for his first Kooka game. The first quarter the Kookas kicked with a nice breeze at their backs after Captain for the day Curtis Jones won the toss. Jones, Collins and Glenn were in the center and immediately having an impact and with a nice goal on the run by Mick Frost and another by Glenn gave the Kookaburras some joy. Baton Rouge were not to be out done and answered with three impressive goals of their own all off good handball and classy kicking at goal. Frost chipped in again with a freaky kick off the ground goal landing the Kookas third goal for the quarter and the lead at the first change. Atlanta 3.4.22 leading Baton Rouge 3.0.18 The second term and it wasnt getting any cooler. The taller Baton Rouge team were starting to get on top. Flaherty was getting a few touches as was Kraska at CHB but the ball was coming quickly into the Baton Rouge leading forwards. The Kookaburras on the other hand struggled to get the ball forward at all and went scoreless for the quarter whilst BTR played good footy to add 4 more goals to their tally and be handy leaders at half time. Atlanta still on 3.4.22 to Baton Rouge 7.3.45 The third term was going to be the Kookas chance to regain some composure and get back into the game with the aid of the breeze. Coach Powers switched the team around considerably to try and get things moving. At the start it looked like it was going to work with Hyder winning a free up forward and goaling and several other opportunities being created by Collins and Jones who were working tirelessly as usual. Soon after a blow to Atlanta when veteran Kraska had to be carried off with a leg injury meant the Kookas were now really up against it. Briton Rotell who never game in all day chimed in for a goal for the Kookas to give them some hope. At the last break though things look desperate for the Kookas, Atlanta 5.6.36 trailed Baton Rouge 9.3.57. The last term was all the home team. With plenty of fresh legs the Kookaburras were depleted and run off their legs. Full credit to the local Baton Rouge club, they continue to impress with well coached players, plenty of new recruits and an enthusiasm for the game well needed by any club playing this strange game in this huge country. Final scores with the Kookas failing to score into the wind for the second time today Atlanta 5.6.36 to Baton Rouge 15.8.98 In the end a thoroughly deserved win to the home team. They are terrific hosts and a great bunch of guys to play footy against. It was a pity that Atlanta could only muster 8 regular players and a rookie to travel down here. The Baton Rouge club deserved better as did the group that made the trip. Away games are a regular part of Aussie Rules footy in the US, have been for a while and will be for a while longer. The Kookaburras need to regroup and get on the road and see if they can return to some of their better traveling form in years past. We will wait and see what happens. Atlanta 3.4 3.4 5.6 5.6 (36) Baton Rouge 3.0 7.3 9.3 15.8 (98) Best Players: ATL: Collins, Jones, Glenn, Rotell, Frost BTR: Meyer, Stebbing, Boyd, Trevaskis, Marquette Goalkickers: ATL: Frost 2, Rotell, Glenn & Hyder 1 each BTR: Not supplied
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