|
It was a long awaited day in Atlanta on Saturday when the visiting Reading Kangaroos came to play the first known trans Atlantic club game of Aussie Rules Football on US soil. With a touring party of 19 players and one very outnumbered girlfriend Tamara, all was set for a historic few days in Atlanta. First off Thursday night a welcome party in the nightclub area of Atlanta, Buckhead. Fados a landmark Irish Pub in Atlanta was the venue and although the Reading guys were somewhat late they made up for it in swift time. A great night was had by all. With tours of the CNN headquarters and the World of Coca Cola out of the way on Friday and a couple of local watering holes of course all was set for the much awaited clash at Creel Park of the Kookaburras and the Kangaroos on Saturday afternoon. The game was played under near perfect conditions, on a relatively narrow field by Australian standards but plenty long enough to make up for it with a 15 a side game ready to go. A small but enthusiastic crowd awaited with freshly concocted local Coca Cola and a few Lamingtons and Vanilla slices thrown in from the local Aussie Bakery. The teams lined up and after the Kookaburras went past and shook every Reading players hand and thanked them for coming so far, the three stirring National anthems were played. With the three flags lifting slowly in a fluky breeze favoring the downtown end of the park, Atlanta's Captain Brent Bacon won the toss and elected to kick with the aid of the breeze. Umpires for the day were founding father of the Atlanta club Mike Powers, also record games holder, former President and all round great bloke an American who fell in love with the game in the late 70s early 80s watching games from Australia on ESPN. He was accompanied by Matty Wilson a first time field umpire but a former player and board member of the Kookaburras. Matty an Aussie but a Collingwood supporter might have thought "what had he got himself in for". First bounce and it was all on. Ruckman BJ Gambaro for the Kookas straight to Coach Kraska and out of the middle it went. From there an enthralling battle took place by two clubs so far away from Australia but so passionate for the game they were playing. Its was the Kookaburras who drew first blood with a goal to Bacon and were looking dangerous kicking well to the leading Robinson at full forward giving Reading Captain Adam Bennett plenty of work to do. Reading posted a couple of behinds before Bronte Munzer started to assert his authority up forward with two solid grabs and goals. The Kookas were keeping there heads in front though with another goal to Bacon then a great lead, mark and goal to Robinson. At the first break it was Atlanta up by 5 points 3.2.20 to Reading 2.3.15. Second term started as good as the first, it was hard to tell out there on either team who were the Expat Aussies, first gamer for Atlanta local Curtis Jones gave a glimpse of a promising career and at the other end of the scale the wiry legs of Greg Cave trotted onto the field for his Atlanta debut. Another jumper for the draw for Cave but someone who brings a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm for the game to the Kookas. It was goal for goal through the term. With the lead changing hands several times. Brent Barton was becoming a big part of the Reading charge with his own goal and Hull chipped in for one as well. Atlanta had Alan Mobley fly down the wing after a string of handballs and kick a stirring 45 yard goal at full tilt before Kraska slipped into the forward line to mark and goal. Again at half time the margin was 5 points Atlanta 5.2.32 to Reading 4.3.27. It was some game! What ever went on at the half time huddle for the Kangaroos they need to bottle as after the main break the visitors made every post a winner. It was the younger players though that Atlanta couldn't match. Goals came quickly to Tom Mc Hugh, Ben Banks and Mc Hugh again. Adam Croxford was doing well with two of his own with help from Munzer and then he got one more himself. Kraska for Atlanta found himself loose again up forward to goal for the Kookas late in quarter where they did all the chasing. Cromarty and Bennett certainly on top in the backline for Reading, with Bacon, Gambaro and RAAF member and first gamer Justin Diamond trying to keep the Kookas in touch. Barton goaled late for Reading, just rewards for a top game he was playing. 6 goals to 1 in the quarter and it was slipping away from Atlanta. The last term and it was Reading again away to a good start with a goal to Thomas. Later Barton goaled capping off a seriously good day through the center whilst Hull put the final nail in the coffin for the hosts. One last gasp for Atlanta and a nice leap, mark and goal to veteran Jim Batten and it was all over. Reading Kangaroos 42 point winners 13.9.87 to Atlanta Kookaburras 7.3.45. Reading winning the inaugural Atlanta International Australian Rules Football Challenge Cup. At the post game presentations Atlanta President Wayne Kraska presented the Cup to Reading Captain Adam Bennett and team leader Joao Coelho the person with the vision and the guts to bring a team all the way from the west of London to Atlanta for a game of footy and a few beers. Joao praised his club and Atlanta and invited them back to Reading in 2006 for the return game. Later in the evening at the traditional after game party on the deck at CJs Landing in Buckhead the beer flowed and the stories about those screamers were all around. Tristan Cromarty was presented the Best on Ground medal for a terrific performance in the backline all day. Many friends have been made over the 5 days here in Atlanta and history has been made. Reading UK Kangaroos and the Atlanta Kookaburras leading the way in international football and having a great time as well. Who will it be next year here in Atlanta, can your team win the Atlanta International Challenge Cup.? Scores Atlanta Kookaburras 3.2 5.2 6.2 7.3. 45 Reading Kangaroos 2.3 4.3 10.4 13.9. 87 Goals: Atlanta: Bacon 2, Kraska 2, Mobley, Robinson & Batten 1 each Reading: Munzer 3, Barton 3, Hull 2, Banks, Croxford & Thomas 1 each Best Players: Atlanta: Gambaro, Bacon, C Jones, Mobley, Kraska, Robinson Reading: Cromarty, Barton, Munzer, Croxford & Bennett.
|
