Well you couldn’t say "the skies were angry my friend that day" as the weather had passed and the day was lovely and sunny. But the damage had been done to the field at Brown Deer Park in Milwaukee during the previous 10 days. If it wasn’t under water it was plain muddy, simple as that. This led to a huge challenge for the Kookas as they looked to cap off an improved season on the field in 2007.
The Kookas had beaten the Milwaukee Bombers earlier in the year for the first time when the Bombers had brought a less than top team to Atlanta and the Kookas played well and put them away in no uncertain terms. Could they repeat the dose now on enemy territory?
The Kookas started well getting the ball out of the center to forwards Damien Sheehan and Warren Ballagh, the slippery conditions certainly made it difficult and it was Ballagh that posted the first goal of the game after his second attempt. As the first quarter wore on though you could see winning this game was going to be no easy task. Ballagh added another goal close to the quarter time siren and the Kookas were well rewarded with albeit a slender 7 point lead at the first break. Ross LaRosa was doing well as was Brent Kewley and Ben Crist off half back.
The second term would not be one of the Kookas best. The ball was now heavy and possessions very difficult to get and control. The Bombers were first for the ball and hurt the Kookas with greater running and certainly effectiveness up forward. Three unanswered goals to the Bombers put them in the drivers seat at half time and the momentum had swung in the game to the home team.
The third term started with the Milwaukee adding to their goal tally and the Kookas were found wanting. A goal later to Adam Grist gave them some hope but when Milwaukee replied soon after with another the Kookas had their backs to the wall. At the final change it was Milwaukee by 16 points meaning the Kookas would have to double their own score just to be a rough chance.
A few changes to the line up and the Kookas got their chance they were looking for. Sheehan added some spark to the midfield and Wayne Kraska and LaRosa were combining well up forward. A great long goal by Curtis Jones gave the Kookas some hope. When he did the same again a few minutes later and Kewley found Kraska a few yards out for another goal the Kookas were all of a sudden only one straight kick behind. Could they pull off a miracle win.?
The last ten minutes of the game seemed to go forever as the Kookas tried valiantly to get the ball forward only to be thwarted by the Bombers defense. The game which had turned into a slogging mudfest over an hour earlier wasn’t any different now that everyone was tired and the ball was like a 50lb slippery watermelon. Milwaukee were able to hold on in those last dying minutes much to their credit and Ross Siegel kicked the clincher for the home team with just a few seconds remaining.
So the Kookaburras went down by 9 points but they went down fighting. But maybe ruing several missed chances through the first half and a poor second quarter when the result could have been decided after their good opening term.
