Saturday 3rd May saw the Maulers head up to Brohult to take on Helsingborg Saints and the Odense Lions in our opening matches for the season. We took up a rather large squad but it became evident as soon as we arrived the we should have brought a truckload of cattle to chew the grass down, sheep had we been playing rugby. The saints were putting the finishing touches on the ground as we arrived and a few cans of line marking paint later we got stuck into it against Helsingborg. Not without making some noise first though for our previous captain Tony Macloughlin who celebrated his 100th game for the Maulers, congratulations mate!
As usual the Saints came out hard and fast and the Maulers replied with some hard and fast work of their own, both teams going goal for goal for the first three quarters. The new format of 4 x10 minute quarters certainly had every one on their toes and with a short 1 minute break at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters there wasn’t much time to catch ones breath. The match was filled with many a heavy hit with T Mac putting on a couple of rippers as well as Wayne Schuck debuting for the Maulers. Justin Lundgren came off bleeding a river at one stage but it wasn’t long before he was back on along with Jonas Lovén up forward scrapping in the pocket. It was great football to watch as the giant Stu Macdonald dominated in the ruck and the centers Tony Mac, Julius Nicklasson and Tim Lindgren showing everyone how its done in the middle, well done to you two young fellas! The Saints were kept goalless in the last and we picked up 1 goal which got us over the line along with a few too many behinds (Ben Polmear and Gates) that put us 14 points ahead at the final siren. Well done lads. A stack of firsts in that game including first DAFL match, Kyle Tuddenham, Paul Barron, Wayne Schuck, Fabian Rundbäck and Max Kensell, First DAFL goal Wayne again, first time Taffy and Rossco have captained together and my first game as coach.
We had an hour off and watched The Saints get a bit of a scare from the Odense Lions in the beginning of their match up before we took on the DAFL debutants ourselves, Saints eventually overcoming the Lions 40 to 10. The Lions were sporting a little more skill than first perceived but the Maulers really came into their own and ran away with the match 13.7. 85 to 1.3. 9 . Wayne pumped in 6 goals, Matty McMahan 3 with 1 each to Tim Lindgren, Tony Persson, Damien Bennett and one of our newest additions Fabian Rundbäck. A great day was had by all, thanks to all the guys for giving 110%!!
The first ever ladies match in Scandinavia then took place between the Odense Lionesses and Helsingborg Saints Ladies. Odense coming out winners in that match. The girls put on plenty of big hits and tackles and had plenty of support from everyone on the sidelines.
See you all down at Limhamnsfältet this weekend, Saturday May 1oth for another huge day of Aussie Rules!!!
Ryno