World Footy News

The first ever Australian football team to represent Norway has conquered national-rivals Sweden in the inaugural match between the two countries.

The Norway Trolls team, composed half of Norwegian nationals, plus a Czech, a New Zealander, and a group of Australians including one woman, ran out 9.7.61 to 4.6.30 victors over the Elks in icy conditions at Karlstad in Sweden.

Thanks to David Stone from Norway for this report.

After crossing the border the morning of the game, the contest started in shambolic fashion for the visitors as a pre-game mix-up led to only 16 players taking the field for the first quarter.

Aided by this, and a strong breeze, the Swedes launched a battery of forward attacks that stretched the Norwegian defence to its limit. Clean possessions were at a premium as both teams struggled to handle the greasy Sherrin in the driving rain.

The conditions made scoring difficult and the Swedes were unable to turn their early dominance into goals. A goal against the play to the Norwegians and some sterling defensive stops by Kurt ‘Crawf’ Jansen and Adam O’Toole ensured the teams were on level pegging at quarter time with two goals apiece.

Spurred by their ability to withstand the Swedish attack the Trolls came out firing in the second quarter. First-game ruckman Amund Lundesgaard fought valiantly against 6’10’’ Swedish giant Mats Wurmbach and the class of Norwegian midfielder Adam Pearce began to shine through.

Pearce was everywhere in the second quarter, consistently finding the footy and feeding the Norwegian runners. He, Ben Jago and Nathan Roxby began to intercept Swedish defensive rebounds, and goals to full forward Tim Pritchard and a magnificent long effort by Damian Cosson put the Norwegians 19 points ahead at the main break.

Half time sparked a rush to the boundary-line tent as players from both teams huddled under towels, ski jackets, blankets or whatever they could get their hands on. Plumes of steam rose from jumpers, heads, arms and boots as the frozen players desperately tried to thaw themselves. A captains’ meeting resulted in a slight shortening of the remaining two quarters.

The third quarter was Sweden’s last chance to use the breeze and they threw everything into the contest. Norway’s unlikely backline of Tor Arne Sørensen, Knut Høgetveit, Isaac ‘Iceman’ Schmidt and University of NSW women’s representative Jenna Linehan responded with dogged, accountable wet weather footy, repelling everything that was thrown at them and helping their midfielders push the ball forward. When the siren sounded Norway had kept the Swedes goalless and added one of their own to take a 22 point lead into the last quarter.

The final term was more old-fashioned slog as conditions remained dire and players tired. Every player on the field pushed themselves to contest after contest but it was the Norwegians who landed the knockout blow with three quick majors including an impressive lob soccer goal by David Stone.

Sweden fought to the final siren and claimed two goals in the dying stages, but the damage had already been done. The final margin was 31 points in favour of the visitors.

For the winners Pearce, Jago, Cosson, Jansen, Lundesgaard, O’Toole and Roxby were strong all day, with Pritchard the difference up forward. The Norwegian-born players applied themselves exceptionally and showed courage, skill and footy smarts that belied their inexperience.

For the Swedes it was a case of what might have been. Their failure to apply scoreboard pressure in the first quarter came back to haunt them and loose marking on key Norwegians such as Pearce proved costly.

Post-match the players acknowledged their opponents’ efforts before rushing undercover to de-frost themselves and hit the coin-operated showers, where those with loose change were able to gradually regain sensation in their limbs.

The day was witnessed by few due to the weather, but it was an engaging contest played in great spirit, and a true test of resilience for all who played.

Thanks goes to the Karlstad and Swedish hosts for providing excellent facilities, umpires and timekeepers.

The spirit shown on the day and during the evening as the teams celebrated together in Karlstad bodes well for some big Scandinavian clashes in the future, starting with a re-match in 2010.

Best: NORWAY Pearce, Jago, Cosson, Jansen, O’Toole, Lundesgaard, Roxby