On Saturday May 22, Austin, Texas played host to a four team USAFL tournament over the weekend. Host, the Austin Crows, were joined by north Texas rivals, the Dallas Magpies, to take on visiting northerners, the Nashville Kangaroos and the (4) New York Magpies. The weather was hot and humid but the Austin United Soccer pitch was in great nick from all the recent rain and sunshine. A record crowd was growing in anticipation of a great day of footy.
In the tourney's first game, Austin were keen to show it could hang with the best teams in the USAFL and it showed as they gave (4) New York a scare with a promising first half. Unlike recent weeks, the Crows were almost at full strength and it showed.
Jesse Leos got the Crows started with a lovely crumb and snap in the opening minutes. Coach Simon Boyce followed with a long set shot and the Crows jumped out to an early lead kicking with the aid of a three goal breeze. Veteran midfielder Grant Campbell was getting plenty of the ball and Seymour Butt was doing a fantastic job tagging the New York captain out of the game. Forwards Sam Ryan, Brett Emerson and Sam Harris were presenting themselves each time and the Crows should have added two or three more goals for the half if not for wasteful kicking on goal. Rene Gloria and Ford Shanley came on and both did nice working crumbing there bigger forwards but unfortunately couldn't finish off there good work. New York added a late goal to to bring them within 9 points at half time.
The Crows continued to win the ball through the middle in the early parts of the second half and Emerson nearly kicked a goal of the day contender but unfortunately his snap on goal took a cruel bounce and hit the PVC upright. Just as it looked like Austin were going to hold on for a upset win, New York lifted like all top clubs do. Running in numbers and moving the ball well through the middle of the ground, New York added four late second half goals to run out winners. Great games by backmen Dave Enslow, Mat King and Ray Silva as well as Campbell and Butt in the midfield.
While New York Head Coach, Glenn Ormsby was happy with the second half, he would have preferred a better first half. "I thought we were outplayed in the first half of the first half. We were beaten to the contest and Austin tackled in packs and wanted it more. We made a few positional changes to adjust to the wind as well and in the second half of the 1st half we started to get back to an even footing in terms of general play. We were lucky that Austin didn't kick straight but our defense held up strongly against the 3-4 goal breeze.
"In the second half we used the ball better and with the aid of the breeze kicked long. Our ruckmen and midfielders got on top and we managed to get the goals on the board to put the scoreboard pressure on and ran out comfortable winners. Our form was patchy and some of that was due to my rotations to try and give everyone a run and keep them fresh in the tough conditions."
Austin 2.5 2.6 (18)
New York 1.2 6.5 (41)
GOALKICKERS
Austin: Simon Boyce 1, Jesse Leos 1.New York: James Hawkins 1, Andy Brennan 1, Iza Dawkins 1, Scott McMaster 1, Jimmy McLoughlin 1, Sam Mitchell 1.
BEST PLAYERS
Austin: Seymour Butt, Dave Enslow, Rene Gloria, Brett Emerson, Simon Boyce.New York: Andy Brennan, Iza Dawkins, Michael Gluck, James Hawkins, Scott McMaster.
Field Umpires: Rhett Rohde, Ross McLaren.
