The Steelsharks Traun footballers did not have a sense of achievement at the start of the new season: with one 14:27-Defeat drew the team from head coach Hartmut Pötzelberger in St. Pölten clearly the shorter one.
Although the Trauners got off to a good start in the first half and took the lead, the Lower Austrians increasingly took command in the second half and ultimately achieved an unchallenged victory.
Photo: Steelsharks Traun
Around 700 fans saw a first half that went according to plan for the guests. The Trauners ended the Invaders’ first attack with an interception. The home quarterback needed offense Daniel Hinterberger some time to get into the game. It was the guests’ defense that scored first. The next interception carried Florian Friedl back to the Pick Six – 0:7the PAT was also sitting.
The home team responded immediately with a kickoff return touchdown 6:7, the PAT was not good. When the Steelsharks’ offensive series led to the end zone, the afternoon seemed to be on track for the Steelsharks: Hinterberger found the ball with his pass Line Lapanje in the end zone for 6:14 (PAT good).
Photo: Steelsharks Traun
But that should have been it for Upper Austria’s offense. Two more drives ended without scoring a point and St. Pölten gained more and more control of the game. They managed to equalize before the break 14:14 and after this they added 13 more points for a total of 22 unanswered points to the final score of 27:14 after. St. Pölten’s defense also clicked, with two interceptions in the second half.
This is a tough serve for the Steelsharks in the second division.
From 2017 onwards, except for the “Corona comeback” season in 2021, they were part of the Bundesliga. The Trauners attribute the defeat to a number of avoidable mistakes and the “youth and inexperience” of the team. It can’t be the average age alone, as the Steelsharks squad is one of the oldest in the league with an average age of just under 27 years.
“It was the expected equal match where both teams gave their best.”so Steelsharks Head Coach Hartmut Pötzelberger. “Respect to the Invaders, who were simply well prepared for us and carried out the game more consistently. I’m happy with my 14 rookies and I think this team has a bright future ahead of it.”
AFL Division 1 Week 1
St. Pölten Invaders vs. Steelsharks Traun 27:14
(6:7/8:7/7:0/6:0)
SAT April 6, 2024 4:00 p.m. · Invaders Field St. Pölten
2024-04-07 09:05:51
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