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Kim’s Commandoes Pummel Poms in Farum Furnace
History was made on a hot and sunny Saturday, July 8, 1995, in Farum, as a representative DAFL side under the name of Denmark/Sweden won an international match for the very first time.
Right from the opening bounce, it was evident that the day was going to produce something special for the underdog Scandinavians taking on a British side which had whallopped them in London last year.
Coach, Kim Madsen, was the first to clear the ball from the centre, and within seconds the ball was in the hands of first year player, Lars Hansen and on its way for the first goal of the match.
Thomas Morén followed up with another one, and then Hansen popped through yet another from a tight angle, and within five minutes of the start, Denmark/Sweden had raced to a three goal lead and had the British rattled.
The barrage abated somewhat (mainly due to poor kicking for goal), but Great Britain were still unable to score, and later in the quarter, Jesper Gjørup and captain, Boris Kjær, potted majors to send the home side into the first break with a 37 point lead.
The partisan home crowd was completely stunned into an eerie silence!
The scoring slowed a little in the second quarter, but Denmark’s overall dominance continued as the searing heat began to tell on the older English team. Yet another first year player, Eric van der Kam, kicked an enormous goal late in the term from at least fifty metres that will live long in the memory!
Gjørup and Madsen were simply unstoppable in midfield, the former playing wide of and beating British pivot, Karl Bucci.
Claus Løgstrup ensured that Bulldog centre-half-forward Baz Brown had a dirty day, while Jørgen Nielsen, with sterling support from Barney Hansen, saw to it that scoring was going to be difficult even when the ball did get into British territory.
With the momentum the Danes had built being lost at the half-time break, the Bulldogs re-grouped and took the chance to get on to the scoreboard. But the early lead built up by the Vikings was always going to be enough to see them through.
Great Britain also suffered heavily from injuries and brought on their Australian coach, Kent Schubert, at the long break. As a result, the 'premiership' quarter was their best and they were able to outscore their hosts.
But reality prevailed in the last quarter, and two of the Vikings’ lesser lights, rookies, Thue Frederiksen and Jonas Paradis, were very impressive across half-forward when they came on. Late goals to Gjørup and Allan Hansen sewed up a fantastic day for Denmark/Sweden.
Gjørup, with four goals from the centre, won the award for best on the ground and it takes nothing away from his effort to say that it could have gone to any of four players.
Nick Courtney was also superb in white, proving the old adage that a good umpire is never noticed!
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