NASHVILLE KANGAROOS vs OHIO VALLEY RIVER RATS, Seneca Park, Louisville, May 20th, 1 pm ET
Roving Roo Reporter
After opening the season with a convincing win against Arch Rival Columbus Cats back on April 22, your Nashville Kangaroos are set to hit the road for the first time this season. They head up to Louisville, KY to take on the neighboring Ohio Valley River Rats on Saturday at 1 pm Eastern Time in Seneca Park, just outside the Louisville City Center and not far from the airport.
The Louisville Kings were first incarnated as the Cats when the league first formed back in 1997 and hosted the first ever USAFL footy game back on September 20, 1997, in which the Kangaroos participated. The Kangaroos played the Cats eight other times over the next decade, winning all eight matches. Then the club reincarnated as the Louisville Kings and due to size, decided to combine with Cincinnati Dockers, and occasionally the St. Louis Blues and Indianapolis Giants to become the amalgamated team of Ohio Valley River Rats. The Rats have been successful over the past 15 years, winning numerous D-IV Grand Finals, although when going head-to-head with Nashville, not so much. The Roos are 7-0 against the Rats, including the 2022 match up just over a year ago (Roos 14.13.97 def Rats 11.4.70).
But don't let the record fool you. Most of those games were tight contests that the Roos were able to pull away and win in the second half. And we expect more of the same when these teams collide on Saturday. The Roos are looking to continue their winning ways led by team captain James "JD" Duty, with support from veterans like Saul Camarena, Cody McLain, Brad Chamberlain, Maurice "SloMo" Howell, Ross "Rosscoe" Flemming, Colton Atwell, David "Frosty" Harris, Evan "Colonel" Ling, and Jeff "Peeps" Persson. They are going to lean heavily on the newbies this year, looking for big efforts from Thomas Procter, Luke Henry, Luke "bagman" Chadwick, Max Chadwick, and David Gonzalez.
The boys have been looking good at training and we hope to see all that work paying dividends this weekend. Any sports fanatic knows it is always tough to play on the road, so be sure and be thinking of the Roos on Saturday, wishing them all the best, helping them mark true and kick straight.
For those following closely, this match is the 200th away match in Nashville Kangaroos history, going 94-103-2 in the first 199 matches outside Nashville. Not bad overall to be close to 50% on the road. Here's to a successful 200th - Cheers, Boys. GO THE ROOS!!
Roving Roo Reporter