Coach Wilson's debut season at the helm of Reikland's pre-eminent, horse-related, Draft League Europe (DLE) franchise concludes with a season-on-season improvement. But his reign remains unconvincing in the eyes of the Übersreik Ültras and regional sports reporters. Read on for a brief run-down of Season XIV.

The close-season was one of total rebuilding with just a handful of players' services retained: The powerful ogre, Barry Gryson; experienced linemen Arthur Dent, Carlos Lobato, and B.J. Hill; captain and quarterback Ottmar Wirt; and scoring sensation Bruno Giza. The club's scouting network acquired powerful catcher Tancred Montfort, short-fused 'heel' Rafaelle Brigante, and determined blitzer Carlos Torrosa. The core of the roster was in place and all that was needed was a successful draft day.

Draft XIV resulted in lethal blitzers Thomas Leboucher and Juan Thornhill and the renowned lothario and notorious party crasher, catcher Sean Bunting. The stage was set for a new season. Additional trades resulted in the exits of Matthew Pryor and Marg 'n Thatcher in exchange for blitzer Ruud van Buuren and catcher Richard Lane from the Aarnau Manticores and thrower Logan Woodside and lineman Ola Adeniyi from the Skar Bay Sharks for draft picks. All that remained was the kick-off!

The Big Kick-off!

Adeniyi and Woodside played cameo roles as they faced their old club in the season opener. Brigante had the honour of scoring the first touchdown under the new management, before he picked up an injury. Montfort also scored on his eventful debut, earning him the MVP crown. The Sharks' Josh Doctson equalised twice to level things up. The objective of the opening fixture appeared to be to avoid defeat and that was certainly achieved.

The Carcassone Eagles have very publicly recruited as many ex-doormen, trainee bouncers, and circus weightlifters as they can. There isn't a team in the DLE with more steroids in their locker room. Away at the Sieur Domec Stadium, the Unicorns faced a partisan crowd and a ravenous opposition. Despite that, Sean 'The Bolt' Bunting ran in an early touchdown, showing off his elf-like agility. However, Coach Wilson is still finding his feet at this level and his error in directing his defence enabled Felton Davis to avoid their grasp and sneak over the line. The clash of the catchers was decisively won when Bunting elbowed Davis in the face and ended his once promising career. But the Eagles' vastly superior strength won through and, with several players removed from play, David Johnson scored the winner.

Gameweek 3 saw the Unicorns host the Nuln Gunners at The Tin Spur. An unknown quantity after a tumultuous pre-season, where their roster was almost totally reinvented, much like their hosts. A series of mistimed blocks led to star blitzer Leboucher being smashed by ogre Braden Smith, before being patched up by the team apothecary. Bunting was pressured to cross the line and the hosts took the lead, as they had now down in their first three games. The losses of Leboucher and Adeniyi gave the visitors an edge and Blake Cashman and Tankre Murruxu scored to consign the Unicorns to a second straight loss.

Questions asked of Wilson

Next up was a trek north to icy Kislev, to take on the Erengrad Vikings. The Vikes had kicked off their campaign with two wins and a draw and looked like a real threat. The Unicorns players paid no heed to form though.

A ruthless, bloodthirsty first half saw seven Vikings players injury, knocked-out, or surfed into the crowd! Bruno Giza pounced to score his first of the season and make it four game in a row in which the Unicorns took the lead. However, the cruel whims of Nuffle saw the game turn on its head. A deep blitz was overcooked, revealing Coach Wilson's inexperience once more, and Jmon Moore drew the scores level. In the second half, in a seemingly solid position, the Unicorns cage was destroyed by a rampaging Josh Frazier, the ball ended up in Moore's hands and he squirmed through a double-team blitz to make it 2-1 Vikings. Carlton Davis, who had been resurrected by the Erengrad apothecary in the first half, had been blitzed by Giza but somehow remained standing, and was launched bodily into the crowd, somehow, against all the odds, managed to score the decisive blow to make it 3-1 and end any chance of a late leveller.

After demonstrating tactical naivety to turn two wins into a draw and a loss, the Unicorns board might well have expected answers. Certainly, the press and fans wanted to know how this previously unknown and inexperienced tactician could cope with the pressure of a franchise with a long, albeit glory-free, history.


MVPs
G1: T. Montfort
G2: O. Adeniyi
G3: S. Bunting
G4: R. Brigante

TOUCHDOWNS
2 - S. Bunting
1 - R. Brigante; B. Giza; T. Montfort

COMPLETIONS
4 - O. Wirt
1 - O. Adeniyi; L. Woodside

CASUALTIES
1 - R. Brigante; S. Bunting; B. Gryson; T. Leboucher; C. Lobato; C. Torrosa; O. Wirt

VICTIMS
G1: Skar Bay Sharks - P. Ferto (-MA)
G2: Carcassone Eagles - F. Davis (RIP)
G4: Erengrad Vikings - J. Bull (MNG); P. Wright (NI)

INJURIES SUFFERED
G1: C. Lobato (-AV); O. Wirt (NI); R. Brigante (MNG)
G2: B.J. Hill (MNG)
G3: O. Adeniyi (-AG)
G4: C. Torrosa (MNG)