“Damn. A real frustrating outing for the "Echoes". Again punched well above their weight against the more experienced "Stingers", but some stupid tactical mistakes really cost us when given every chance of a win in this one. To add further insult to injury our star Wardancer finally got himself the much needed Stripball only to succumb to an aging Niggle. It is safe to say I despise aging, and dont use it myself for Tabletop, hell we got rid of that peaked card from the special play cards deck too, since aging is disappearing anyway cant we just be done with it now :(
As to the game. Anwar was unable to take advantage of his agility increase from last game having aged for a niggle in the process and taking ill for it in his first game with the injury. Talaban again snuck some Knuckledusters onto the pitch. Game is to be played in sweltering heat unbeknowns initially to both coaches. The "Stingers" elected to kick off.. and we were away. Drive goes well, all blocks coming off, Karesh Var collecting 2 completions on the way to a TD to team captain Talaban, and a 3rd much needed skill roll. Dissapointed not to injure anyone, as many "Stingers" hit the turf. Karesh Var and Suryet falling foul of the hot weather. The pro elves then came to the party, multiple recievers heading downfield and Gabriel Riverwynde taking possession of the pill and dropping back. We managed to knock down all but one reciever.. sadly he was the nerveless catcher Manasseh Wardancer, so despite Touchstone putting pressure on him and even attempting to intercept, it was all to easy for he and Gabriel to link up for the opening "Stingers" TD. This time only Judon fell to the heat, while it really hit the Stingers, TD scorer Manasseh, star Jaden Skyraven and backup thrower Tahmas Spellweaver all staying in the dugout. The weather did change at this point and was looking very fine indeed. Our 2nd drive started well enough as well, Ra-Hel finding a bit of form and poleaxing Mahahalel Pathfinder. But the "Stingers werent having a bar of this, and seeing their playing numbers low proceeded to even up the score. Shori Knocked Out, Pendar stunned, and Touchstone Badly Hurt by Naphtali Wildelf. We no longer had a reciever for the two turn TD. Var dropped back, then surprised all with a big pass to Togen who jogged forward into a very poor elven cage. The beefed up Skirmish Gladerunner stepped up to the plate smashing the poor catcher to the ground before picking up the bouncing ball off his shoelaces and dodging away from the crush. With the dumpoff ability the "Echoes" were starting to dread where this match was headed. We swarmed the pro elf, Talaban blitzing him to the ground and while he had nerves of steel, so to it seemed did the Woodelf Lineman Veris, who plucked the dumped off football from off his nose, had the tide turned again? Not so, Skirmish wasnt done yet.. leaping to his feet and blitzing Veris before again regathering the bouncing ball and dodging his way upfield. Talaban blitzed him again and was unable himself to pick off the intercept, Skirmish dumping off successfully to Theseus Grovewarden, who in his next turn dropped back to give the ball to Gabriel Riverwynde who headed to the other side of the field. Naphtali Wildelf leaping and Knocking himself out to end the turn. The "Echoes" had one turn to pull off a TD, and it was here that the first major mistake that cost us the game was made. Talaban hit Gabriel, Knocking him out, while Togen ran to the endzone. With the choice of two players for the pass, the ever reliable Agility 5 Karesh Var, or the always fail everything trainee Wardancer Cation, I opted to go for it twice with Var who promptly failed to pickup the ball. In hindsight had Cation attempted the play the 1 that was rolled would have come up on Togens catch, i.e. catch reroll. Sadly after a promising start it really looked like we were blowing the rematch.
Halftime: Echoes 1 Stingers 1.

The second half started well with a blitz. The "Echoes" marked up better and Karesh Var blitzed and headed upfield all with the aim of pressuring his backfield players, Manasseh and Tahmas. With the latter unmarked Cation failed a simple dodge.... did we expect anything less? and our blitz was over. Tahmas trotted back and picked up the ball before attempting a hand off to Manasseh, who promptly dropped it, luckily back into the arms of Tahmas who was starting to feel like a sitting duck. Skirmish Gladerunner headed up field while the rest of the team dropped back to cover their thrower, before the captain Ferryn WyvernSting went down trying to block Pendar, and was spat out in a very unhealthy fashion. Cation it was who was charged with the key blitz, able to bring down Tahmas, but increasingly frustrating for the "Echoes" the ball found its way to another "Stinger", this time Manasseh making no mistakes. He then proceeded to effortlessly dodge away, ignoring the pass option to Skirmish.. perhaps fearful of another intercept, and settling in midfield as the rest of the team came from all corners to offer some protection. Talaban threaded his way through on the next turn, catching the ball as it was dropped in the tackle, with plenty of support around him he was looking pretty unassailable. And so it proved, Skirmish Gladrunner unable to bring down the "Echoes" captain, and Jaden SkyRaven falling over trying to cover. With his marker taken care of it became a simple enough step for Talaban with his great speed to run in for the touchdown, but in a moment of selflessness.. and great stupidity, the "Echoes" captain tried to help out two team mates. He handed off to Karesh Var (eager to hold onto his passing Twahnlows from last season) with the aim of getting the ball to his mate Cation (to give him a second TD and a complimentary gym pass), but alas Var dropped it. Step up to the plate our great nemesis from last game, Jaden SkyRaven who blitzed his marker, picked up the loose ball before leaping and dodging his way down the sideline, with all the "Echoes" players committed on the other side of halfway. Trying to get just a bit fancy, Talaban failed his leap, and the backfield was free. Jaden blitzing downfield, stumbling a little, before surviving a Talaban block, and running it in for the TD and the lead late in the half. Despair settled in a little. With no rerolls this game was looking mightily like it was getting away from us. The consolaton being that due to casualties and knocked outs.. only 6 "Stingers" came out for the last drive. We opted for a slightly slower drive than normal.. just in case, putting Skirmish Gladerunner face down, Jaden SkyRaven down and setting up numerous receiver options while Var played with the pill in the backfield. Jaden was able to regain his feet and headed downfield.. pressuring us with his damned pass blocking abilities (fatefully remembered from last time we played). Talaban stormed back to take care of him but was only able to push him away, and with his backfield players on the ground, the opportunity presented itself to set up a TD for Cation. Var moved out of passblock range and lobbed it to the Wardancer who headed downfield. Now I must apologise to my very noble fellow elven opponent for what I did next.. but you see there was only 1 "Stinger" who could spoil my plans, the prone Skirmish Gladerunner, who I 'tactically' fouled with my young Linewoman Shori and promptly killed. Luckily for him the "Stingers" apoth was on the job, and after years and years of practice on this team was able to save the star catcher. Thankfully I didnt have to think about anything when the previously dead "Stinger" failed to reach Cation, who promptly ran into the endzone with the smile of an Ethiopian with a McDonalds food voucher. (feel free to let me know if you dissaprove of this comment and I shall remove it, I recall Ethiopian jokes were all the rage when I was growing up, but I mean no disrespect). So the "Echoes" had got out of jail on this one. After being given ample opportunity to win it they instead found themselves in a desperate attempt to tie it up. But thems the breaks, The "Stinger" are a quality, well coached side who dont need to be asked twice to prey on an opponents mistakes.
Final Score: Echoes 2 Stingers 2.

I really enjoy playing Shatterstar..who is a brilliantly nice guy.. and no mean Blood Bowl coach. We both have plans to shake Premier with our elves in the near future. Watch out Southern Wastes. On a sadder note, blaming himself for the draw, Talaban took to the teams lockers and has injured himself badly, looks like a permanent niggling injury much like that which plagued Anwar going into this game. While Cation's Gym membership has already come in handy, in a few sparring sessions with the boys he has proven he has developed something of a mighty blow, watch out elf bashers of the world.. payback could be on its way..... though I doubt it.

Twahnlows:

3 Votes to #3 Jaden SkyRaven - The star of the team. One of those special players you can fall back on in times of crisis. Did it all himself for the second TD, and was obsessively always on my mind throughout the game. A player that can alter opponents tactics just with his presence.

2 Votes to #9 Manasseh Wardancer - Up and coming "Stingers" catcher who was the only receiver left standing on their opening drive... he didnt dissappoint either. Did some handy things throughout.

1 Vote to #13 Skirmish Gladerunner - The third star catcher on the team and easily the most involved this game. Was absent from the last clash of these titans, but proved his worth in this one with a mixed bag display. Used his Strength and Dumpoff abilities to the best of his abilities. Owes the team chirgeon a drink after the game, after he brought him back to life.”