“Talons of Ulthuan 1 - 2 Elftown Lions

On a bright winters day a friendly between the Ulthuaners and their low-born cousins turned out to be anything but friendly.

Receiving, the Talons blocking proved effective with the first three blocks resulting in two stunned and one KOed Lion but an application of boot to the Lion's catcher was spotted and the offending Talon banned from the match. Eager for revenge the Lion Blitzer well and truly blitzed, seriously injuring a Talon lineman. The Talons then quickly moved the ball down the pitch to their catcher. The Elftown catcher then snake eyed a dodge to allow the Talons to take a turn 3 lead.

The Lions then began their reply but an early return foul was again spotted by an eagle eyed ref. The Lions tried to break with a lineman who was quickly taken down by the Talons but they failed to recover the ball. The Lions swarmed and tried to knock the ball free but the bounces favoured the Talons and gifted them possession. The Talons again broke down the pitch but the Lions were able to fell the ball carrier with a suicidal blitz. The Talons again proved incapable of recovering the ball but had many tackle zones on the spilled ball. All the Lions could do was mark as many players as possible and hope for a failed roll in the absence of re-rolled. This came to pass with an unfortunate Talon BH himself on a failed dodge. The Lions then managed to knock the ball free, run back up the pitch and pass between the Talons to score a turn 8 equaliser.

The second half started with 9 vs 8 in the Talons favour with the Lions aiming to retain possession, something they had failed badly to do in the first half. Things started badly with their blitzer KOed. The Lions pushed up a wing but the superior Talon numbers allowed them to mark the ball carrier. Some badly thought out blocks made the task difficult but the catcher was able to dodge through the Talon line and sprint the Lions into a 2-1 lead.

The next drive started with the Talons caging, looking to break an opening through the Lions lines. With the Lions reduced from parity with two KOs and the Lion catcher again snake eying, this time on a GFI to mark the Talon ball carrier the Talons sensed an opportunity with time running out. However the Lions were able to fell the ball carrier and luckily recover the ball. With the Talons only able to push back the Lion defender broke free and passed to a free Lion with the other player forming the best cage they could. The Talon blitz again failed and the Lions had managed to hold on.”