“It is seldom that we can take any measure of glory from defeat, but in the game against Ceredigion Carnivores we can do just that!

Expectations were low before the game, not only were we outclassed by a 3rd season veteran team, but we also found ourselves down a Dwarf since Gruuth Shotgun had been killed in the first game of the season and found that we were unfortunately not given the chance to replace him due to our second round opponents no showing.

Nonetheless, though many others would have coward in the face of this Chaotic Adversary, we showed for the game, determined to not go down easy.

In the opening moments of the game, as we prepared for our drive, the opposing team blitzed, breaking deep into our half, committing a lot of their players despite a deep kick that threatened to go out of bounds. Indeed the ball landed into the crowd and Hartorak Gatling took control of it.

Spotting this formation break, we wasted no time in charging forward, tying up all would be blitzers. Alas, even still, with some dodgy foot work a Beast managed to blitz us and take the ball from Hartorak Gatling. Ensuing from this was a mass brawl where upon on several occasions Hartorak Gatling had the opportunity to scoop the ball up, but failed. Finally a Beastman with an uncommonly large hand, protruding fingers, and undoubtedly happy girlfriend showed how it was to be done and scooped it up and dodged free! Hartorak Gatling ran in and crunched him to the ground with a Serious Injury… positive that they might score, the team risked it and got the apothecary down to work his magic.

In the dying seconds of the game this elven like player then shot up, dodged out, scooped up the ball and then threw it… finally to see his eleven like skills thwarted! The 1st half ended with scores tied.

In the second half Ceredigion Carnivores started with the ball… we had been working on a blitz manoeuvre of our own at half time, but unfortunately someone threw a rock and KO’d one of our numbers, taking us by surprise and stealing any initiative we may have had.

The Carnivores dove forward, and threatened for a quick score. Already with our numbers cut short we took the opportunity to reduce theirs, a hefty block to the left flank left one of their beasts badly hurt whilst a couple of our guys moved to the right to manoeuvre another beast dangerously close to the crowd. The Carnivores regrouped and tried to hand the ball off to a Chaos Warrior, only to fail. We quickly let the fans meet their hero… and they unfortunately merely escorted him back to the dug out whilst the rest of us surrounded the ball.

Again, that big handed guy moved in, scooped up the ball, handed it off to a Chaos Warrior and the Carnivores broke free. Despite our best efforts we could bring the Chaos Warrior down, despite several attempts, and he eventually scored.

Our drive again and little time remaining and the difficulties compounded by a deep kick that saw the Chaos Ranks raining through on the charge. We broke to the right flank and got Hartorak Gatling through the gap. A long throw to him seemed perfect but he was unable to catch it. The only 2 beastemen near Hartorak Gatling brought him to the ground and scooped the ball up. Subsequently they were sacked and Hartorak Gatling again tried to pick the ball up and run to the end zone, again he failed. The Chaos then scooped it up and threw it to a fellow Beastman deep in our half, and tied up… but the completion was made. The Beastman tried to dodge out but fell… our last chance! We moved to pick up the ball, make the pass and… fumble… it was over.

1 – 0, but a close game indeed. We hope Hartorak Gatling improves his game soon!”