“OBBA Cup - Round 4:

The team took the news well - it was another team of bones that they were to face. However, they would not face this team alone...a fire wizard and the great rat ogre, Headsplitter, joined us for the contest. Sadly, a nasty virus knocked out our captain, Nate Jaqua. However, with Headsplitter up front, our team felt their chances were good. Receiving the ball to start the contest, we noticed a blodger mummy alone on the flank and concentrated our attack there. Erik Ustruck (claw/tackle), swung around and blitzed the mummy...the dirty player ready...but no need, the mummy was knocked out of the game (and would stay out until partway through the second half). The Khermi however had blood on their minds as well and a turn 1 foul looked like it would kill headsplitter...without a pause, the apothecary was sent in to save him. Shock and disbelief from the crowd at this move - but Headsplitter (ST 6, AV 9) was needed to absorb the nasty blows from the mummies. Jim Paterson (star Thro-ra) re-rolled a push blitz into double skulls and as the Thora-ra was the main scorer and only tackle player on the team, he was surrounded and a dirty player sent in...had to gfi...snake eyes! And a BH! Turnover and our dp gone, the other dp knocked out - it was bleak as our ball carrier was stunned...a melee ensued and we missed a 2+ chance to pickup and score; however, both sides were short of players and the Khermi could not press forward, so we scored (3+ pickup)...and marched in for the 1-0 lead. It was late enough that the Khermi did not mount a serious attempt to score before half and more KOs on both sides.

To start the second half, 2 mummies stayed in the KO box and this gave Houston the advantage...however, only 1 player was deep to receive the kick, the rest on the line of scrimmage looking to push forward...but distracted by only having 2 mummies, Houston blitzed in...gutter runners flashing in deep and a strom vermin tying up the only other player (a blitz-ra) that was not on the LOS...the thro-ra that was deep tried and failed to pick up the ball...no one could drop back to assist or mark the gutter runners...and Blinky raced in for the 2+ pickup and the 2-0 lead.

At this point, early in the second half, most of the Khermi team was back on the field...rats were starting to suffer attrition and the question was what to do...so the choice was made to bait the khermi...7 turns of getting pounded and gang fouled would put us in bad position for the finals...so tease them a bit...we fired off the fireball early so that the khermi would no longer have to worry about it and would expose their ball carrier to the sidelines...we outflanked on one side leaving the other side open and the khermi took it. A 2d block with RR failed to drop the ball carrier however, and the following turn a 3+ dodge with RR failed so, the Khermi walked in. However, their attention was diverted as they thought they could win...silly of them. Even out of RRs and the fans chanting for some skulls - nothing of the sort happened and we did a pass, catch and handoff for the easy TD and 3-1 lead. Headsplitter was thrown on the LOS and absorbed another foul (niggle this time). Perhaps realizing that we were just playing with them, the Khermi got serious and fouled right up to and including T16...we returned the favor of course - but sadly, the fouls only produced BH at best all night and the regen worked on each one.

However, we walk out with only 1 player hurt and a solid 3-1 victory. Only a small winnings (both teams rolled a 1 for winnings), so that is going to shrink our options for the final...as we will await to see who we face. To the finals we go!”