“This match-up was always going to be a difficult one. I was playing up 40 TS and against a team that had a 4-1-0 record so far this season. On top of that, I was playing an Amazon team without anyone having Tackle in my team. Not exactly a great match-up.

On the plus side, I got 3 handicaps. I was hoping for Virus to take out 2 Zon players and reduce them to 11 players. It Wasn't Me, I Am the Greatest! or That Boy's Got Talent would have also been useful. Unfortunately I got none of them. Instead I got Buzzing, Bad Press and Smelling Salts. Buzzing got used on my ST6 Mummy, who I hoped would use it well.

The Bad Press proved useful on the first turn when Pitch Invasion came up and I had a higher FF. 3 or 4 Zons were stunned while all of my players remained on their feet.

The game started relatively well for me. The Zons received and moved the ball to the middle of their half. Unfortunatey they left things a little too open and one of my Ghouls was able to get a 1d block on the ball carrier. It came up POW and the player was BH to boot. I was then able to move my players into a position that blocked off most of the Zons from the ball.

The next part of the match was a bit scrappy. The Zons were able to knock the ball carrier over but the ball fell into a congested area of the pitch that made picking the ball up difficult for either side. Eventually the Zons got a little lucky on a scatter and were able to clear the ball out.

I managed to get a 2d Block on the ball carrier but with no Tackle against a Blodger, taking him down proved too difficult, even after a reroll. This left the Zons with 2 turns to score and 2 players downfield to catch a pass. The ball carrier was able to dodge away from my 2 Ghouls and make the pass. It missed the target but, as luck would have it, it scattered back to the intended receiver and she caught it. From there the Zons cantered in for a score.

Half-time 0-1

Things looked a little down. I had lost 2 of my Ghouls, limiting my options but a score and a tie was still possible. Unfortunately things didn't go that way. With no Tackle I struggled to take down most of the Zons. Even my ST6 Frenzied Mummy struggled to take Zons down, despite numerous 3d blocks. Eventually the ball carrier was sacked and from there it was pretty much game over.

I was able to take down the Zon ball carrier that had relieved my Wight of the ball but unfortunately the ball scattered straight into the arms of another Zon, who accepted it with thanks.

The game ended on a rather strange note. My ST6 Mummy, Lacrosse was surrounded by about 7 or 8 Amazon players, with the DP about to lay the boot in. Before she did, one of the Zons moved to cover my Ghoul that was trying to stop a score (the ball was right next to the end zone). In Going For It the Zon fell over and a foul was avoided. Still, my Mummy was surrounded by 7 or 8 players still and a Block and/or foul still looked certain.

So what did I do? My Ghoul Blitzed the ball carrier, pushing her into the end zone, forcing a score for the Zons and ending the game. It certainly was a strange ending but I did manage to avoid my Mummy getting fouled, which was important since I have Platypus' Orcs next up in a match that will decide who gets second spot. I will definitely need all the high ST players I can get.

Overall it was a well played game by Laviak, who did well to get out of a tight spot in the first half.

Twahnlow Votes

3 Votes: Hed Splitta - A Blodging Sidestepper who also has Tackle and Diving Tackle. Do you think I could take her out of the game? God knows I tried but the POW just never seemed to come up, even vs multiple 3d Blocks. So dangerous and so frustrating to play against.

2 Votes: Elf Bruisa - Her ST4 seemed to get in the way at just the wrong times

1 Vote: Hand Bitah - Did well to catch the scattered pass for a score in the first half.

Olaf the Stout”