“The Summer Lightning won the toss and elected to kick, risking the wrath of a Treeman on the line.

A fast paced first half saw four TDs - partly due to the speed and elusiveness of the PIop Team Elves, particularly star catcher #2 Slipy (movement 10 and AG 5!) The Amazons also had cause to bless their luck - Wardancer Minou Blanc was KO'd in turn 1 and a concerted sisterhood affirming gangtackle managed to Stun the Treeman in turn 2. Neither of these managed to prevent Simy ending a length of the field pass+hand off move for a TD in turn 3. The teams exchanged further scores and we reached turn 6/5 with the Elves 2-1 ahead. The kick went right into the top corner of the pitch and the resulting drive ate up the rest of the half, ending as Ilphinome scraped into the endzone; 2-2.

The second half began and Coach Zarich's cunning plan was revealed - having kicked off to begin with the Lightning started the second half receiving the ball.

Sadly coach Zarich had forgottent this point and set up defensively - almost neglecting to put the teams only thrower on the pitch at all! As it was the catcher Menolly began the second half on the bench from where she was observed making rude gestures at the shamefaced Zarich as early as turn 2.

I held off from informing my opponent of the mistake in the hopes that they would think it a cunning plan. A short kickoff and the contiued absence of Minou Blanc did a lot to save the situation and the drive developed nicely. Until Slipy sacked Catcher Phoebe deep in her own half.

Recovering well she reclaimed the ball and completed a pass into the opponents half of the pitch, only to have the ball carrier knocked over and the ball collected by an Elf.

At this point though the Amazons realised that they might just be the bashier of the two teams and set out to slug and crawl their way to a third score. Scared of the Elves speed the Lightning spent two turns camped on the edge of the endzone fighting off allcomers and leaving only 6 PIop's on the field of play. A turn 8 TD gave them an unassailable lead barring a freak kickoff and once again the Kickoff dice helped Coach Zarich - an extra reroll for the Elves but no extra turns.

It ended shortly afterwards - not a proud second half for the Amazon women but a victorious one.

My thanks to a gracious and forgiving opponent who remained polite throughout despite their many travails - not least the fact that the teams sole Wardancer managed to appear on the field for just two turns - the first and the last.

”