“We started the first half on defense, and despite the obviously careful tactician coaching the opposing team, managed to stop them dead in their tracks. They never got past the Line of Scrimmage! I must admit, though, that the fans were a great help: someone threw a rock and Litvaks had to be carried off the pitch right away, so we really started 11 vs 10. Nonetheless, it really warms the old heart to see the lads putting on their best performance. By t4 we'd turned the momentum on them and they were pulling their runner back to try and go around the pen we herded their whole team in. At this point their coach disappeared into the shower rooms and the game was halted while we waited for him to resurface.

When Coach Nick returned, he was carrying a huge tray of take-out. Apparently his team's halftime snacks arrived early! The game was resumed as soon as he found a place to set the tray down, his 'beards picking up their gear where they'd been knocked down. The BlackSads tried to recover the situation, but there wasn't a lot they could do with 3 of their number having been pushed into the crowd. Maybe it was the sweltering heat that was getting to them, or maybe it was the smell of the heaping tray of takeout, but towards the end of the 1st half both teams were looking a bit weary and distracted. Especially the ball seemed to have become slippery. Not a single BlackSads player was standing in the beginning of the last turn, and I can't blame them, the heat really was something fierce, despite the breather everyone got when Coach Nick went off to meet the delivery guy. The 1st half ended with our Haldan scoring a TD to round off a very well defended drive.

2nd half didn't start quite as auspicously as both Nali and Thror had to remain on the bench to try and regain their liquid balance after the hard-fought 1st half. The BlackSads were able to field 10 players despite Cotten collapsing from heat exhaustion. Maybe we should've reserved a bit more halftime nourishment as well, but we weren't really expecting such a hot day in the arena.

This half we were on the offense, but due to a bit of fidgeting on the LoS, the BlackSads were given the chance to rearrange their defenses, which really put a few spanners in our works. Despite the rearranging, we were able to put up a good fight on the Line, and kept them from overrunning us. The second turn was even better, we knocked one of their blitzers out, and got the ball safe in the hands of the trusted Haldan. So now we're 10 on 9, and in possession of the ball. Despite their best efforts, the 'Sads just can't keep our boys from pushing through, although their dodging longbeard manages to take down Haldan, who had snuck within scoring distance. We push back, take down Weekly the dodging 'beard and put both Runners between their one and the ball. It seems their boys are finding their strength, as blitzer Jake Ostiombe knocks Halfor Giantbane hard enough that he's carried off the pitch by the medics. Thankfully, it was nothing career-damaging, but certainly weakens our presence on the pitch. And the 'Sads make the most of it. Dinah the runner finds the ball and passes upfield to their boys on the LoS, who, thankfully, fumble the catch. Our blitzers clean up the scene a bit and Haldan goes in to get the ball back up to Gilbar Silverheel, who was waiting in position to go for the TD. However, Haldan fumbled the pass and dropped the ball at his feet, where Dinah was quick to pick it up again, while their blitzer pushed Nyrath Orchammer very nearly into the crowd. That sure is one nimble Dwarf, that Dinah! Good thing he isn't so good at taking a tackle, and so we recovered the ball once more, and while Nyrath forced himself a few steps away from the edge of the pitch, Haldan ran off to a safe distance. The rest was largely perfunctory pushing and shoving, without too much effect. Gilbar pushed past Weekly and headed for a scoring position himself, in case Haldan was feeling generous. And indeed, Haldan handed the ball off to Gilbar into the End Zone for the 2-0 TD just moments before the whistle. Good thing both were still in good shape despite the scorching sun pounding on the boys' heads all day long and there was no hesitation when Gilbar took the hand-off!

But what now! As we were setting up our last-few-seconds defenses, the referee runs into the middle waving his hands! Apparently there was some confusion about events elsewhere on the pitch. But the TD was valid in the end, the judges' panel resolved, and so we proceeded to set up our line for the last few seconds of play. Apparently the 'Sads found a new reserve of strength in the end, and they gave our lads a thorough pounding - Baldar Stoutshield even needed immediate medical attention!

A solid win through hard work is a rewarding thing indeed. The BlackSads put up a good fight, but our slightly more experienced boys brought home the win.

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Thanks for the game, Nick. This was a tough one, as I guess was to be expected with two nearly dwarf teams nearly equal in TR/TS, but I managed to pull off the win with a few well-timed lucky rolls. There was some connection trouble, but we managed to work around that.”