“WIL Season XX

Our first round game is vs Timlagor's rats, who we fought to a 2-2 draw two seasons ago in the prem. They have a dangerous claw/RSC linerat, but fortunately he niggles out. Their +STR thrower and a +AGI ghoul also niggle so both teams have just 11 players for the game (a first for a long time for us!)

We receive first and between fouls and blocks in the first two turns we see their rat ogre and a linerat plus both our wights KO'd and a zombie BH'd (regenned). T3 and they make a 1d blitz vs our ghoul and get a POW with their reroll. We recover but on T4 they do some nice moves to engineer a 2d blitz and get the POW again- though a 2nd ghoul catches it! They have also KILLED a rookie zombie (regenned) so we are down 2 players on the pitch. T5 and our ghoul finally survives a blitz of 4 dice but we can't find a way through to the endzone. T6 and their blitz gets a POW again and the ball is free - though fortunately they are out of rerolls and fail the pickup. We surround the ball, giving up our chance at a TD this half though managing to stop them getting one.

Half time and KO rolls are key with both ours waking up and 3/3 of theirs remainining asleep. We kick off with 11 vs 8 and then... PITCH INVASION!!! Two of our players are stunned vs 5 of theirs, though with 2 GRs up they can still secure the ball. We respond with a niggle vs their stunned GR (apo saves) and advance very cagily. T3 and they rush into our half and we respond with a 3d blitz from our tackle wight... but even with a reroll can't knock over their GR! They rush to our endzone where we can't reach him and score the next turn.

2/5 of their KOs return so we've 11 vs 8 again but looking at a draw as our only option now with 4 turns left... and they get a blitz! They stream GRs into our half and it's pressure on the ball carrier from the get-go. T7 and we finally get the ball into their half... but our wight drops the catch and we won't be able to score in time now! Despite a horde of players around the ball their GRs almost string together an unlikely TD, but trip up after most of the difficult rolls are done. We surround their AGI5 GR for a good luck foul.. managing only a KO.

Well won Timlagor!! Rematch! rematch!”