“Extra skills, rerolls and an uninjured Dark Elf v extra men and a wizard was the equation...in the end, it was one that balanced.

The Kneecappers elected to receive first and clustered in the middle of the pitch, waiting for a gap. It was a standoff until turn 6, where it was time to make a move, Belial Painwright bursting into the backfield and hoping his skills and teammates could keep the opponent Marauders off him. They couldn't, as a covering teammate tripped on his own shoelaces and knocked himself out, also denying a shot at a block for Golfag Rockspittle, leaving Belial exposed. He was swarmed and stunned, and a ruck developed for the ball. Eventually, a Pagan burst down the right flank, leaving the Kneecappers with it all to do.

The Big Guys played their part, blocking free a path to the ball carrier, and one of the Block Marauders took him down. William Vilestream, a Journeyman, dodged free, scooped up the ball, sprinted into the clear and sensationally picked out Belial Painwright in the Endzone for the opening TD! With one turn left, the Pagans could not convert a TTM as the kick went too deep. Halftime 1-0

Second half, the Pagans almost fluffed their offense, Belial Painwright blowing his chance to get at a loose ball by failing a 3+ dodge, but the Pagans swatted aside the outnumbered Kneecappers to equalise midway through the second half. 1-1.

The Kneecappers had one last chance to steal the win, with a fast break down the left, Their Dark Elf again in the action, KOing the Goblin and assisting another block for a further KO to leave the Pagans exposed on that flank. However, another blown GFI to provide him some cover again left him exposed...the clouds suddenly gathered overhead and a bolt of lightning blasted the rogue Elf into the KO box of his team dugout, and another scrum for the ball ensued. When a Pagan pass was fumbled, they had no-one in range for the score, so it was all down to the Kneecappers. With Marauders running deep, the Big Guys again cleared a path to the ball. A blitz by one Marauder cleared his teammate for the hand-off, but it never came, as the would-be ball retriever failed a dodge to end a tense, bloody and close match.

”