“Heartbreaker! Both teams came in confident of a win, both teams had the winning score in their grasp, and both teams came up short.

With over 90 combined Blocks roughly balanced between both teams, Blocking and Casualty dice played a big factor as they ran hot and cold on both sides at key moments, sending both Ulfs out in the first half (one KO, one BH) in Turns 2 and 4, the Expat's St 5 MB Saurus out MNG on Turn 4 plus a DT Skink MNG early 2nd half, and more BH'd and KO'd on both sides throughout the game. The 'Dragons made good use of 1d blocks throughout the game, using their Block skill against no-Block Sauri and Krox again and again at key moments, and the Expats using their superior Strength to make up for lack of Guard and mobility.

First half started slow with a poor series of LoS blocks, then settled into trench warfare with the 'Dragons trying to push forward against stubborn defense that pushed back with four St 4 & up to three St 5 (whenever the Krox decided to stand up, and until the loss of their St 5 MB Saurus).

By the end of Turn 5 the 'Dragons had almost turned a corner, but the exposed St 4 Blodge Ballcarrier was heavily marked by Sauri and the Krox, and Turn 6 tripped (altho' the Krox had been 1d'd to the ground), the ball bouncing into the crowd then midfield to the Expat's advantage. But the Expats coaching staff went braindead and pointed at the ball first, and failed the RR'd pickup without blocking or even standing up one down Saurus, a true rookie mistake, giving away most of any advantage they had.

Turn 7 the 'Dragons recovered the ball on the 5, but the Expat's defense scrambled into place, forcing a dodge, which failed, ball on the ground Turn 8, 0-0 at the half.


With no no Ulfs showing up for the 'Dragons, the second half was similar but became more one-sided as it progressed. A LoS kick far to one side invited the cage to start there, and it stayed there for 4 Turns as both teams again pushed and pushed back, losing a few players as they went, but the 'Dragons losing more. Turn 5, the Expats finally successfully changed field sides and turned the corner, with only 6 Dragons on the field and only 4 of those within range of the screened ballcarrier on their 6.

Turn 6 the Expats got cute and stalled on the 2, thinking they were safe - their 2nd big rookie mistake - but a double-dodge, double-gfi proved them wrong, and the ball was popped free, lying in the endzone. Triple(!) skulls stopped any Expat's Turn 7 recovery, and the 'Dragons answered with a brilliant punt that only a Saurus could field. The Expats coaching staff then went completely braindead and miscounted for the pass, the Ag 4 skink 1 MA short - game over, scoreless, 0-0.

It can be fairly said that both teams had the game to win and so both lost this game, but the Expats may have done it three times to the 'Dragons once. Both are still looking strong for the post-season, but this is one both would like to have back.

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