“CIBBL - Y7, Summer - GSS: Athel Loren vs Skavenblight - R3:

After last round's disaster head coach Timaris Stormwing had been admitted to the psychiatric ward. Mereia, fearing a nervous breakdown of her boss, had temporarily taken over the reigns of Modryn's Midnight Meddlers. How long Timaris would remain unavailable, only Nuffle would know.

In the third round of the Great Summer Showdown, the Meddlers faced the Wyrdstone Inhalers, composed of a great number of havoc-creating monstrosities, completed by a few slaves to carry the ball. Mereia adjusted her cap backwards and installed herself on the bench, leaving her usual spot in the comfortable chair in the corner unoccupied. Even the martini, her favourite drink, was nowhere to be seen. This game would require her full focus.

The game started with the Meddlers kicking. The opposition's brutes mauled down the line of scrimmage, while a slave picked up the ball in the backfield and started moving up. By turn two Syrabeth moved in, doing her trick, and liberated the ball. It scattered to a surrounded spot however, where a serious struggle for control of the ball would follow. Many brutes cried out in frenzy, but lost themselves and basically didn't do much. Some elves decided to stay down, thinking it the wise choice. After all, what's the use in getting up if only to get mauled down again next turn? Alandrian paid the price of Syrabeth's intervention and got surfed into the crowd, where onlookers happily smashed his ankle.

Nevertheless, the rats' rage remained largely an impotent threat. Syrabeth moved in again, picked up the ball and escaped with it. Nimrodel decided to follow her leap, but unceremoniously smashed into the turf instead. Mereia instructed her team to stall, but when the opposition applied heavy pressure on the ball combined with fouling tactics that made her change her mind. Syrabeth scored in turn 6: 1-0 with two turns to go. The rats had to take some risks to equalize before halftime, which almost resulted in a 2-0 score, but alas a failed GFI decided otherwise...

In the second half the Meddlers played a bit more conservatively, focusing on protection of the ball. Nimrodel however, felt his shining hour had finally come and decided to jump straight over the line of beasts. He got through and injured a slave in the process. This drew more than enough attention to lure a particularly foul beast his way. A few turns passed, with the Meddlers trying to find a way through but finding none. Meanwhile Nimrodel got the fight of his life, but he resisted remarkably.

Then Gnawguts double skulled, leaving an opening in the line. This was the much-needed opportunity the wood elves had been looking for. Mereia urged her troops forwards, through the gap. Meanwhile Nimrodel injured another slave. He was getting the hang of it, definitely on fire. Much of the opposition's beasts by then had lost track of the ball, desperately roaring their frustration. The elves didn't mind and kept advancing over the left flank of the field. By turn 6 Syrabeth ran in the second touchdown: 2-0 with three turns to go. Nothing important happened anymore, the rats' effort stranded with a failed pass.

Mereia left the field with a satisfied smile drawn upon her face, ordered her first martini of the day and disappeared into the night to have a blast until the early morning hours!

Finally a win for the Meddlers! First win of the season!



”