“Absolutely wrecked.

Had no agency at all in this game. Will have to look long at hard at where I lost this one, as there didn't seem to be one particular turn. All 16 turns I was on back foot.

Defence, I could not make any headway. The elves just breezed past. Attack, I was sacked, and pressured to score early. Lucky to get that far.

Learnings:

1. Protect positionals better. We lost both blitzers this game.

Analysis:

1. Initial defensive set up, I am unsure of. We spread out to give us options for attack, but have no strong point, and give up 7 blocks in first turn.

Better candidate: boat or anchor set up.

2. Rat Ogre would have been nice, adding a bit more muscle support. We have neither strength nor agility advantage in this match up. At least with Rat Ogre we can pivot either direction as necessary. Consider for the future.

3. H1T2 Coach Valen creates a venga bus with long front line, like a snow plow, eliminating the vermin along the way. I like it, and must try.

He also puts in assist, blitzes, and keeps piece there for another assist on 2db. Very smart.

4. H1T4 the same move above is repeated, creating another casualty, but this time elf cage is safe and stalling.

5. H1 turns 4-8 we are encouraged to foul to use bribe given to us, to encourage early score, and also claw back some numbers. It does not work, and back fires as we are blocked and fouled and removed.

Better candidate perhaps would be attack edges of cage corner, attempting to disrupt it.

6. 1TT is not possible I believe, due to side step on LOS.

7. H2T2 should have created more width, an inverted pyramid of sorts, to prevent such quick pressure on our gutter runners. We made the mistake of playing to the bribe.

8. H2T3 we do not protect ball well. We allow 2 dice to sack ball carrier. It was 2+2+2+2+ into 2db with re roll. 56% chance with RR. We did not even see it, these inds of plays are in our blind spot. Must remedy.

9. T5 we are forced into scoring as we cannot make the ball safe. From here it is game over as we are down on material, and at a numbers, strength, and agility disadvantage.

It is also a matter of coaching level, and there is no shame in admitting Coach Valen is far superior, and plays with a panache I have not seen from another.

Bravo Coach Valen, you have us again. Kings to you. Until the next one..
”