“An enjoyable game against a master coach.

Mirror matches are always ones I struggle in. With no particular advantage of race, the result is often determined by coaching skill which is, err... not exactly my strength.

My form slump continues, but it is still my goal to continue playing against better coaches to learn from them, and try to be kind to myself and find some small success.

Before going into learnings, it must be said that I rolled a dicing. I have never rolled so many POW in a game before. It was scary, and yet the great Coach Thoriin prevented me from capitalising. Let's see how:

1. RESILIENCE

Thoriin does not complain of dice. They were bad, but he works his way into situations to negate the effect, and eventually into winning position.

2. DEFENCE

A little bully on the edges, tagging and forcing dodge or 1db. Then blitz attack on my edges, forcing compression.

3. ATTACK

Holding a long, flat line. I cannot blitz unless it is extreme edge, forcing us out of position. Very nice move. Also, double screens. I am yet to master this, but it does discourage me to attack ball, giving Thoriin time to work to an edge.

OK, so what did we do well? It is hard to say, as I think rolling dice well does not count... But in an effort to be kind, let's find it.

1. DEFENCE

We organised our line well, using 'rule of 2' reasonably well. But a surf attempt in 2nd half left us exposed on an edge, with too many orcs hanging out on the sidelines drinking beers with the fans. Thoriin then skins our outside.

2. BOX PUSH

We are proud to find create a box which would have served to chain push ball carrier out of scoring distance to prevent the score (or make it much tougher). BUT... we KO what we needed to form the box corner... How funny, and perhaps one factor to losing the game.

3. FORCE DICE

Like magic, we are run around the outside. All of a sudden, half our team is stranded on the other side of the pitch. Still, we push on, and force the rolling of dice. This is at least something good. When all seems lost, and least make it tougher to lose. You never know.

A fun game and I hope for more like it.

Oh, and the Diving Tackle skill... wow! I need some of that in my teams.

”