“Round 4: Despoilers Rally from Dominate Beard First Half for the Draw

Round 4 of the NWBL Stannum Division featured a marquee matchup for the Beards against the red hot Doubtsplained Dispoilers. The Dispoilers arrived at the arena looking like a group of seasoned veterans, led by their tandem of standout bull centaurs, Bentley Waldan and Reid Ogyvan. The Beards were up to the task though and received the ball and began their methodical offense, trading shots with the Dispoilers when it was most to their advantage. The shots landed true and in the first half the Beards managed to knock out one of the prized bulls, and put away Chaos Dwarf Blocker Clayton Ijunt, a crucial piece of their interior line. The Dispoilers did manage to surround blitzer Hurgran Huldek and even the numbers a bit as he was stretchered off the field with a KO, but it cost them an ejected hobgoblin for their trouble. As the numbers started to swing in the favor of the Beards, they were able to press an edge and secure a score late in the 1st half.

The second half started with Dispoilers receiving the ball down men. The kick was deep, and the Beards immediately set to work trying to capitalize on the advantage. They aggressively marked into the Dispoiler line, and sent players into the Dispoiler half to fight for the ball. Here the tide turned, and the Dispoilers began to chip away at the Beards. One of the pressuring blitzers was sent off the field, followed by another long beard shortly after. The pressure slightly reduced, it seemed as if there may be a lane for the Dispoilers and they took the chance, hurling the ball down field in the hope that they would be able to recover it as it was unlikely the intended receiver would come down with the ball. The ball landed just past midfield. The Beards attempted to rally, but were too tied up to chase until the Dispoilers had recovered the ball and ran in for the score, ending the match in a draw.

Coach Buck Comments:

“This one hurts a bit. We executed our plan so well in our first half, and we went into the locker room, so confident that we could put this game away. After the opening kick, I felt even stronger about that. It was so deep, and with our players in position to put on a lot of pressure as we got a jump on the snap. I think one of the pivotal moments was when Hurgren got dropped as he was sprinting for their carrier. Him being unable to help up out down there was huge. Then when Borack got dropped by their bull just a moment later we were out leveraged to one side. Had Borack been there just to stand up we still could’ve put up a pretty solid fight, but that wasn’t the case. Hats off to the Dispoilers for their play today. Going into the locker room at half I felt so confident, I may have started celebrating too early. I think we all did, and were humbled for it.”


Tactical Takeaways:

1. Lost Opportunity, Too Aggressive Push

First half we managed to have things go our way with removals, and were starting the second half up a player, with a blitz KO event, and the ball deep in the endzone. I attempted to push the advantage as much as a I could, but ended up using 2 re-rolls to do it. Also didn't mark correctly to tie up a crucial blocker who was able to release with a 2D block from a bull. Otherwise, the pressure seemed decent. The free blocker was able to engage and tie up my blitzer and runner, but we started losing players on the marks at an alarming rate - 3 BHs in just a few turns. The numbers down, our opponent had to attempt a long pass to clear the ball and it worked out as a punt. We were able to pressure a bit from there, but were too heavily marked up to put up much of a defense. Hindsight, I believe it was the correct call to push, but should've marked better. The marking error I'd say was the major flaw in the defense.

2. Methodical Offense

Our offensive possession went pretty standard. We were able to get key removals in one of the bulls and a guard blocker. We played it safe slowly working our way up and taking 2D blocks when we had them. I nearly had a surf on a beard, but it didn't come through. Opponent also lost a DP on the first foul, but it cost me a blitzer KO. Once we had the edge we were able to stall it out with the numbers advantage.

3. Marked Bulls

Marking the Bulls was an effective strategy throughout, but it did eventually generate a casualty for one of them. I would do the same again.

4. Iron Hard Skin

I did not know that Iron Hard Skin took away fouling assists, and MB. Attempted a foul and was surprised to find that it didn't work given how many assists I had. Good to know.

”