“Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later...we finally lost a game. Our unbeaten streak from team conception ends in game 13, with a new record of 9/3/1. Even then, we very nearly pulled off an upset draw...

Game started (and continued until nearly the end) in a blizzard, making gfi's and ball handling tricky at best. But then, neither are what dwarves are known for, so no big deal, so long as I can pick up the ball--did that first try, so figure I'm golden. And indeed I am, other than a first-turn cas on my dwarf given the Rune of Courage--kind of a waste of a good rune. But I'm streaking for the score, and will get it easily, until his hired wizard zaps me with a lightning bolt to singe my beard and knock me from my feet. This allowed his agi 4 hobgob to steal the ball away, but he's still within reach--all it requires is a gfi, and I have a rr. But the blizzard says nope, no dice here, bub. Fall down, go boom. Meanwhile, he's doing gfi's left and right with his centaurs and his hobgobs, never once needing a rr or a surefeet skill. He scores, not nearly enough time on the clock for me to return the favor before halftime.

Second half, some more gfi's failed on my behalf and made on his allow for a very easy score again. Down 2-0 with only 6 turns in the game left, we have to turn our gameplan into...*gasp!*...elfball, starting to dodge and pass the ball around left and right. Incredibly, we're actually able to pull it off, scoring once, and on the ensuing kickoff, actually snaring the ball away from his hobgob thanks to some SUCCESSFUL GFI's!!! I even had the forethought to put a dwarf into scoring position in the preceding turns, and only now does he realize his error. But I have a problem--the ball guy is on opposite end, opposite side of the field, surrounded by enemy players, and only mv 5/agi 3!!! It took some careful positioning for chain-pushes on my blitz to spring him free, at least after one dodge (which he used the rr to do, but he made it). Ovak is calling for the ball, ready to race home the game-tying score. Balfain makes his dodge (barely), gfi's twice SUCCESSFULLY to make it an easier pass, lobs the ball high into the air...

...only to land who knows where, he fumbled the throw, needing 4 but rolling 3. Game over, the dwarves have lost for the first time. Then to add insult to injury, our troll slayer ages a niggle on his second skill roll, and we only get 20k in winnings. Amazing we didn't also lose fans...

But even with the loss, these dwarves will hold their heads high (so to speak), as they still hold the best record of any team I've ever coached. We'll still take on all comers, even if 40 pts of TR/TS higher! (Actually, that's how half our matches have come about, as nobody near our level will play us! Present match excepted, of course.) Great game, Valind, and a rematch down the road! Let's see if the wizard saves the game for you next time as well!”