What an extraordinary match. Everything happened and many unlikely events occurred; first one team is lucky, beating the other up getting some good TDs, then the beaten team rises to the occasion and becomes the (extremely) lucky one in the end.
The dwarfs had hired Flint Churnblade and his Chain Saw, and had two bribes at the ready to keep the death roller in play and a babe for KOs? Then they were ready to face Divine Rats. Their fans were also ready, and just as DR kicked the ball they invaded the pitch and went straight for the 4 most important rat players that had hidden behind two lines of line rats. This meant that only those not in blitzing range where stunned, including the 3 gutter runners on pitch and the Rat Ogre Muhammad. A single dwarf was also knocked down but only because he was in the raging hordes path.
This gave the dwarfs and easy path down the pitch. Harry Colquhoun opens the ball by handing out a niggling to Balder A. DR then attacks the chainsaw and Zeus does get him down, but using the RR, and only stunning the thick skulled cheater. Next block takes Odin A down on a double both down. When Cory Colquhoun BHs Mars no rats are standing up.
This does, however, not stop DR and Holy Spirit manages to take down a not so well protected ball carrier Samuel Colquhoun. But the ball bounces to Harry Colquhoun. He can hardly score next turn, and instead Flint fouls Muhammad KO, but gets thrown out in the process. Once again Holy Spirit could have taken a hit at the ball carrier (who this time do not have sure hands) but he fails the second of two 3+ dodges, and the dwarfs chooses to score for 1-0 by Harry Colquhoun. Neither of DR's KOs return, but they still have 12 to pick from.
And when a high kick lands on Holy Spirit he catches it and runs without problem in scoring range, and the dwarfs gives DR a free TD next turn 1-1.
With only two turns left it will be difficult for the dwarfs to win their receiving half, but the wind blows the deep kick over the EZ, and a touch back is given to Kevin Colquhoun. Hamish Colquhoun runs into scoring range, and Terry Colquhoun makes his first casualty a kill on Freja. Of course DR blitzes the Blitzer, but he dodges well and even with a push back, he can still score. But a lot of rats pack him in. But when God and his diving tackle is blitzed down, he takes the 5+ 3+ dodge and two go for it to get into the EZ (team RR used on a double skull before this.). And then Kevin Colquhoun makes the short pass and Hamish Colquhoun catches it and scores 2-1.
DR still has a decent one turn chance, and the dwarfs do not make it really difficult. Jesus gets the needed push, and is ready to receive the ball with a RR in hand. But Muhammad just has to try to take out the scoring Blitzer from before, but then rolls triple skull! Luckily his loner does not prevent the RR, so he can then roll triple both down!!! Turn over.
In second half DR receives and tries to get the easy TD, but this time it is made more difficult. Hence the rats change sides. Holy Spirit passes to Jesus who thinks he is safe. But a dodging dwarf, Bertie Colquhoun that goes all he can takes him down anyway. No other dwarf can reach even close to the ball, but Jesus was SI in the block so he will MNG. This means that Holy Spirit will have to pick-up the ball in the dwarfs TZ and the dodge out. So in case this should go wrong Muhammad better take a blitz first. With juggernaut this is safer than a three dice block. So he blitzes and… Double skull! Once again his loner works, and once again… Double skull! Both coaches are appalled by the miserable blocking of the wild animal. This also opens up for a crowd push as Coran Colquhoun sends Odin A surfing. The bloodthirsty dwarf fans break the poor critters collar bone and reduce his ST. But the dwarfs are still far from the ball, and God keeps the dwarf runners in check, and when Bertie Colquhoun for some reason do not wish to even try to pick it up, then Holy Spirit begins the turn as he should have done before and gets the ball and scores for 2-2. Half of the second half is gone, and only 11 rats are left.
The three remaining gutter runners realize that they have a chance to get Jesus back for the play-off. If they can score two more TDs in the remaining four turns DR will take 2nd place in their own group, and can thus get Jesus back before the important next match… The code word is team work!
The dwarfs receive and continue the decimation of DR. Lachlan Colquhoun blitzes and kills Loke. The best line rat of DR and finally the apotech cannot wait anymore and he manages to heal him completely. And once again the ball carrier Kevin Colquhoun runs within blitzing reach of Holy Spirit. With the help of God this becomes a one dice blitz, after a RR makes his dauntless work, and slam the dwarf "runner" is down stunned. With RR spend Madonna makes a stunning move, dodging past two dwarfs, and then finally into the TZ of the dwarf where the ball lies and picks it up. And with nerves of stele she passes a short pass over his head to God for a perfect completion.
The dwarfs manage to blitz God, but even with RR used he stays on his feet. Lots of tackle is put on him, but the last Blitzer coming to, Hamish Colquhoun, was a mistake, as he makes it possible to blitz him into God for a subsequent push, and God side steps nicely out of tackle, and has a simple dodge which he makes for the TD for 2-3. And before this TD finally Muhammad had managed a good block, SI Coran Colquhoun in the process, and the slayer will losses yet another point of AV.
DR kicks again and for the third drive in a row the death roller The Colquhoun Hooligan is ready. This time he blitzes Buddha SI him MNG. But for, who knows how many times, the dwarf runner does not stay out of blitzing reach and Holy Spirit makes it down there. However, Madonna has already used the last RR on a dodge to get her into scoring reach. So when dauntless fails it is 3 dice against. It results in a push, but the dwarfs sure hands ensure he keeps the ball. But a line rats makes a dodge and there are two TZ on the ball carrier. He never manages to get anywhere, and no dwarf is in scoring range before their last turn. So it is a free attempt to score for DR. That is, they are sure of the victory, but it is in no way a free attempt. An unlucky runner might die and they need the TD to get Jesus back…
First the ball has to get free. So Holy Spirit gets up dodges (uh a 1, but no tackle.. no team RR left). He makes it but for the second time fails his dauntless. But even with three dice to choose from the best the dwarf runner can do is get wrestled down. The ball bounces, luckily for DR, through the fallen Holy Spirit twice towards the EZ. Madonna could score by running through the ball, but that would mean 5 dodges with no RR through TZs. So instead she dodges out and makes the two pushes to stand ready for the pass. And finally God has to save the day. He negotiates two dwarfs dodging between them and out (4+ 2+) and reaches the ball and get it up. Only a pass away, and Madonna has catch… But oh no it's a short pass and a 2 comes up all hope is lost, it is inaccurate. But wait, it is not going over the side line, no it is right of the target and no it just enters the square of Madonna, unbelievable! And with no hesitation she rolls: 6! And scores for 2-4 giving DR the 2nd place in their group. The entire squadron of runners will thus be ready for the round of 16th.
But only few other players will join them as also Thor A gets a niggling by Harry Colquhoun in the dwarfs vengeance turn. Harry Colquhoun thus made the both the first and the last casualty of the match, both nigglings to line rats. The dwarfs lost 4-2 in TD but won 8-1 (2-0) in cas. Both teams make it to the play-offs but the dwarfs with only one MNG, the rats with only 11 players, 4 MNG and money for replacing the killed line rat. What a crazy game!
