A very close match ended with a victory for Death Extravagante (DE) with a TD by Shovah Hellfire in the last turn. After the early depature of DD star Rigor Mortis DE had the upper hand despite the participation of the vampire Count Luthor von Drakenbourgh who made the single TD for DD.
It was very nice weather for the match, and 46000 fans (19 vs 27k) showed up for this quarter final which despite the vampire had the elfs as favourites.
This advantage took a turn when star thrower Marek had some trouble with an old injury and failed to play this crucial game.
The ref was very allert today and this had come to the notice of DE who knew they shouldn't try to make any fouls today (hcp: under scrutiny). If only DD had this knowledge, their dirty player Argos was thrown out for stepping lightly on an elf (stun) in first half, and no more fouls was seen for the rest of the match.
It was a vierd start to the game. The sun was blazing from a very clear sky (weather changed to sunny -1 on passing) as the game was kicked-off by DD. Not daring a pass up against the sun without thier thrower, DE keept the ball deep down thier own end of the pitch. But they had made their calculations without the speed of Rigor Mortis who at the end of DDs turn took a sprint tp put his TZ on the elf with the ball.
First go fo it went fine, but then the seasons top scorer found trouble on his second, with a 1, which where re-rolled to a 1. 10 on AV, 11 on injury and, yes you guessed it, a 6, and then Rigor Mortis died for good this time, as it so often happens with players leading the top scoring list (third time this season!)
So alredy after their first turn, DD was shocked and in complete disbelief as their star had past on for good, and thier team rating suddenly dropped 14 points. Very ironical that a player so hard to get down with blodge and sidestep kills himself by tripping over his own feet :D
In turn 3 N´kari Ironstar ran for a TD, which seemed secure as all DDs players where on the wrong side of a loose line of elfs. But out comes Opi Rectalis, making a move similar to last match for DD, where a wardancer was pushed out after a dodge into 3 TZ. This time it is two dodges on 4+ and 3 + followed by a go for it and a one dice block explosion, and down comes the ball carrier (no re-roll spendt). But the ball goes out to the fans, and although they throw it close to the vampire, it ended up free on the ground.
This was soon exploited by Lissera the Carnifex who not only picked the ball up but also frenzied the count down on her way to the first TD for 1-0 in turn 4.
The rest of the half the elfs held a good defence against the DD cage with the count inside. Even a suprise quick snap did not really help. A few players where KOed (two elfs and, very bad for DD, the remaining ghould Eata Corpus who never recoverd (in two tries). So no ghouls left for the rest of the game. Also Argos was thrown out for his ineffective dirty foul).
In the last turn DD had a slim chance of making that tieing TD, and alot of good moves placed a wight in the end zone, but the pass by the count was against the sun, and he fumbled and the half ended in favour of the elfs. (Only a 4+ and a 3+ away from the tie though.)
Second half began with a bad kick from the elfs, and the count got the ball and moved into a cage. A single elf KO was followed by two KOs on DD players, who just did not seem to be able to bash elves as they had become used to during the season. No casualties by the mummies in this match, for only the second time.
A move that seemed briliant at the time left the count (St 5 and blodge) alone close to the end zone with the ball, but he had forgotten about the talented K´Chera Soulblade with his great abilities for striping the ball from even the strongest enemy. It even seemed it should be a two block dice, but getting the assist had cost a re-roll, and K´Chera Soulblade's last go for it for the blitz came up on a 1 and he fell. The vampire was not late to take advatage of this and made a sure tieing TD in turn 4.
All elfs woke up again, and they could put their strongest team for this crucial drive where the clouds came back and removed the blinding sun,
The elfs began with a strong attack down the right flank and this was followed by a dodge by Narquelle Venomblade to get a player down the left widezone to cause trouble for DD, but OH NO it is a double 1, and he falls and gets KOed. And the ball was not even picked up yet! Furthermore now their is only one side of the attack and DD players gathers around the four elfs.
And then another daunting move by Opi Rectalis including a dodge and a go for it, before he succefully picks up the ball far down the elfs side of the pitch. This could be very dangerous for the elfs winning chances...
But Lissera the Carnifex uses her frenzy to ensure the wight goes down and it is a stun in a position so he will never be able to reach the end zone for the rest of the match! (but only one field short!) The elves now wishes to go for a quick score although there would be two turns left for DD to tie it up.
The way is cleared and the ball is passed succefully by Shovah Hellfire to Youran Wraithblade. All he has to do now is to blitz away Lex Liche and then run for the TD, but OH NO AGAIN, it is a double skull and no re-rolls. And Lex Liche furthermore BHs the blitzer, although the apotech steps in and she heals him instantly.
Nevertheless it seems bad for the elfs as the ball goes into the crowd who throws it close to several DD players. Sadly for DD the vampire had just been stunned and there is no player left which are skilled at picking up the ball and no re-rolls left.
As Opi Rectalis cannot reach the end zone in time, first priority for DD is to get another player down field, so several TZ are put on the ball, and a skelton runs to assit in the blitz that should open the door for a TD chance. But oh no a go for it and here comes another 1! So now DD players can score in their final turn :(
The elfs try to get to the ball, but also they fail. At least they are already sure they cannot loose without the game going into overtime, but thier chances of winning in regular play has just been seriously diminished.
The vampire, now ready again, blitzes the last TZ away from the ball, and then he only needs a go for it to pick up the ball on 2+. But hey you alse need 2+ to go for it, and he falls on the ball with another 1! And gets stunned. The ball endz in a TZ of a mummy, but here comes the luck that Youran Wraithblade was healed because he succecfully phsyces himself up to take on the mummy Ramses the 5th who goes down and is even BH!
Now the ball is free, and all neded to win is a pickup and a hand off on 2+ each. But the DE coach is somewhat nervous taking his bad luck with the dice into acount (and this match has been filled with ones ans skulls on both sides!), but there goes the first and there goes the hand off, and yes, at the very last turn Shovah Hellfire makes the winning TD for a 2-1 victory,
Death Extravagante prevails against the infamous elf bashers, who instead was bashed themself!
The fans loved this and gathered around for DE, but strangely enough no one seemed to have left DD (first time this season that DDs FF remained unchanged)
But elfs are expensive and DE only earned 10 k, so good for them they did not have any damages to their team. DD won 50 k but had already saved up for the Vamp for two more games but now they do not really need the money anymore.
K´Chera Soulblade was for some strange reason choosen as MVP eventhough it was his fault that the vampire still had the ball when he tied the game in second half. But maybe it was his heroic attemt to take on this strong player that was rewarded?
Skelton Brill must have recived the MVP to attest that there really were no player on DD who had deserved it it for this match! And this was also the end of their season!
Congratulations to the DE coach as it is over and out for Necromancer Kynde.
