Last time Zola and DD clashed was in the round of 16th last season, and although this was only a group match, it may well have proven to be an all or nothing match, as it was the last group match for both teams, and neither of them were sure to move into the play-offs. DD could manage with a tie, and if they were just a little lucky both team could progress even with a defeat, but that was unsure.
As DD felt they needed a match against ST 5 AG 4 blitzer Zepelin they hired Count Luthor the Vampire. And since Zola did not dare expect Zepelin to show up, they hired Varag Ghoul Chewer in reply.
Of course Zepelin made it to the pitch, whereas this was not the case for DD star Ghoul The Green Ghost, who else would have been DD’s best weapon in order to strip the ball from exactly that crazy orc! (2 of the last 3 niggling misses on DD have occurred against Zola!) As DD also lacked both Sinistra Dextre and Benno Brausekopf II after the violent match against Zhatan's Disciples it was now 15 orcs vs only 13 undeads.
And finally DD kicks the ball to Zola, who’s fans immediately kills the ref, then a zombie is KOed, and next the troll Dumbwhaat BH Wolf who fails to regenerate. Two further players are stuned (one from a foul) and only 7 undead players are left to move in DDs 1st turn.
It looked bleak for DD who did not manage to take advantage of the killed ref for the first 3 turns (although they had the only dirty player on pitch), as they never managed to smack down any orc. However, the orcs stopped removing players from the ptich, and suddenly Varag was KOed in a foul by Xorn (it took two tries though) and at the same time strong Mad Max managed to take a blitz on ball carrier Daringonast. Only a push back, but now the thrower was squeezed between Mad Max and the sideline and Lex Liche was there to help. But in comes Zepelin and catches a hand-off.
Nevertheless, does Count Luthor manage to take a one dice blitz on Zepelin, pinning him down against the side line, and then Mad Max pushes Daringonast into the arms of DD’s fans, who BH him just a little!
But Zepelin manage to blitz himself free, and before the last turn the first dodge from DD fails, and Zepelin pushes himself over the end zone to take the lead 1-0.
Luckily for DD both a KOed mummy and a ditto Ghoul manage to get back in time for 2nd half, and thus DD can field 11 players.
Count Luthor soon moves the ball into a cage, but it is attacked by all 11 orcs including 4 of ST 4 and 2 with St 5. Soon DD finds them self in a real mess especially when Messer Junior II BH Argos (who fails to regenerate). A quick change of side did, however, help DD allot.
Suddenly the two Stand Firm mummies Ramses the 5th and Ra (with ST 6), comes to their full right. In the last three turns of the half, they manage to hold on to 7 orcs who never manage to trip them over in time to get any of them loose. Only an eight orc manage to dodge away. Hence only 4 orcs are left to challenge Count Luthor and his 4 little helpers.
And in DDs last turn the only obstacle between the tie is a 2+ dodge and Luthor just makes it and the game is tied! DD is now sure to be in the play-offs, as there is only one turn left, and Zola has no goblins at hand.
But wait! What is the ref doing. He seems to think that some time has been used to clear the pitch of debris after this long drive, and he extends the match due to “injury time”
Suddenly Zola has one last tiny hope to win the match, and they move three players into scoring position, and even though the rookie thrower Dvorbaz II makes and inaccurate pass, it bounces on the ground into the hand of Zepelin who then can move into position before last turn. When DDs blitz results in their 3rd double skull of the half, it seems bleak for DD, luckily they still have RRs, and the Orc blitzer goes down instead. And then the mummies manage 3 go for it, and it is made extremely difficult for the Orcs.
After a streak of three unlcuky match endings DD’s Necromancer Kynde does not yet feel secure, but without a RR it turns all but impossible for the orcs even to get a player into the end zone. 4+, 5+, 4+, 3+ 2+ would be needed (4 dodge and a go for it), and finally on the second dodge the orc blitzer goes down and ends the game 1-1 in “DDs favour.”
The fans were content with the match, but although many had shown up the teams only earned 10 vs 20 k.
For DD the tie seemed like a victory and can undoubtly be assigned to the hiring of Count Luthor, whereas Varag forgot he was a pro in Zola’s last turn and hence did not prove to be his money worth. DD has now secured their place in the play-off, but Zola still have a very good chance of going there too, as long as Grünburg Gryphons do not beat Woodwatchers with two TDs…
