“Very erratic luck seemed to be the major factor here.

Early in the game it was all about the orcs. Then, nearing their first TD, they suffered a brief blip, letting the elves grab the ball. With the orcs out of position it looked like the elves would get away with the ball & take the lead. However a lino got the needed pow on the GFI blitz, and the elves suffered a turnover straight away in return in their efforts to clear an orc away from the ball. The orcs pummel the leves into the dirt & take the lead.

With the elves still sleeping off their sore heads in the KO box the next kickoff didn't look promising. A quick turnover later & things go from bad to worse. However a troll failing its stupidity test creates a gap in the orcish defence which goes unnoticed. The elves fetch the ball, get it to a catcher & leg it through. With elves coming through in support the orcs need to blitz a path & so can only put a single TZ on the ball carrier. A 2+ dodge with possible reroll proves no problem for the elves, who run in the equaliser just before half time.

With the elves nearly back up to strength the game is wide open starting the second half. The elves throw two catchers deep into orcish territory, hoping to draw some defenders away from the line of scrimmage. The orcs ignore this & start bashing away at the elves once more. As a result the elves go for a pass to the waiting catchers. However it is sunny so the pass goes astray, taking the last elves reroll with it. The orcs, looking favourites, pounce on the ball. However, with no cover yet in place the gobbo fails the pickup roll & the game is open once again. The elves put two tacklezones on the ball, but they are not needed as an elf walks in and legs it with the ball, despite two glowering orcs trying to put him off. As the orcs race to cover, they cage in the ball carrier. However, the goblin tries to make it a more perfect cage, and stacks it in the process, leaving an easy escape route for the elf. The elf runs deep into orcish territory, well beyond the reach of any orc. What little is available of the elven team puts up a makeshift barricade. The orcs easily charge through this however, forcing the elves to score.

With the orcs running out of time to level the scores they pile forward. However too many get tied up in the centre & short on the wings, leaving the deeper orcs easy prey for the elvish side. With the elves pushing a pair of catchers into threatening positions, endangering the orcish thrower, the orcs scramble back to cover. A failed catch later & the ball is lose, with only a few orcs really looking to have the speed to be capable of scoring a TD even if the ball is recovered. However, the evlish wardancer hits double skulls and the orcs are back in with a chance. Good passing sees a gobbo through and clear, with the ball sailing to meet him. The orcs soon have a both down block, ending their turn, but also killing off an elf in the process. AV 7 not to blame, it was straight 6's! The elves swarm around the offending gobbo, with four players pinning him in place while other elves put a TZ on every orc who could reach to help out. The gobbo still has a good chance, but runs out of luck at the last, falling and ending the game.

Cheers Maharaja, was a close game. Apologies for my frustration earlier in the game, but i failed to put a single orc down in the early turns, while receiving a pow! on every hit. I guess the luck evened out - I got some important breaks, but totally failed to maim the orcs in any way, while my treeman remained statioary for pretty much the whole game & my wardancer sleeping through it. Looking forward to the rematch! :)”