“The Red Star Strikers were full of confidence as they arrived at the ground today. Riding high after two wins from their first two matches, the Strikers were thrilled when they heard that experienced Dwarf team, the Adelaide Anvils, had been forced out of the SWL for the remainder of the season. In their place, the Strikers faced a reasonably inexperienced Dwarf side, the Grizzlebeard Crag Crushaz. The Crushaz had had problems of their own, with only nine men able to front up for the match due to a violent encounter with Amazon team, Burning Passion.

The Strikers won the toss and received. A bad kick by the Crushaz meant that Josef Stalin, the Strikers' Troll Slayer, ended up with the ball. Stalin took his time to run the ball to the endzone, where he waited whilst the rest of the Strikers attempted to exploit their numberical advantage over the undermanned Crushaz. They looked to have the Grizzlebeard Crag team surrounded and proceeded to bash. But the Crushaz didn't read the script. Not only did they withstand the assault, the dished a few tasty blocks of their own out to knock out Karl Marx and put Pol Pot out of commission for the rest of the match. Wary of th need to regroup, Stalin ran the touchdown in which gave the Crushaz a small but unlikely chance to score before the half. Mall Ironfoot, the Crushaz Runner, nearly pulled off what would have been a good touchdown but a nice blitz from a recovered Karl Marx removed both the ball from Ironfoot's hands and the chance at a first half equaliser from the equation. The Strikers went in with an acceptable, but far from impressive 1-0 lead.

With eleven men to the Crushaz' eight, the Strikers were confident they could begin to impose their will on the game. Their hopes took a blow when Georgy Malenkov was badly hurt straight away. he was soon followed by Blitzer Vladimir Lenin. Mall Ironfoot ran the ball in behind his line and waited for the Strikers' counterpunch. Stalin caught up with the Runner and stunned Ironfoot, knocking the ball free. An attempt by the in-form Klaus Fuchs to recover the ball was hampered by the poor weather and the ball slipped through his fingers. Brolyan Stoneaxe had seen enough. He charged down Stalin, delivering a blow which Stalin was unable to recover from. The Strikers waited for Stalin to get up, but the big man's breaths became shorter and eventually stopped - he had died. The Strikers, meanwhile, were unable to inflict any damage of their own. Mall Ironfoot was able to recover the ball and run behind a wall of Crushaz, frustratingly out of reach for the Strikers. The Strikers were stunned by the loss of Stalin, but Ho Chi Minh was enraged, taking out his frustration on Bruin Stoneaxe who was taken from the field with a smashed ankle that will rule him out next week and the effects of which are liekly to stay with him forever. Fuchs managed to get to Ironfoot but couldn't knock the Runner down. From there, despite some token Strikers' efforts, he ws always going to score. Friedrich Engels made his presence felt, frcing Blizter Gibur Fireforge from the field. It was too little, too late though as Ironfoot equalised. A bad kick gave Vyacheslav Molotov the chance to score a late winner but Brolyan Stoneaxe was able to keep him out of range of the endzone and the time elapsed. A 1-1 draw.

The real winners today have to be the Grizzlebeard Crag Crushaz. They were never able to field a full team, whilst the Strikers had come off two impressive wins. That they were able to take any points away from this match is a testament to their spirit and dedication. The Strikers, meanwhile, will be sitting in the sheds wondering what happened. They were heavy favourites and it will be interesting to see how they pick themselves up from this - especially now that their influential Troll Slayer Josef Stalin is no longer among the living.

Twahnlow Votes
3 - Mall Ironfoot

The runner withstood a large number of blocks. He scored once and almost scored before the half to create what would have been a boilover.

2 - Brolyan Stoneaxe

Two casualties, including the death of Stalin. He also did enough to prevent Molotov snatching a late one at the end.

1 - Rosur Stonehead

Was a constant nuisance in providing blocking assists and managed to cause a casualty himself.”