“FUMBBL SMACK Scheduled Rookie XXXVII, FINAL

It took the coaches long to arrange this game, but finally the teams met. A blizzard was rampaging when the teams set up for the first drive. The dwarves had all the skills and some nice stat boosts on their side, but with giving away 310k of inducement money and four at least partly developed gutter runners on the other side, the match could still go any direction.

First Half

Quintessential Dwarves decided to receive first and put hard pressure on the rat-men to force a quick touchdown. The weather was worrying, but just as Thorek Thrungsson kicked the ball deep into the opposing half, the storm died and the ice vanished.
Generation Royal moved deep into the dwarves' half and screened their gutter runners, but an unlucky blitz by their storm vermin (double skull into both down) left their position vulnerable. As the dwarves closed in only a quick side switch with few players kept them on distance, but stalling was no longer an option and the skaven had to score in turn three.

Brand Borginsson caught the very short kick right at the LOS and six dwarves formed a tight cage in the center of the pitch, while the others broke linerat armor left and right. Suddenly a mighty fireball emerged from the ranks, knocking the ball carrier's three guards over. But like the fireball, the gutter runners also failed to take Gwenelyn Gurtrudsdottir off her feet. (Coach Rabe later claimed that he had known about the wizard and set up the cage as trap... a calculated risk that payed off.)
The dwarves moved the ball very slowly, prioritizing safe positioning and hunting opposing players. The rats held up well and badly hurt Darek Duraksson, but did not get a second chance to seriously threaten the ball. Gwenelyn scored safely on turn 8.

Second Half

Generation Royal kicked dangerously close to the LOS again, this time into the left wide zone - not easy to secure for slow dwarves. Still, with only eight rat-men remaining, the dwarves had plenty of room. They crossed the LOS and formed a wall that covered almost the whole width of the field. Not enough to stop the gutter runners though, as one of them sneaked through and blitzed the ball carrier - luckily for the dwarves he did not succeed. However, with their players spread out, they weren't able to form a tight cage quickly enough. A gutter runner and a linerat were able to bring Hurgar Harginsson down with the gutter runner catching the bounce. He didn't last long as dwarves fists hammered on him from all sides. And while a handover between the runners failed, the ball was still surrounded by five dwarves. Another, similar lucky bounce and Thorek Thrungsson held the ball safe.
Despite some reckless attacks by the skaven and their desperate attempt to block the way, the dwarves now slowly and systematically grinded their way towards the endzone, smashing skaven players into and off the pitch left and right.

Only five rats showed up for the turn sixteen kickoff. Seeing no chance for a one-turn score, they tried to execute some revenge at least, but dwarven armor and hide was too thick for them to succeed.

Quintessential Dwarves win 2-1 and bring home their and coach Rabe's first tournament trophy!

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Thanks, Ignaz, for playing. You held up as good as possible, but my team out-skilled yours by far and the magic dice that would have made a win possible for you didn't show. Better luck next time!”