Greetings sports fans,

Last week was absolutely fantastic! Swan Riders made it again, held the 1-1 draw against the skilled and fanatical Witch Hunters of Sigmar's Immolators. The game was extremely violent with 10 Casualties equally shared. We are keeping the second half time, when the team managed to steal the ball and equalize a game, who everyone had predicted that we lose. We even manage to make more blocks than them! Highlight was the use of #7 Halfling Gwalcmai as a live ammunition against the opponent ball carrier! Thrower was off-course our Treeman Star #2 Drychaen. Actually, we do not have much more to say for this game, the result was a miracle and very good for the psychology of the team. The price was heavy though, our Block Catcher #6 Kyler Rager died early on the first half, another one Hopeful (#9 Milo Iminter the next turn, and Hopeful #14 Nicolas Ahburn took a careerending injury (-1 AG). This confirmed our fear for the Empire Regionals. Swan Riders are facing developped teams, with the most of them even starting with Block and other skills that can kill a Halfling. It will be a long road.
But the game of the Empire Regionals Rd 1 was the derby between Grasparossa B.B.C. And the Cerberus Beast. Both teams are title favorites, based on their roster, and this game might decide the final outcome. In a extraordinary finish the outnumbered Humans and twice former Empire Champions saw from what the champions are made stealing the win from the hands of the Beastmen. The game was extremely entertaining and with major consequences for both teams. Despite their win Grasparossa lost their key legendary thrower #10 Modena. It seems that the Grasparossa cannot yet find another thrower to replace this star, at least for their next game.

But let's speak about what comes next. Swan Riders are already in Middenheim and are preparing for their next game against the Hammers of the White Wolf , a Cult of Ulric football team. The team has met a Halfling team, the Brandystock Barrelers before and interestingly not in the Empire Regionals but during Y6 Autumn in the Rd 3 of the Dust Division. This game is also one of the most replayed game of the coach Kharigor and the Swan Riders players, since it represents the dangers of Fantasy Football in all his glory. In short words, the Barrelers are infamous as the only CIBBL Halfling team who lost all their games (13 L from 13 G). But nobody can say that they did not try hard. During this game the Barrelers lost both of their trees before Rd 5, but despite that they manage to score 2 TD conceding none during the first halftime. The first TD was achieved through a Throw Team Mate (Halfling landed with the Ball directly in the TD zone) and the second through an remarkably team effort with a team composed only from Halfling players (both trees were injured). Nevertheless, this huge effort was vain. The outnumbered Halflings collapsed in the second halftime, conceded 3 Tds and got annihilated by these frenzy maniacs. The final whistle found 12 from the 14 Barrelers unable to continue the game (9 Cas).

Wish the Swan Riders good luck!

Did you Know … ? #9
... about the “Middenheim Controversy” of 2486? Middenheim Marauders lost painfully Blood Bowl XXIII (2483) from the Orcland Raiders and thus their chance to reach Reikland Reavers as twice Cup Holders. To make matters even worst the Reavers won the Blood Bowl XXV (2485), their 3rd Championship. Soon the Marauders felt in a great turmoil with their fans demanding reinforcements which will bring them the needed Championship against their hated rivals. During the post-season summer of 2486 the Marauders tried to circumvent the racial restrictions of NAF and recruit the Wilhelm Chaney by presenting them as a follower of Ulric, blessed by him. Indeed, Chaney agreed to a contract and complied to the story that he has some Middenheimer origins and started training. Fans from over the world got hugely interested in this move, who probably will shape the history of the NAF championship. The reaction came primarily from the Reavers off-course and the then Champions of 2486, Champions of Death. The latter shared with the Marauders the same division (AFC Northern) and felt immediately threatened. Both teams managed to block Chaney from playing with Marauders through a famous NAF inquiry, where the rumors about the received bribes became front page in the sport news around the globe. At the end, Chaney returned to the Westside Werewolves in the time for the 2486-2487 Championship and the humiliated Marauders replaced the vacancy with one last time addition, which at that time was heavily criticized as inadequate from the fans. The reason is that the new player was one year out of action because of a serious injury and that she was woman. Her name was Karla von Kill and during the next years became gradually the undisputed leader of the extremely strong Middenheim Marauders of the early 90s.