“These two teams have a history together, meeting once before in the OCCS. That game finished 3 – 0 to Apocalypse but resulted in, then, star Werewolf being seriously injured.

This time the Maulers looked meaner, and an excess amount of Tackle meant that neither Ghoul nor Werewolf would be safe - and with Doom and Gloom reducing them to just 2 RRs, there was little room for mistakes.

The game got underway with Apocalypse receiving. Not long into the drive Apocalypse were under the cosh with their DP being sent off in turn one, their star Golem double skulling himself into the SI box and several Zombies vacating the field of play to leave them greatly outnumbered.

Thankfully, a burst of speed from Crimson Canine after the Maulers had gathered to gang foul the remaining Golem at the opposite side of the pitch left the Maulers well out of reach of him, and although a stall would have been the better tactic, the few numbers that were tied up, and no RR at hand meant that a Turn 6 score was necessary!

1 – 0

Rain began to pour, adding pressure to the Maulers’ return. The Maulers drive was concentrated at the flank but the deep field ghoul failed the pickup. Apocalypse were confident of stopping their attack, but another ill fated double skull block from Star Werewolf, Bloodline of Dawn, suddenly dashed any hopes and sent him to the KO box. The Maulers moved just within scoring distance, requiring a single GFI on their next turn, and tied up the remaining Apocalypse players before making the handoff.

The combined efforts of a Wight and Ghoul allowed Canine to get into the TZ of the ball handler, but this was only a token gesture of a defence, aimed more at making the Maulers take more actions, and naturally invoke the wrath of nuffle. The Maulers, still unsated for blood, went on a blocking spree hitting almost everyone… finally nuffle kicked in and gave them a double skull towards the last of their blocks, a rerolled success left them dodging the ever present GFI 1… they collided with it head on!

We stopped pulling our Hero faces and rejoiced!

Second half and the rain was still coming down. The Maulers went to their right flank but were quickly met with a host of ghouls, and werewolves whilst the Wights and Zombies slowed down the Maulers players. They shifted their move through the centre and towards the left flank. Although a risky blitz, requiring a dodge and 2 GFIs could have given the opportunity to stop the score, Apocalypse opted to blitz a defender out of the way and put 2 markers on the ball carrier, one with tackle. With no one else close to the ball carrier the Maulers had to dodge out… he failed, spilling the ball. Bloodline of Dawn wasted no time in removing the other close by Ghoul from his feet and stunned him… then ensued two turns of bumbling Ghoulishness, as Apocalypse’s sure-handed ghoul failed to pick up the ball and move it to safety… eventually, despite having to dodge twice and pickup within a TZ the Maulers Ghoul nimbly showed us how it was done and got the TD leaving us just three turns for a tie breaker.

1 – 1

We feigned to one flank, tied up as many players as we could, then as the Maulers committed their men to stop us, Canine made a blistering run to the other flank, taking himself out of reach from the non-zombie players of the Maulers, and requiring a brave Zombie to dodge out and make a 1d block. The opposing coach proclaimed it was all over, but we weren’t so sure. A brave Zombie did just that, and POW… the game was going to Sudden Death!

Thankfully, in Sudden Death we received. This time we took our time to ensure the safe passage of the fumbling Ghoul to the end zone without a single block being attempted on the blodging ghoul… in turn 5 of OT the game was won 2 – 1.

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A pretty tough game, but expectedly so. GG Prez.
”