“Well, this will be quite a frustrated match report - not because I lost (that was expected) but because of how the match went... Well, you'll see.

First drive started with the Survivors kicking. Noel got a Quick Snap - nice start for me. After some blocking he tried the one turner with Baddo but luckily he tripped going his first GFI (used a reroll earlier this turn). The ball came to rest just in a corner of my endzone (no other spot on the pitch was more suited to the skaven). Krunt the Cat tried to recover it, rolled a 1 on his only GFI, rerolled successfully, and rolled another 1 for picking up the ball. The throw in landed in my endzone (again: no other spot on the pitch would have favored the skaven more) and Baddo stood up, dodged out of Krunt's TZ (needed a 2, rolled a 2), and picked up the ball (needed 2, rolled 2) for an early touchdown.

Second drive, skaven kicking - BLITZ! This drive started even nicer than the first one did... And, of course, the ball came down where he could move his AG5 GR to. Luckily for me that was a place covered by three orcish TZ and his GR couldn't roll the required 5+. All attempts to push the ball to a better square for me only resulted in more skaven TZ on it. In the end I only got two TZ on it. As expected the AG5 Gutter Runner easily rolled the required 3+, handed off to Joggins Boggins. He ran back into his own half, passing the ball to Baddo who made it all the way to his own endzone where he was out of my reach. Next turn he ran up front, handing off to another Gutter who ran further towards my endzone and missed the final TD pass to AG5 Gutter. One of my blitzers went 2 GFI to pick up the ball (needing a reroll for pick up) and, of course, failed the pass. The ball came to rest just beneath the skaven thrower... An early turnover prevented the next touchdown in this turn, only to see Razag pick up the ball and attempting another pass. The pass failed and I tried his Pro skill. Of course, he failed and I expected to now get asked to team reroll his failed Pro roll (as written explicitly in the rules) - now I know another client bug. :-( Well, this half saw some more blocks (got my first two KO'd skaven in my 7th turn...), a failed 3+ dodge for me that would have brought one of my blitzers into scoring range, and in the end two Gutters and two lineskaven where in the KO box.

Second half started with both Gutters passing their KO checks, the Skaven kicking and me having a Quick Snap - at least some luck for me now. My designated 5SPP lineman picked up the ball but failed the quick pass even with reroll - double 1. Again the AG5 Gutter capitalized of it: 2+ dodge, GFI, pick up in three TZ and ending his move there. I now was sure to bring him down... Nuffle decided against me: Four consecutive 3db and one 2db didn't bring me a single POW or POW/SKULL. - chances for that are 0.34%. :-( The rest of the drive was an easy score for the skaven with two 2+ dodges and a quick pass to a Gutter in the endzone.

Next drive started with another BLITZ for the skaven. From that point on I lost the fun in this game and after some struggle the Snotcrushers scored their third TD - again picking up the ball within two TZ and passing the GFI. Being now 4th turn 2nd half the skaven had not even used one of their rerolls...

Last drive of the match saw the skaven pass all their KO checks (3) but at least the Orcs got a OOB kick. Finally my 5SPP lineman completed his pass (only to pick Dirty player afterwards) to Razag. The rest of the drive saw two more incomplete passes from the Orcs, both of them would have brought them VERY near a touchdown. Only notable thing of that drive: Orc linman Roar Razorclaw niggled Baddo Smallcake with a T16 foul (damaged back). Although this had no impact on this game I hoped for a more severe injury to weaken the Nightstalkers. As they seem to be unstoppable on their way to the final that was kind of preemptive strike. If he had died or gotten a stats drop this might have enabled other teams to compete for NBC rank 1 again. As things now are, noone seems to be able to stop them.

Well, enough of my ranting. Noel played very well, capitalizing on every dropped ball. If I watch the replay I wouldn't change anything - I feel I really got nuffled. Did I mention that after my third turn I had 17% luck? Or that, despite an awesome crowd of 92.000 I only got 40k? Or that despite inflicting 2+ cas my FF dropped? Or that neither my lino nor the blitzer that skilled up during that match rolled a double or stats increase? Or that the blitzers niggled on his second skill? Well, now I did... If I make it to the final he will surely face another Orc side, I promise. :-)”