“Fresh from their 1-0 win over the Parthenian Sisterhood, the Big Red Machine was were cautiously optimistic about facing a far more experienced Ogre team. Whilst the Strikers were hitting form, with two wins on the trot, their disastrous injury run in the pre-season was undoubtedly in the back of their minds as they faced the Nard Harpies' bohemoths. Their chances were helped, however, when Goblin Nukb Madbone succumbed to the effects of a pre-existing injury during the warmup and received a huge boost when the local constabulary arrested the giant Qwez Ednax on suspicion of a crime that, if we know big Qwez like we think we do, he probably committed.

The Strikers won the toss and elected to receive, but were subject to a blitzing onslaught before the ball had even been kicked! To make matters worse, the big Ogre Q'harr Zob threw Szodur Darkooze to the target destination of the kick, which Darkooze promptly caught. The Strikers began the game with their opponents already in a scoring position! However, this reversal in fortune for the Harpies was only temporary. Klaus Fuchs, usually known more for his scoring prowess than brutality, monstored Darkooze and caused the ball to spill free whilst Darkooze was helped from the field and unable to return. As any good coach will tell you, the key to beating Ogres is to take out the Gobbos as the big guys are next to useless when they have to move a ball themselves. This makes the Strikers' coach either not very good or truly inspired, as he shunned conventional wisdom by instructing his players to take it up to the Ogres! This strategy had immediate effects, with Vladimir Lenin knocking out Xhi A'kan'tl and Friedrich Engels putting G'krepp Frib out of commission for the day. Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Molotov ran the ball behind the Dwarven line as the Strikers looked to exploit their newfound numerical advantage.

The Nard Harpies fought back, attempting to run down Molotov. Zob smashed Lenin, and Xtag Greatbone sought to have his influence felt by fouling the Dwarven Blizter. Nothing was going the Harpies' way by this stage, however, and last season's Bronze Boot winner was promptly sent off! When Keng Dreadhunter was carried off behind him with an injury that looked like it will see him miss at least next week's match, the Harpies had only 6 on the field. The Strikers were thus happy to let the clock wind down, depriving the Harpies of a first half scoring opportunity. A beautiful kickoff late in the half, following a Molotov touchdown, ensured there would be no miracle reply before halftime and the Strikers went in with a 1-0 lead at the change.

The Nard Harpies' coach had obviously given them a fearful spray at the half, and it paid dividends with the Harpies scoring a quick equaliser. Librux Kromprii threw Goblin Mexogd Evilclaw with the ball. Evilclaw landed experly between the two Longbeard sweepers and ran in the TD to level the scores at 1-1 and give the Harpies a chance. Whilst the Harpies were celebrating in front of their crowd, however, several fans of the strikers got to the referee in typical Communist style. From then on, the Strikers showed no mercy. The Ogres had 7 men and this was further reduced when Deng Xiaoping kicked a fallen Ogre, Xhi A'kan'tl, in the teeth and sent the big guy back to the KO box with which he had become familiar in the first half. Goblin Mkox Greathacker soon joined him and the numbers deficit was more than the Nard Harpies could overcome. The Strikers were again happy to let the clock wind down, with Klaus Fuchs scoring the winning touchdown relatively easily seconds before the final whistle.

Several apparatchiks were singing the praises of the Stikers following the game, claiming that the result was never in doubt and proved the merits of Communist ideology. Privately though, insiders have suggested that many Strikers players were just relieved to get through the match without sustaining any damage. The Strikers were conscious of the need to be at full strength when taking on a far more experienced Dwarven side, the Adelaide Anvils, in the next round. Following a league ruling disqualifying the Anvils, the players were even more jubilant and sang the Red Internationale late into the night.

Twahnlow Votes
3 - Q'harr Zob

He was one of the few Ogres that could knock down the surprisingly elusive Dwarves, and his throw of Darkooze at the beginning nearly put the Strikers in a bad position from the start!

2 - Librux Kromprii

After Zob, the votes are hard to give out as the highlights were few and far between for the Nard Harpies. Kromprii's throw of Evilclaw, however, was exquisite, showing a finesse unusual for his race. With a very small margin for error, Kromprii was up to the challenge and gets the two votes.

1 - Mexogd Evilclaw

In a match with few highlights for his team, Evilclaw gets the last vote. Kromprii was the architect of Evilclaw's touchdown, but Evilclaw still needed to finish and did.”