“After mid-table mediocrity in their first season, the Blood Pool’s were looking to get season six off to a flying start in the hope of at least challenging for promotion. With none of last season’s opponents remaining in the Conference South, seven unknown coaches and tactics would likely make that more a pipe-dream than a reality. And it looked like the fates were lining up against the Blood Pools – their first match of the season against the stout Norse of Bristle City was a replica of their opening fixture against some stout Norse in season 5. Still one lives in hope, and with the numerical advantage and the experience of a full season of OBBA behind them coach Clownfoot was hoping such circumstance would work in their favour. It did, despite the grit and fighting spirit put on show by the Bristleons.

Such a virtue was certainly extolled by Lee Trundle who seemed well up for the game that he seemingly doubled in size (thanks to some illegal drugs that the post-match urination test would later reveal), yet it was his early mistake that made life more difficult for the Norse than it should have been. His unsuccessful take of a McIndoe hand-off led to the ball being fumbled around the line of scrimmage where it found its way into the safe hands of ‘Killer’ Kennedy. Fellow Vamp Daggerlish made some room for an escape route by ending Lee Johnson’s evening on a stretcher and it the money was odds on for ‘Killer’ to make the first score.

However, a magnificent piece of bravery (or stupidity – its open to interpretation) by Jamie McAllister averted the touchdown. Breaking from his tackler and blitzing the much stronger Vampire he managed to take down ‘Killer’ in impressive fashion (double POW!). With the crowd throwing the dropped ball back into play and McIndoe picking it up in a defensive position, a break was on. This seemed even more so once ‘Killer’ started craving blood in no man’s land and Vlad Will Slit Ya was crowd surfed. Yet, some more unfortunate plays – this time an unsuccessful long pass and a player tripped whilst dodging – gave the ball back to the Blood Pool’s with just seconds remaining in the first half.

Gobberling picked up and successfully handed the ball to Haunting. Beardslay had picked himself off the deck, escaped from his marker and somehow just managed to make it into the endzone, as Haunting launched a speculative long pass in his direction. All Beardslay needed to do was catch it. Rather surprisingly, to both he and the watching fans, he plucked it out of the air with previously unknown and unseen grace. A successful, play involving just the Thralls, doesn’t happen all that often, and the chants of ‘who needs Vampires’ directed in the direction of the City supporters are unlikely to be seen for many a game after.

If City were aggrieved by the score after getting themselves back into the half, then they were even more annoyed when Handsome made it an 11 vs 9 fixture with the serious injury of Louis Carey at the beginning of the second half. There was little they could do as the superior numbers swallowed their players up with effective marking allowing ‘Killer’ to get the touchdown he had been threatening in the first half. With the second half shortened substantially by the ref calling for two injury time respites, there was no time for a City response and the game ended 2-0 in the Blood Pool’s favour.

For once the Thralls had shown hardiness and ability, but whether this is down to some significant pre-season training or pure blind luck is debatable. The next six games should provide the evidence. And whilst 2-0 maybe a little harsh on them, City did put up a stout and sturdy test for the experienced Vamps. With the Dark Elves of LifrigPool F.C up next, who seem to have an early season injury crisis on their hands, coach Clownfoot will hope that a follow up performance of similar standing is on the cards!
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