“On paper, nine versus eleven seems a tad unfair. Lifrigpool’s previous all-out Dark Elf encounter against Levante Union Deportiva had left a few too many injuryed players on the sidelines, a fact which the Blood Pool’s were looking to exploit. Still, Dark Elves are Dark Elves and even with the numerical disadvantage could still be a problem with their agile grace, so long as all nine remained on the field of play. Coach Clownfoot wasn’t counting his chickens and had pre-warned his team not to become complacent in the face of such circumstances.

Forewarned, the Blood Pool’s didn’t disappoint in the first half. The greater numbers from the kick off led to a surge down the right wing and a quick score for Alan Handsome. The Dark Elves, defensively, would be up against it. And following one too many failed dodges during the first period and stout defending from the Vampire’s it looked like it was going to be a long night for them.

However, the second half was ruled by Blood Pool complacency and incompetence. They failed to cover a Dark Elf drive sufficiently (and the Vamp’s forgot to use Hypno Gaze – idiots!) which led to a well-crafted equaliser. The defence from the first half, quite literally, went to pot! Still, with just over a quarter of the game to play the Blood Pool’s remained convinced that they would have the final say on the matter, but how quickly heroes can turn to villains.

Handsome, who normally picks up the ball from quick off with swiftness and refinement, failed to do so. On three occasions (five with re-rolls)! Sure, some could point to the heavens opening up and the deluge of rain that followed as an obstacle to success, but for a player of Handsome’s ability such a defence is a poor excuse for piss-poor play. The indignity of watching the great goof chasing a bouncing ball around the pitch as it keeps slipping out of his hands maybe funny for the neutrals watching, but for the Blood Pool’s it was painfully humiliating. Unsurprisingly, as the players trudged off the pitch at the final whistle even the Thralls refused to put a comforting arm round their master. Everyone had daggers for Handsome!

So the nine succeeded in a partial upset, and with a mummy filled Khemri team up next for the Thralls to attempt to duck and cover, the Blood Pool’s promotion prospects had taken a massive blow…
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