“An unusual encounter.

The mice opted to kick-off, hoping the blazing sunshine would slow down the elf attack. Unfortunately a slightly over-eager hoof sent the ball straight out of the endzone and into the hands of the veteran quarterback. Two turns later the rats over-committed to the ball and left Quirion free to catch a short lob and canter in for the score. 1-0 to the Elven Avengers.

Turn three saw the Bookworms field the kick-off and send a couple of Gutter Runners forward. So far your standard elf-rat shootout.
Avenger Blitzer, Velendil, who was a dwarf in a prior life, opened turn four by killing a linemouse. The apothecary had a premonition that there might be more work ahead and refused to leave his seat in the bar.
With the elves closing in ominously on the ball and the rats realising they were positioned to take a beating The Horsefly Whisperer stepped up, and indeed leaped up, to get into the endzone just in time to catch a short pass for the equaliser. 1-1.

A riot at the kick-off gave the elves five turns to score and take a lead into half-time. They weren't planning on taking that long though and quickly caged in midfield. The mice tried to defend a bit deeper, but with little use as the cage moved neatly into scoring position near the sidelines.
A Lice's Adventures in Wonderland began turn five by knocking out a lineelf, with Waterbug Down following his lead.

The Avengers were still pinned down and slightly out-numbered at the start of turn 6. After the elves scorer went surfing Of Moths and Men decided to try a -2d block on the ball carrier which he pulled off. Waterbug Down then pulled off a few dodges and GFIs to snag the ball from within a couple of tacklezones and duck back into relative safety. Two turns left in the half and the mice decided it was time for more heroics. The Girl with the Dragonfly Tattoo blitzed Waterbug Down clear to handover to the Horsefly Whisperer four squares from his own endzone. Digging into his suitcase of courage he leaped over Vandiel, the ST4 elven blitzer before scampering to within sight of the touchdown.

The Avengers were faced with a couple of unappetising choices and Nuffle decided he wouldn't allow either of them, resulting in a second TD for The Horsefly Whisperer on the stroke of half-time. 2-1.

The Avengers kicked-off the second half with only ten men after a couple of lineelves decided to stay in the KO box. They were quickly joined in the dugout by a catcher who was badly hurt by a rock tossed by the home crowd. Things rapidly got worse as the mice came back from their half-time oranges in a punchy mood. In the first turn of the second half one lineelf was blocked in unconsciousness, another had his arm broken, and early touchdown scorer Quirion suffered a smashed ankle, which was initially diagnosed as fatal before a trained medic took a look.

The six remaining elves were unable to keep tabs on all the different attacking options and three turns later A Snail of Two Cities, rookie blitzer, caught a touchdown pass, but not before a fourth elf had knocked himself out snake-eyeing a dodge and the veteran quarterback had been badly hurt trying to mark a gutter runner. 3-1

When three of the four elves were left to slumber on only 5 were left to take the field. A freakishly short kick left the Avengers with limited options. A blitz freed the ball and Waterbug Down was quickly away and in scoring distance. What to Insect When You're Insecting was in no mood to miss out on the fun and left a third line-elf badly hurt before the score. 4-1

Better KO rolls saw six elves on the field for the last three turns. By now the Avengers decided it was time to live up to their name and the very first block of the drive put a second mouse in the morgue. The apothecary again refused to leave his beer. A short pass, a couple of GFIs and the elves were four squares from doubling their score. Of Moths and Men again parted an elf from the ball and with the pigskin balanced on the edge of the touchline and covered by two tacklezones Waterbug moved into scoring postion at the other end of the field.

It was not to be though. A series of dodges and GFIs saw a fatal blitz on two-TD scorer Horsefly. Finally the apothecary put down his pint to visit the scene, deciding that Horsefly was only hurt, albeit badly, and he would live to leap another day. After that all that was needed was two dodges, a pick-up in a tackle zone and the Avengers were home. 4-2 on the final whistle.

Final butchers bill, three BH, four killed (two rerolled into BH and -MA) and a MNG.

Of the twenty four players who started the match 15 of them earned SPPs.

A brutal and bloody game, but played in great spirit. The opposing coach makes a bashy, but charming, opponent! Fantastic fun....



”