Bloods Smashed

The Phoenix Flyers demonstrated last night why they are one of the season’s top teams and why the Waldenhof Bloods aren’t–with the High Elves defeating the hapless Vampire outfit 3-1.

In a rare turnaround, it was the Bloods that had plenty of Inducement money to splash about this week–receiving just over 300,000gp. The Bloods spent their money on a Bribe, a couple of Bloodweiser Babes and dressing up a Thrall to pose as a Flyers assistant coach to instill some Bad Habits into the High Elf squad. Hindsight, however, reveals all three were poor choices. The referee found it pretty easy to ignore the Bloods numerous ineffective Fouls (none of which did more than Stun the recipient), only one Bloods player needed to recover from KO (and did so without any assistance) and the coaching rouse was more than compensated by the boosts given to the Flyers by their cheering supporters and own coaching squad.

The High Elves received the opening Kick-Off and their otherwise near-flawless game got off to bad start when Orren Strongarm failed to pick up the ball. The Flyers soon recovered and the ball was flung to Aldaren Touchdown who darted into the safety of a cage of High Elf players. In a sign of things to come, the Vampires attempts to crack the Flyers defensive screen using their mesmerising gazes failed (with a re-roll) and Aldaren Blitzed his through the defence for the opening TD.

You don’t have to be a centuries-old Creature of the Night to realise that Aldaren Touchdown is the lynchpin of the Flyers side. During the remainder of the game, the Vampires Blocked and Fouled him at every opportunity. But the worst knock he received was a KO when his own Blitz went wrong early in the second half and he left the field for couple turns. Meanwhile, the Vampires drive up the right flank was stopped when the ball was stripped from the hands of Ubour Dachnavar and regathered by the Flyers. It was quickly passed to Aldaren who, none the worse from a couple rounds of Blocking and Fouling, dashed away for the High Elves second TD. The restart saw a Blitz by Flyers that not only resulted in the death of a Thrall, but also enabled Aldaren dash forward and catch the ball. He was soon knocked down and dispossessed (and Fouled) but the half ended without further incident.

The second half saw a more successful drive by the Bloods. Although another Thrall was killed and the ball was stripped from the hands of a Vampire again, Dachnavar managed to grab it and pass it to Constantine von Ungren who scored the Bloods only TD. The restart began with the crowd throwing a rock that knocked down von Ungren, who was standing deep to try to prevent the very play that subsequently developed. The Flyers delivered the ball to Aldaren who again moved forward surrounded by a cage of High Elves. The Vampires’ spooky mind-powers again failed to open a way through to Aldaren (despite another re-roll) and he scored this third TD. Following the restart, that saw another thrown rock that seriously injured a Thrall, a Fumbled Short Pass by the Vampires allowed Aldaren to again get his hands on the ball, but his attempt pass to it to team-mate waiting in the End Zone was fumbled - ending the game.

Thanks to Givo for the game – he played extremely well and was unlucky not to score a fourth TD. He also comprehensively won the Biff with two Deaths and an Injury. And so the fat lady is about sing on the Bloods season. No matter what the result; the game between Luscious Lords and the Norscan Raiders will knock the Bloods out of the Top 8 and almost no chance of making the finals.

Dave

(aka Axebreaker)