Vipers Victory

After several trying weeks the Tlaxtlan Vipers returned to their earlier season form with a convincing 3-1 victory over the Rotting Muppets.

It seems like nearly every week the Lizards are called upon to play in some sort of extreme weather - this week was no exception with a sweltering heat-wave that lasted all day! The weather conditions, however, were much worse news for the Muppets. The Necros were already under-strength after last weeks bruiser against the Black Sun - in particular, the Muppets were playing without Frankie, their hard-hitting Flesh Golem.

The Vipers won the toss and elected to receive - a couple of hard hits on the line of scrimmage KO'd two zombies - leaving the Muppets outnumbered from the very start of the match. Eztli fielded the ball from the kick and began moving moved up the the left hand side of the field. As the Muppets' defenders moved in, however, Eztli suddenly broke right and moved the ball. with a strong escort of Saurus, deep into the Muppets' half of the field. Although the Necros quickly back-peddled - the little Skink was just too fast and sprinted over the line for a TD before the defence could get anywhere near him. The restart saw the first victims of heat-stroke unable to re-take the field. Although the Vipers lost three players to the Muppets two - the Necro victims were the team's two Wights - and with both KOs failing to recover and no reserves - the Muppets looked like they were in serious trouble. And so it proved - the Vipers defence swooped on all the Necros moving into their half of the field. When an attempt by the Muppets to change direction came undone with a failed pass, the Vipers Skinks all flew downfield after the ball. Tlaloc got there first and threw himself across the line with an energetic sprint for a TD. A riot on the restart added time to the clock - but the Necro couldn't get past the Vipers defence in the time remaining.

The second half began with both Wights again going down with heat stroke. The Vipers fared somewhat worse, losing three Saurus and a skink to the heat - leaving numbers even at nine players a piece for the kick-off. The Muppets quickly grabbed the ball and dashed down the left sideline. Although a failed hand-off looked like it might cost them a Touch Down - the Vipers failed in their attempt to grab the loose ball and Batstealer dodged clear, scooped up the ball and dashed into the End Zone.

But just as the Necros were looking good - the heat struck down more key players - taking out the Flesh Golem Pinkie and the Werewolf Ulrich. In contrast the Vipers lost just a single Skink. The Lizards use their superior numbers to move the ball quickly downfield and Mextlu carried across the line for the Vipers third. The restart reversed the numbers with the Vipers losing five players to the Heat (the Kroxigor, two Saurus and two Skinks) to the Muppets three (a Ghoul and two zombies. Added to the Vipers casualties and KOs, the Necros outnumbers the Lizards for the first time in the game. However, it was all too late in the day to have any real impact on the result.

Thanks to Scott for the game - nothing much seemed to go his way during the match. Better luck next week!

(Team Poster still in the works)

The Vipers have a Bye next week, so they'll be able to rest up and prepare for the Round 13 game against that team-destroying Khemri outfit - the Turner Eternals.

Dave

(aka Axebreaker)