Weather: Normal
Gate: 50k
The 26,000 fans turned away at the doors paid testament to the importance of this match. Two undefeated teams met at The Crypt with the arrival of the Tragedy who boasted an equivalent record of having defeated The Panzerbourne and drawn with Ultimate Team just as the Flatliners did last time out. The Tragedy continued to miss Tucker with a damaged back but an otherwise full line-up. With cross-conference matches coming up for both teams, this game would be the last for a couple of weeks to show some dominance within the South.
One thing that seems to have set the Tragedy apart from the rest of the league is in the vociferous nature of their support. Each match seems to be coloured by crowd trouble and this was was no difference right from the off. This time, it was not a particularly devastating invasion but it did manage to create one casualty as Flatliners Orc Blitzer Hacken Slazch was Badly Hurt. When the dust had settled, the ball was launched deep into the Tragedy end. The player waiting for it was Skaven Thrower Tor but with the invasion having just cleared, there was an initial pause in the action before it really started to get going. A very cagey opening sequence of blocking and manouevering saw neither side able to stamp their authority on the early going. The mass invasion had clearly created some confusion among the players, with a fair few seemingly stunned by what had gone on around them.
With little blocking between the sides, the visitors initiated their first attack by slowly winding down their right flank. Pushing through small gaps but without breaking them open, it was a steady and grinding drive without real drama. Tor kept hold of the ball and waited for options to develop. One of those options was Amazon Catcher Sunday but she was closed down by Flatliners Wardancer and team captain Billy Mahonie who knocked the Amazon out. There were still plenty of options to go when Tor finally decided to make his move. Charging upfield, he narrowed the gap between himself and Gutter Runner Kyle, a quick pass later and the ball was in Kyle's hands. Kyle it seemed was not the eventual recipient of the chain. Instead of racing into enemy territory, he calmly strode up to his compatriot, Skaven Lineman Marti. A successful hand-off meant that the chain was complete and it would be up to Marti to make his way across the goal line. It might have been a well-worked and intricate play but it failed due to Skaven error. Marti decided against rushing in for the score and instead dropped the ball by his feet and rushed into the crowd. That crowd promptly gave him beats.
The ball was stuck near the sideline on the Flatliners left hand flank. Neither team had a direct route through to collect the ball so each side would be able to put bodies in the way to hold up their opponent's march. In those circumstances, it often comes down to which side can block their way through. The Tragedy found the going more difficult than they might otherwise have expected when their Blitzer, Luke attempted to lower his head on Flatliners Flesh Golem Lester Hayfriends. The head to head clash was a mistake, Luke came off worst and looked as though he was Badly Hurt. He was able to make a fairly swift recovery, speculation suggests some foul magick was at play, but it was indicative of the way that the blocking battle was going.
Having taken a slight advantage in the hitting department, the Flatliners were able to make a play on the dead ball. It was Wardancer Billy Mahonie who was able to take the risk by playing the ball. Billy was a first round pick in this season's Krush and one of the primary assets that made him such a high pick is pace. His speed allowed him to get in and out of danger before any Tragedy could catch him. The rest of the home side were not able to keep up so it was just Billy on his own against the Tragedy defence. The first wave of that defence was bypassed when Tragedy Ogre Landok failed to get off his block and could not dodge into Mahonie's trajectory. The second and final wave of defence was the speed players, not as strong but able to match the Wardancer for pace. The rest of the Flatliners did their best to get into tackle zones but Wood Elf Lineman Penn and Gutter Runner Kyle got free. The two combined to drag Billy Mahonie down with a last gasp tackle led by Penn.
Time was nearly expired in the half, there was only time for one more play. Kyle collected Mahonie's fumble and attempted it. The bomb was the only thing to do but it did not come off. The half ended at 0-0. The second time in three games that a Revengers' Tragedy was scoreless at the break. Either team could well have scored during the first period but some reasonable defence kept the game without score.
As the teams filed out for the second half, the wind began to get up as did the Tragedy's determination. They were helped by Flatliners Orc Lineman Quagmire Giggity. Quagmire was too anxious to get on with the play. As the Tragedy defence lined up, the Orc found himself too fired up and he struck out at the opposite line before the whistle was blown to start the game. Referee Barry Spite had no alternative but to send Quagmire off and create a dent in the Flatliners offensive plans. Those plans were not helped by a booming kick that pinned the home side very deep in their own half. As soon as the kick went up, the visiting side were on the charge. The Flatliners were a little slow to react. Billy Mahonie tracked back to collect the ball but was without any assistance and facing a raging charge from an aggressive defence.
Mahonie could not get out of danger in time. He was caught by Amazon Catcher Sunday who brought him down just a couple of yards from the Flatliners end zone. That was a disasterous mistake for the home side as the player following up was Kyle. Scoring from two yards out is a relatively easy task for any player and Kyle made no mistake. The aggressive defence had scored early in the second half to break the deadlock and secure a 1-0 lead for the Tragedy.
As if to emphasise their newly established dominance, the subsequent Tragedy kick-off was a violent one that stunned Flatliners Black Orc Two Jabz by striking him squarely between the eyes as he stood ready for the off on the front line. It might have been a stunning blow but it meant that the kick ended up on the line of scrimmage, just off center. That was the perfect place for the home side to put a hook together. Dark Elf Thrower Goale Ong saw the opportunity to make a break for it and as play was still condensced, there were plenty of Flatliners around him to provide support. Having enough blockers ahead meant that the skill players could make plays in their own time. The home side rolled round the defence, keeping it at arms length. That defence in turn, attempted to manouevre around to get into striking distance. Being out of position meant that they had to take additional risks. Lineman Larry was not able to carry that risk through. He was trying just too hard and over-exerted himself, slipping onto the turf. That fall created a large gap that was hit without hesitation. Billy Mahonie took over possession of the ball and broke from the pack. The Wardancer showed great acceleration to leave everyone trailing in his wake in an unstoppable burst over the end zone to equalise, his second touchdown of the season.
1-1 with about a third of the second period left, meant that the remaining action was bound to be fast and furious. There was still time for what is becoming a standard pause for the Tragedy before their offense clicks into gear. The momentary pause before Wood Elf Lineman Penn collected the ball was enough time for Blitzer Luke to make an impact. His impact was on the skull of Billy Mahonie, creating a major hole in the defence. Ruthlessly exploiting that gap, a two player chain was formed. Penn picking up the pace with Kyle kicking on further upfield. Perhaps this was enough to intimidate the Flatliners as first Lineman Nick Montagu and then Amazon Linewoman Jane failed to cover the gap by slipping over. The consecutive stumbles were all that Kyle needed, Penn expended all his energy to catch the Gutter Runner. A hand-off later and Kyle was off, the stumbling Flatliners could not lay a hand on him and a last gasp touchdown secured the game for Revengers' Tragedy.
A 2-1 last minute victory for the Tragedy puts then in a strong position in the Conference and hands the first defeat to the Flatliners. The Tragedy finished off chances efficiently, taking advantage of slips and stumbles to score quick-fire touchdowns from Kyle. The Flatliners will be disappointed with the result but were in the game right to the last. The home side were only just beaten and head into their tough cross-conference matches knowing that they are still in with a shout.
Injuries: None
Key Stats
| Team | CAS
|
Rush
|
Blocks
|
Downs
|
Dodges
|
Panzer | 2
|
25
|
29
|
14
|
10
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatliners | 2
|
41
|
26
|
14
|
5
|
MVPs: Bubba Ho-Tep, Jane
Best Players
Kyle: 2 TDs, 4 Rushes for 20 yards, 1 Reception for 3 yards, 1 Passing attempt, 4 Dodges, 2 Stands
Billy Mahonie: 1 TD, 2 Rushes for 18 yards, 1 Block, 1 Down, 7 Dodges, 1 Stand, 1 Fumble
Penn: 1 Rush for 10 yards, 1 Block, 1 Down, 1 Tackle, 1 Dodge, 1 Stand