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The first game for the Western conference this season saw the Savages once again facing their rivals the All Stars. The last time both teams faced one another the All Stars produced a crushing 4-1 victory against the Savages. Starting off the new season, both sides will be looking to improve on the 2003 season in which neither qualified for the post-season. The teams have had a contrasting off-season, the Savages had what many consider to be a very successful Krush, picking up Bull Centaur Morgrim Thunderfoot and Barbarian Neffgar Golgoth who surprised everyone by turning up to camp with his own Magic Helmet. The All-Stars went through another period of adjustment, changing head coach again. Sorra Firespike has left the club by mutual consent and has been replaced by D!sciple. It is unclear whether D!sciple is in fact the same person who left the franchise under a cloud at the end of the 2003 season. The club also lost Beastman Garek Hornskull in an unpopular trade with the while the team was under the brief stewardship of a coach named Damacles who failed to even survive to the start of the season. The Savages trading in the off-season saw Lineman Casius Slay join the expansion PAIN Corp and fellow Lineman Sid Unvicious retiring to take up a position as an ex-pro coach.
The injury report going into the match included Savages High Elf Lineman Mithdithius who aggravated a niggling injury and so watched the match from the stands. George Mayson of the All-Stars was also forced out of this one, the Lineman suffering a recurrence of a long-term injury. The active players took to the field following an All-Stars win on the coin toss and an election to receive. Abandoning their traditional empty defence tactics, the Savages put up a solid second line of defence with strength on both flanks. When the kick-off took place, it showed some of the hostility between these two teams, thought to have started in an acrimonious Savages win in 2003. The ball was punted right in the face of All-Stars Ogre Kaneris N'Gillthrog, knocking the behemoth down. This move did serve to help the All-Stars offence by presenting the ball in a decent attacking position in midfield. Svetlana Domina, the second placed player in the Writers Awards of 2004, scooped up the ball and proceeded up the field in a well rehearsed offensive pocket.
The pocket held firm but as with many All-Stars matches, the forward progress was slow. This time though, the two Rat Ogres, The Claw and Vehn'omm were both able to find some penetration into the cage, harrying Svetlana. This only served to inspire the Dark Elf. She dropped a shoulder to feint a move through the center but rolled round and burst towards the end zone from the left-hand side of the pocket. Despite some protection in the Savages backfield, Svetlana was unable to make it all the way in for the score. Fellow Dark Elf Sirius showed no fraternal respect by launching himself at Svetlana and ripping the ball from her grasp. It appeared as though the defence had held firm but Sirius showed less control with the ball then when he was preventing others from using it. The Dark Elf was able to retrieve the ball but could not get rid of it properly, fumbling instead of completing a pass away from danger. The lack of quick response gave the All-Stars another shot at getting the ball into the end zone. Svetlana was fairly well covered and recognised that she would be unlikely to take it in herself so a target was necessary. The target that presented itself was Orc Lineman Grak Hedsplitta. Diving to hand the ball off to her team-mate, all seemed fine until the Orc's clumsiness got the better of him and again the ball clattered down to the floor.
More players were being sucked into the end zone m-elee but Savages captain "Fur" Tooth was in no mood to join in. The Skaven Thrower had the presence of mind and the speed of hand to grab the ball while others battled around it. Once in pocession he s showed everyone on the pitch how it was meant to be done by successfully completing apass to a now free and open Lineman, Marcus Maximus. No fumbles this time allowed Maximus to take the ball out of the danger zone by handing off to the lone Savages player still upfield, Stinky the Skink. The Savages all-time leading scorer knows how to finish. Stinky sprinted through the open field to score on a rapid counter-attack and give the Savages their first touchdown of the season.
Trudging back for the kick-off, the large visiting crowd did their best to raise their team's spirits with chants of "You’re gonna get hit!. The intimidating song may have contributed to a weak kick that failed to reach the All-Stars half and so led to a touchback. Designating Svetlana as the recipient, it was game on for the All-Stars. From the off, Ogre Kaneris N'Gillthrog made his huge presence felt and proceeded to smash through the Savages defence, knocking over Bull Centaur Morgrim Thunderfoot and generating a gap in the Savages defensive line. This was the nail in the coffin for the Savages defensive strategy and as the Savages frontline disintegrated in front of her Witch Elf, Svetlana saw her chance and dashed for the end zone. This time she made no mistake, the All-Stars had manage to generate enough holes to prevent an effective defence from being mounted. Showing the same individual skill that made her second in the Rookie of the year voting in 2004, she dippped, dodged and dove her way to a touchdown before the end of the half.
A rapid-fire touchdown to end the first period drew the game back level at 1-1 with everything still to play for. There was a small scuffle in the tunnel before both teams appeared on the pitch for the second half which delayed played for several minutes. The act just showed the tension that these two rivals generate. The All-Stars will have been pleased to have drawn back level but will know that the Savages were due to receive next and that their own offense was variable in the first half.
Kicking-off the second half, the All-Stars defence focussed on protecting the secondary in an attempt to counter the all-round team speedy of their opponents. The ball flew high into the air, coming down with snow on top but "Fur" Tooth found himself positioned directly beneath the ball and fielded it with deft ease. Scurrying immediately upfield, the Savages captain passed out to the open arms of Stinky. Rat Ogre The Claw blitzed down the right wing to clear a path for the Skink who in turn had solid support in the form of Morgrim Thunderfoot, the Bull Centaur providing lead blocking duties. A solid cage formed itself as the Savages showed some excellent team play to protect the Skink. The All-Stars players saw this move too late to shape into the right defensive positions. Instead, it would be up to individual play and that called upon Svetlana. Attempting to blitz the Skink, she found to her surprise that the little fella stood firm against her block. The shock of this was evident all around. Stinky was quick to take advantage of the momentary pause, worming his way free from the Dark Elf's attention. A couple of dodges, some great speed and Stinky recorded his and the Savage's second score of the game.
With the score line now at 2-1, to the Savages, it was time for the AllStars to pick up the pace. Attempting to recreate the success at the end of the first half, the All-Stars sent their stronger players out wide to create holes for Svetlana to exploit. This time though, the kick was huge and landed all the way into the All-Stars own endzone. Thaleus Thunderarm did not panic though, the High Elf Thrower retrieved the prone rock and the drive was on. With the ball secured, the visitors front line went to work, again opening up the Savages line like a sardine can. The inevitable break by Svetlana seemed on but it was not to come. Thunderarm failed to live up to his name and made a dire pass that inevitably resulted in a failed reception. This was exactly the sort of break that the Savages thrive upon. They immediately initiated another attack down the right wing. With All-Stars players loaded down the right trying to push forward for Svetlana, there was free space to run into.
Stinky was on fire today, he recognised the chance for what it was and was quick to make just the right decision. Instead of running it down himself, he chose to pass on to Dark Elf Blitzer Sirius who was better placed having been positioned much closer to the front line on defence. With the ball secured and the All-Stars stretched across the field, the Savages rolled forward powerfully. They could not track back in time to stop Sirius, the Dark Elf showing just enough pace to make it into the end zone before any All-Stars could get across and it was 3-1.
Sirius's third career score stretched the lead to a two TD difference and the All-Stars knew there was no way back. Instead of trying to score, they just focussed on trying to inflict some pain. Unfortunately for the visiting support, the Savages toughed it out and no damage was inflicted. Frustrated, Svetlana again took it upon herself to run into enemy territory. This time she was prevented from scoring by Human Catcher Lobo La'Grange in the sweeper position. It had been a brave move but it ended quickly and with it, all meaningful play in the game was over.
3-1 is the biggest win in Savages history and marks a major improvement in their chances. Never before have they avoided defeat in the first week of the season so they will surely be feeling good ahead of the remainder of their fixtures. The addition of Morgrim Thunderfoot looks to be an excellent one and they will surely now be considered dark horses for a post-season run. The All-Stars will need to go back to the drawing board. This season may well be one of consolidation. Svetlana Domina still looks like a quality player but they will need to re-think their strategies if they are to make a dent on the competition this year. Their only consolidation will be a successful robbing of the Savages purse for the game.
Injuries: None
Key Stats
| Team |
CAS
|
Rush
|
Att
|
Block
|
Down |
Dodge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savages |
0
|
55
|
11
|
34
|
17
|
27
| All-Stasr |
1
|
42
|
5
|
48
|
27
|
6
|
Best Players
Stinky: 2 TDs, 3 Rushes for 12 yard, 1 Completion for 1 yard, 6 Dodges, 1 Stand
Svetlana Domina: 1 TD, 3 Rushes for 27 yards, 1 Reception for 2 yards, 6 Blocks, 1 Downs, 2 Doges, 2 Stands, 4 Fumbles
Sirius: 1 TD, 2 Rushes for 21 yards, 1 Receptionfor 1 yards, 2 Blocks, 6 Dodges, 1 Fall, 1 Stand, 2 Fumbles