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Week 5 and the beginning of the second half of the season for the All-Stars and the Wildmen promised much for both teams. The Eastern Conference has proven extremely tight and it still difficult to predict who will emerge and make a playoff challenge. The Wildmen are locked on top of the conference alongside the Mugaz but following the All-Stars season saving victory in Week 4 over the table-topping Mugaz, they are just a point behind the top two in the Conference. The possibility of all three making the playoffs is still on, particularly with the All-Stars having crushed the Fabienettes in the Week 3 cross-conference matches. Despite those two strong results, the Wildmen have to be considered favourites for this game after their win in the corresponding fixture in Week 1
The All-Stars have hauled themselves back into the playoff hunt on the basis of physical power. Against the strong front line of the Wildmen, physical dominance was always going to prove more difficult. The home side found this out from the very beginning of the game. Wood Elf Lineman Aenarion Swift received the kick-off and headed to the perceived security of the pocket behind the front line. The Wildmen are not noted for deep or intricate defence, prefering instead to impose themselves and attacking the pocket head on. Both sides clashed directly but neither blocking unit was moved out of the way. The All-Stars couldn't break a hole and the Wildmen couldn't push through to reach the ball carrier. It was almost a case of the immovable object versus the immovable object. It took a bizarre turn of events for the game to open up when Wildmen Lineman Mr Jeffrey trod on a carelessly placed mine. The trap exploded taking down some of the big hitters from both sides of the ball. Whoever could take advantage of the gap would have the first chance to impose themselves on the game.
Unforunately for the home side, it was the Wildmen who were the first to react. High Elf Catcher Speedy McSpeedy, fresh off a record five touchdown haul against the Savages in week 4 slipped through, tackled Aenarion Swift and took possession for himself. With the protection of what had been the defensive line still relatively intact, the High Elf showed the confidence that being top scorer in the league brings with it. Speedy's team-mates clearly know what a dangerous weapon he can be, blocks and tackle zones were laid on to support the Elf who showed tremendous tenacity to keep on his feet when blitzed by All-Stars Ogre Kaneris N'Gillthrog. The All-Stars could not mount a serious defence against Speedy and were reliant on the individual play of the Ogre. He was unable to come through for them. Speedy McSpeedy finished off the counter attack with a burst over the line to open the scoring and register his eigth of the current campaign.
The time had all but elapsed for the first half and there was no time for an All-Stars response. Having been so successful with a pressuring attack on the Mugaz and the Fabienettes, they had run into a brick wall of Wildmen blockers. To make matters worse, the Wildmen receive the kick to begin the second half. 1-0 down at home and kicking off can not have made pleasant reading for the the All-Stars coaching staff or their fans.
The Wildmen offered a backfield of one, Amazon Thrower Lisa Furykup for the All-Stars kick-off. The formation provided for a strike threat from either Speedy McSpeedy or Human Catcher Mr Cock Knocker with both taking up a wing position. The All-Stars defence was relatively conservative. The pressing tactics had not worked in the first half so the defensive formation provided more cover in the deep in anticipation of a rapid Wildmen drive. When the kick eventually came, Lisa Furykup made a complete hash of it. She took possession and attempted a pass but a lack of concentration saw the ball land just inches from her own arm. A potentially calamitous personal mistake. Fortunately for the Amazon, the All-Stars failed to make her pay. Kaneris N'Gillthrog attempted to force the issue but could not escape from the front line as the hulking frame of the Ogre crashed to the ground while attempting to break multiple tackles.
Lisa Furykup was more secure at the second time of asking. The ball was handed off to the main strike player, Speedy McSpeedy. The Elf set off just as in the first half with cover support. Unlike the first half, the All-Stars managed to do something about it. Deep cover player High Elf Thrower Thaleus Thunderam who had suffered a Broken Leg in the meeting earlier in the season brought down Speedy with a perfectly timed tackle. Unfortunately for the home side, Speedy is quick of mind as well as foot. The scoring machine scrambled to his feet, regained possession and took advantage of the only option available. Lineman Mr Small Balls broke from covering Speedy to take up position in the end zone. A completion later and it was 2-0.
2-0. If the All-Stars were to get anything out of this game they would need to score straight away. A quick strike is not the team's standard play but with time against them, the All-Stars would have to pull something out of the bag and swiftly. The Wildmen made their first serious error of the game on the kick-off. A bad kick put the ball out of bounds and into the home side's hands with a touchback. Verkampf "Rat Destroyer" the Saurus elected to take possession. The Lizardman clearly aiming to emulate his scoring feat in week 1 against the same defence. At 2-0 up, the Wildmen were reluctant to take chances. The defence abandoned its traditional pressure formation and abandoned some front line cover in favour of protecting the backfield against a rapid touchdown response. Minotaur Horny Wildman was one of those selected to lie a couple of yards deeper and this paid off with a tackle on the Saurus as he rushed into Wildmen territory. The home side had much to thank Verkampf for though even despite his failure to retain possession. He had rushed far enough into Wildmen territory for Wood Elf Aenarion Swift to take the second phase of the attack by clearing the Wildmen out from the prone ball, picking it up and scoring in what has to be the All-Stars most dynamic single offensive play of the season so far.
2-1, could a comeback really be on? The All-Stars would have to stop a Wildmen drive for the first time this season to make that comeback a reality. The home side would have to sack the ball carrier in order to take possession and score again. The Wildmen seemed to recognise this by simply not detailing anyone to recover the kick in the first instance. A strong front line formation and cover against any All-Stars that might make it through very nearly resulted in a disasterous failure. Treeman Woody Wildman swung and missed in a front line blocking action that sent the giant oak to the ground. Once again the All-Stars failed to take advantage. No pressure was put on the ball. Lisa Furkykup picked it up and made a quick pass to Speedy McSpeedy. The Elf ran down the right flank of the defence and out into the backfield. It was clear no-one would be able to stop him putting the game beyond doubt. For their part, the defence seemed more concerned in taking out the fallen Treeman than in stopping Speedy. Lineman Tom Flid badly hurt Woody Wildman as the Treeman was casualtied for the second time this season against the All-Stars. The foul drew the wrath of referee Grimlot Sternfeature as the joyless Dwarf sent Flid from the field. Almost un-noticed, Speedy McSpeedy made the game safe at 3-1 with yet another touchdown.
A 3-1 victory away from home on the back of a 5-0 demolition of the Savages puts the Wildmen in a strong position to qualify for the post-season. Two wins from the remaining three games will secure a post-season berth for the pre-season conference favourites who will be pleased with their offense as usual but also a secure defensive performance. Conceding one touchdown away from home is not a bad return and follows a shut out in the previous match. The All-Stars are seriously up against it and will likely need to win all three remaining matches including in Week 6 against the rampant Mutineers. Their offence was simply not up to scratch today. Failing to break through the Wildmen line will be a concern for the team that has thrown more blocks than any other. Defensively, they just don't seem to have the players who can bring someone down in their own backfield. Unless the All-Stars secondary improves, they could well miss out on the post-season. Giving up a total of 61 yars of rushing is inexcusable for any team.
Injuries: None
Key Stats
| Team |
CAS
|
Blocks
|
Downs
|
Rush
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Stars |
1
|
44
|
22
|
32
|
Wildmen |
0
|
29
|
17
|
61
|
MVPS: Steve Gloid, Woody Wildman
Best Players
Speedy McSpeedy: 2 TDs, 4 Rushes for 52 yards, 1 Completion for 4 yards, 1 Reception for 2 yards, 3 Blocks, 2 Downs, 1 Tackle, 1 Stand, 5 Dodges, 1 Fumble
Aenarion Swift: 1 TD, 2 Rushes for 26 yards, 2 Blocks, 2 Stands, 1 Dodge, 1 Fumble
Verkampf "Rat Destroyer": 1 Rush for 5 yards, 10 Blocks, 6 Downs, 1 Fumble