Weather: Very Sunny
Gate: 35k
An incredible 31,000 fans were turned away from The Middle Ground as the high gates of the Southern Conference continue into the second round of games for the expansion conference. The Middle Ground experienced strong gusts throughout the day and this was still the case as the two teams entered the stadium. The Flatliners were coming off a win in Week 1 against The Panzerbourne while Ultimate Team The Second had to be content with a draw versus the Tragedy. One game is not enough to judge a team by but a second win for the Flatliners would make them a credible challenger for the Southern Conference title whereas a loss for the Ultimates would leave them 5 points off the pace at this early stage of the season.
With 31,000 rowdy fans not having been allowed entry to the ground, it was perhaps inevitable that trouble would flare up and it did so in the form of a riot. The pitched battle held the game up and the delay cost around half of the first period of play. The reduced playing time could only lead to a more frantic need for touchdowns with less time available in the first half to make a mark.
When the fighting around the ground settled down, the fighting on the pitch began. The Ultimates receieved the first kick-off through High Elf Lineman Mr Darcy and it was clear that they recognised the lack of time available for action in the first half. An early lateral from Mr Darcy to Wood Elf Thrower Smoove B was followed by a quick surge downfield. A couple of quick blocks and an attempt from Wight Jonny Gloom to dodge out of some tackle zones and get into free space. Gloom failed to slip his markers though and the stumble let the Flatliners into the game. Having set up with coverage out wide and across the middle, there were players to spare to meet the onrushing Ultimates. One of these players was Billy Mahonie, second pick overall in the 2004 Krush and and fearsome sight in full flow. The sight was one that was clearly intimidating to Smoove B as his fellow Wood Elf raced closer. Having not suffered a single tackle during their draw with the Tragedy, the first play of the game by the Flatliners saw them take one. Billy Mahonie blitzed upfield, stunning Smoove B and leaving the ball bouncing free on the ground.
It wasn't looking good for the home side when Billy Mahonie finally gathered the ball in especially when the Ultimates were unable to get back to challenge the Flatliners Wood Elf Wardancer due to a feeble block from Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Duggan fell on his own block and it meant the Ultimates didn't have the space to draw back from their advanced positions. It looked like the Flatliners would score an easy counter-attack touchdown with the ball in the possession of Mahonie surging down their left wing. The Middle Ground is a relatively new construction so the Ultimates staff had been able to conceal a trap which halted Billy Mahonie in mid-rush. The trap was a false yard of turf which gave way immediately as Mahonie trod on it. The false turf revealed a trampoline which spun the Wood Elf into the air and he inevitably lost possession of the ball.
Having already moved players downfield, the Ultimates were in position to take advantage of the Flatliners misfortune. Smoove B tracked back to pick up theball and launched a long pass to Wood Elf Catcher Rudolf Nureyev. With the main defensive safety having blitzed upfield, the Flatliners were now out of position. Gathering protection around their receiver, the Ultimates were in a strong position to score. To rub it in, Goblin Bubble put a sneaky boot in on Billy Mahonie which went unseen by referee Ike Smiley. Out of position and unable to get back at Nureyev, the Flatliners could do nothing to stop the score. Rudolf Nureyev raced through the backfield to meet Amazon Thrower Mina Murray with only moments left in the half. The Amazon was open in the Flatliners backfield and had the simplest of tasks to take the hand-off and run in the score. With so little time left in the half, the Ultimates showed some disdain for the kick-off, launching it into the crowd and allowing a touchback. There was no time for any reaction from the visitors and their play could not make any difference to the game.
The shortened first half had gone to the Ultimates but they had been extremely fortunate. The Flatliners had been sucked out of position and fell victim to a sneaky trap. The play had to be fairly frantic in order to get a score in such quick time so it would have been difficult to read anything into the half.
The second half saw Billy Mahonie field the opening kick-off and move slowly up behind the blocking unit on the front line. The Ultimates fielded a mid to deep defense with a secondary line behind the small front blocking unit. The Flatliners could not really take advantage of their numbers on the front line as their blocking was generally ineffective. A small group led by Amazon Linewoman Jane provided an alternative focus of attack by blitzing down the left hand side but she too was not able to create any penetration. Defensively, the Ultimates tactics were to stand off their opponents and launch the occasional blitz. Not facing up to the attack meant that the Flatliners didn't have many targets to block but instead were able to grind forward slowly and surely.
A patient build-up was not enough for Billy Mahonie, he mounted the raised central strip of the Middle Ground and pushed his way through to the head of the Flatliners pack. This was a mistake. Troll Blocker Hardcore Scree took advantage of Mahonie's exposed position to blitz the Wood Elf and knock him down and the ball free. The slow build up had eaten up around half of the time in this second period and the ball had advanced just a couple of yards into Ultimates territory. Ultimates Amazon Thrower Mina Murray moved in to grab possession under pressure and sought to raise the tempo of the game with a quick pass. It isn't entirely clear who the pass was aimed at as it was wildly inaccurate, the fourth incomplete pass of Murray's fledgling career. A loose ball in a midfield blocking battle equals a scramble. The Ultimates exhibited an alternative method of dealing with the scramble and that was to dodge their players through tackle zones but it proved unsuccessful. The Flatliners more conventional method of blocking the opposition out of the way proved more effective. The Flatliners blocking unit started to connect with more knockdowns and it opened a path through to the ball.
Jane was the player to move down the path, she dodged free from Ultimates pressure to pick up the ball and hand it on to Billy Mahonie. The Wardancer was still under some pressure himself but the home team were unable to get through and knock him down. Billy Mahonie is an excellently agile player and he was able to slip a couple of tackles and race down the field by himself to open up genuine scoring threat. Being along in Ultimates territory was always going to be dangerous and Hardcore Scree was the danger. Having already tackled Billy Mahonie, Hardcore must have been confident of doing so again. The Troll blitzed his way into Mahonie but this time the Wood Elf was ready for him. Mahonie used the Troll's own momentum to hit a counter move, tossing Hardcore off the middle ground and forcing his way through for the equalising score. The Troll had failed to bring down the Wood Elf and it had cost the Ultimates a touchdown. The time of the score was remarkably similar to that in the first half and again there was no real time for any reaction from the home team so the game ended 1-1
A second successive 1-1 draw for the Ultimates could easily have gone either way. Without the trampoline trap, they probably wouldn't have been able to stop a Flatliners score in the first half but equally without the bravery and determination of Billy Mahonie, the equalising touchdown would have been unlikely for the visitors. The Flatliners can be relatively pleased with a point away from home to add to the three they secured at the Panzerbourne. Four points from the opening two games is a good return though they may be a little concerned with being out-blocked in both matches.
Injuries: None
Key Stats
| Team | CAS
|
Rush
|
Blocks
|
Downs
|
Pass
|
Panzer | 0
|
15
|
24
|
14
|
9
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatliners | 1
|
26
|
29
|
11
|
2
|
MVPs: Mr Darcy, Lester Hayfriends
Best Players
Billy Mahonie: 1 TD, 3 Rushes for 23 yards, 1 Reception for 2 yards, 2 Blocks, 2 Downs, 1 Tackle, 1 Stand, 2 Fumbles
Hardcore Scree: 7 Blocks, 4 Downs, 1 Tackle
Mina Murray: 1 TD, 1 Rush for 7 yards, 2 Blocks, 2 Downs, 1 Pass Attempt, 1 Dodge, 1 Stand