Junior Wildmen 1-1 In D.A. N/a Police Dolts

Weather: Rain

Gate: 35k

Wild Stadium was sold out for the clash between the Wildmen and the Dolts. 7,000 fans were left out in the rain unable to find a place in the stands to watch the game. To some it might seem strange that so many fans were keen to see a match between the side top of the Western Conference and a side with only one win so far this season. This fixture is perhaps the grudge match in the league. Even before the season had started, both head coaches made plain their disdain for the other's abilities. Both teams needed a win. For the Wildmen, anything less would allow the chasing pack to close in. With just three games to go, the Wildmen need two wins to be guaranteed a place in the post-season. Anything less and they will be relying on other scores so a win here would relieve much of the pressure. For the Dolts, this was an absolutely must win game. Anything less than a win would mathematically end their slim hopes of a place in the post-season.

Pierluigi Baldinio was the referee selected to take charge of this potentially explosive match-up. The distinctively bald ref had sent off a player from either side in the match between the Wildmen and the Savages earlier in the season. With the rain falling, the Dolts took the kick-off through Witch Elf "High" Lady Venice . The Dolts did not put up much of a line of scrimmage against the fearsome Wildmen blocking unit, instead opting to spread the players across the pitch to prevent the Wildmen laying too many blocks. For their part, the Wildmen offered a strong front line as well as power on either flank but nothing in the deep. That lack of defense in the deep proved a problem surprisingly early on. Wood Elf Catcher Salina Black took possession and in the blink of an eye had rushed for 19 yards. Quite how she had done it is a matter of debate but a Time Warp spell can not be ruled out. Whatever the cause, the Dolts were within just three yards of the Wildmen end zone and with no protection in the backfield a touchdown looked certain.

Expecting an inevitable score, the home side attempted to damage their opponents. They were repeatedly frustrated by the elusiveness of the Dolts who refused to stand toe to toe in a blocking battle against a team renowned for its casualty causing potential. The Dolts were aiming distance strikes against the home side with players retreating from tackle zones barring the occasional blitz or foul. Salina Black barely moved but supporting runners did. She was joined by more Dolts players who attempted to form a protective shield of tackle zones and wait for as long as possible to score. The shield failed when Wildmen Minotaur Horny Wildman broke through four tackle zones to blitz Salina Black and tackle her within a yard of the goal line. The Dolts could not wait any longer to score, it was "High" Lady Venice who put the finishing touch to the move, blitzing her way to the ball and rushing the two yards needed to open the scoring just beyond the half way mark of the first period.

The Wildmen possess a serious scoring threat in Speedy McSpeedy the High Elf Catcher. The Elf went over the 100 yard rushing mark for the season in the game against the All-Stars the first player to do so. Speedy is no longer an unknown quantity but stopping the Elf has proven difficult for almost every team the Wildmen have played this season. So it was to prove again for the Dolts. Fielding an relatively aggressive defensive bow formation with the deepest players being the flank defenders but no-one in the deep, the Dolts left plenty of space for a fast runner. Amazon Thrower Lisa Furykup fielded the kick-off for the Wildmen and her first action was to make a short pass to Speedy. The Wildmen make no secret of their attacking plans and the Zerg tactic of pushing the entire opposition front line back using enormous blocks allows Speedy to take a pocket position inside the opponents territory. From there, it is easier to score.

Despite the large numbers up front, the Dolts could not prevent the Zerg. The heavy blockers forced the Dolts line backwards and Minotaur Horny Wildman got through to Badly Hurt Salina Black, removing the Dolts most dangerous touchdown threat for the rest of the game. Behind the Zerg, Speedy was able to find a comfortable space in the pocket with the defenders unable to get through to attempt a tackle. It was fairly simple for Speedy to select the most appropriate time to break from the pocket and burst through one tackle zone to score an equaliser before half time.

1-1 at half-time should favour the side who kicked-off at the beginning of the game. The Wildmen have to have felt upbeat at the half. The last time the Wildmen were level at the half, at the Mugaz the game also ended level. With both sides really in need of a win, neither would want that situation to repeat itself.

The Dolts kicked-off the second half with similar formations on both sides of the ball to the previous kick-off. Amazon Thrower Lisa Furykup took the deep kick and aimed a pass out to Speedy McSpeedy. To the surprise of all in attendance, the High Elf scoring machine dropped what should have been an easy catch. The player aiming to take advantage was "High" Lady Venice the Witch Elf but she was unable to direct a pass on target. The rain was still falling which may explain some of the slack handling but another explanation presented itself when the incomplete pass lay at rest on the floor. The ball unfurled, rolled over and sprouted legs! That most unfortunate of creatures, a Ball Squig had been mistaken for a normal ball and was now doing its best to run off the pitch and away from the players desperately grasping at it. Ball Squigs look just like balls when curled up and asleep and there is almost no way to tell them apart so the league has ruled that play must continue when a Ball Squig is in play using the Squig as the regulation ball until the next kick-off.

With the ball itself running around, the Wildmen focussed on the blocking game to eliminate the total number of obstacles to their possessing the ball. The Dolts seemed the team hungrier for the ball with players trying to chase it down. Ghoul A'Argch was the firsr player to lay a firm hand on the ball and not until just before the half way mark of the second period. The Ghoul's grip on the ball was strong enough for him to run down the field into Wildmen territory and launch a pass to "High" Lady Venice. The Witch Elf was not as confident in holding onto the Ball Squig and she dropped the pass. While the chance of a score may have passed momentarily, the ball was now deep into the Wildmen half. Under the Ball Squig circumstances, territory is almost as important as possession.

The Wildmen could no longer continue their policy of eliminating opposition players as the ball lay too close to their goal line for comfort. Once again though the ball proved elusive. "High" Lady Venice fumbled once more, Wildmen Lineman Mr Big Balls fumbled it twice to serve posesssion back to the Witch Elf. She was clearly not confident in possession of the Ball Squig so abdicated her responsibility by handing off to Norse Blitzer Sven Andersson. The Norseman may be used to slippery weather conditions but the Ball Squig proved too much to handle and he fumbled. Both teams became increasingly desperate in their scramble to hold onto the ball. Halfling Mr Stumpy fumbled twice more for the Wildmen. As time ran out, Dolts Lineman Simpson managed to grab the ball but was too far from the end zone to score in time. A pass was the only option but with rain and a Ball Squig it would take a miracle for a long pass to work. The miracle didn't happen and the game ended one apiece.

A draw ends the Dolts chances of qualifying for the post-season. A disappointing season for them to be out of contention with two games still to go. Still, they can be happy with the fact that they have snapped the three game losing streak and put a dent in the chances of their bitter rivals, the Wildmen, qualifying for the post-season. The Wildmen will now need to win their last two games to be sure of a place in the post-season. If results go their way, the Wildmen will still be able to qualify with just one win but nobody likes to leave their chances in someone else's hands. Little can be drawn tactically from this game as both played to their strengths and had defensive weakness exposed but with rain and a Ball Squig in play it is little wonder that a total of eight fumbles occured in the second half after someone had finally grabbed hold of the elusive Squig.

Injuries: None

MVPS: Lisa Furykup, Smack

Best Players

"High" Lady Venice: 1 TD, 3 Rushes for 8 yards, 1 Pass Attempt, 1 Reception Attempt, 4 Blocks, 3 Downs, 1 Dodge, 1 Fumble
Speedy McSpeedy: 1 TD, 1 Rush for 13 yards, 1 Reception for 6 yards, 2 Reception Attempts, 1 Block, 1 Down, 2 Dodges
Horny Wildman : 1 CAS, 5 Blocks, 2 Downs, 1 Tackle, 5 Dodges, 1 Fall