OCF's second and third games in SLOBB

Well, with these two reports, I will finally be up-to-date. And just in time too, seeing I have a fourth SLOBB match scheduled for next Wednesday (Nov 2nd), and NOBBL starts on Saturday (Nov 5th).

We left the Oz Correctional Facility with plenty to ponder after their 2 all draw against La French Play-gue (the Skaven team in the division). With Peter Schibetta (line orc) out for this game, a journeyman, Inmate X, was brought into the side to make up the numbers. The team also recruited the services of an apothecary (Dr Gloria Nathan), and she treated her first patient in the team's second match.

Game: 661
Date Played: 20 Oct 2011
Opponent: Justin J
Team: Spear of Akkad (Undead)
Result: Lost 0-2
Casualties: Lost 0-2
Toss: Lost - kicked
Fame: Opponent+2
Initial weather roll: Fine
Kick-offs (in order): Pitch Invasion (Orcs 5 down, Undead 2), Throw a rock (Ugroth Bolgrot Badly Hurt), Brilliant Coaching (a re-roll each), High Kick (a touchback) given to Beecher.

Spear of Akkad were just starting their second season, having already played five games in their previous league. They had progressed well, with a mummy with Guard, a ghoul with Sure Hands, a second with Nerves of Steel, and the prize of a Strength 4 wight. The team value difference was 150,000 in my favour, allowing me to acquire the services of Ugroth Bolgrot, and a Bloodwesier Babe. (I would've liked Bomber and Ugroth, but there wasn't quite enough... )

It was a tough start for the boys, as stampeding fans trampled nearly half the side, and the kick was rather short, drifting to the right. Despite plenty of players on the turf, the boys managed to recover somewhat and halt the undead drive early, keeping the ghoul with the ball pinned on halfway. Simon Adebisi (black orc) started to get opponents off the pitch, by cracking a skeleton's skull and knocking him out cold. A mummy lurched forward to get into the fight, but lost his footing and went down, allowing Chucky Pancamo (black orc) a chance to have a crack at the ball carrier, which he only managed to push back. Adebisi continued his good hitting and knocked out a zombie as well, but partner in crime Pancamo gets nailed by a mummy, and Dr Nathan does a good job to patch the black orc up and ready for the next drive. The ball carrier decides it's time to move on, and steps clear of the green skins, but in trying to promote his position, the dreaded cramp struck and down he went. Tobias Beecher (thrower) then exerts himself and snatches the ball, giving the orcs' possession for the first time in the game. It doesn't last long however, as the mummies target Kareem Said (black orc), who winds up in the koed bin, then Beecher, who winds up flat on his back. The undead take possession of the ball once again, and Ryan O'Reilly (blitzer) desperately charges at the ghoul who has it, only to trip over an errant rock on the pitch just as he reaches him. The ghoul, relieved that the blitz never happened, scampers in to score with time almost up in the first half.

There's just enough time to frustrate the orcs, as with Said's failure to return to the pitch, Ugroth has to be brought on to make up the numbers. The league of rock snipers, of course, has a member at the game, and he takes the prize scalp of the chainsaw wielding orc, before he even has time to start up his weapon. Beecher however uses the time remaining to get some passing practice, and his quick pass to Miguel Alvarez (blitzer) finds the mark and the referee signals and end to the first stanza.

It's still anyone's game, but the undead makes things difficult by kicking deep, the ball rolling to the bottom left hand corner of the field. Beecher can't get to it just yet, so the orcs prepare for their patented rolling maul down the field. With ghouls skirting around the defensive line, Beecher has his options lessened, and in the end he elects to throw the ball to Inmate X (line orc), who promptly drops it. A ghoul scrambles around and retrieves it, but Adebisi, then Ryan O'Reilly have successive shots at him, with the blitzer succeeding. Alvarez tries to step clear of his marker, but he's tripped up, and the undead fare no better trying to retrieve it with yet another ghoul succumbing to cramp. Vern Schillenger (blitzer) forces a zombie away from the ball, but O'Reilly again has trouble with his feet, and falls flat on his face trying to get clear, stunning himself in the process. Inmate X is then pushed off the ball and goes down, and is stunned, along with Alvarez, completely freeing up the ball for a ghoul to race in and retrieve it. Beecher is then left to desperately dodge clear of one undead creation, then launch himself at the ghoul, and manages to force him back towards Chris Keller (blitzer), who has a swing at him, and completely misses and tumbles over. Pancamo stands his ground, deftly blocking a mummy's assault then shoving him to the ground. Jaz Hoyt (black orc) charges and the ghoul and forces him back towards Beecher, who has another crack at the ball carrier, and smacks him hard on the head, knocking him out. O'Reilly desperately tries to dodge clear to get to the ball, but his attempts to retrieve it are hampered by two undead players standing over it. Pancamo laughs as the mummy gets to his feet to have another swing at him, only to lose his footing and fall back down. Hoyt tries to shift a wight away from the ball, but can't, and O'Reilly's poor game continues after the second mummy lays him out, and the blitzer is temporarily seeing stars. Something has to give, and finally a ghoul manages to break clear of the maul, scoop up the ball, then throw a quick pass to an unmarked ghoul, who has no trouble getting to the line to seal the win. [Turn 7]

The poor kick-off allows Beecher a chance to get some more throwing practice in. However, it becomes horribly apparent that the orcs need catching practice, as Keller drops a sitter. Two ghouls show them how it's done, with a quick scoop up, flicked pass and catch, and that's where the game comes to an end.

The good thing about the game, is that no one got seriously hurt, so there's a full roster for the next match. The winnings (40,000gp) allows the orcs to acquire a reserve, a goblin by the name of Kenny Wangler. The fan factor is not affected by the result.

Game: 662
Date Played: 23 Oct 2011
Opponent: Drusus
Team: Morwyr (Pro Elf)
Result: Lost 1-2
Casualties: Won 3-1
Toss: Won - kicked
Fame: Me+2
Initial weather roll: Fine
Kick-offs (in order): Change of weather – fine, Brilliant Coaching – orcs gain a re-roll, Quick Snap, Perfect Defence.

The elves were fairly experienced, with a thrower having Accurate, and a line elf gaining Block. They were also fielding a journeyman line elf to replace a seriously injured comrade in their previous game.

The orcs were fired up for this one, and it didn't take them long in this fixture for a player to finally register a casualty for the team. With the kick going fairly deep, the orcs are right in the opponents' faces, and it's Schillenger who makes the great hit, neatly chopping down a catcher who is forced from the field early in the game, and will miss the next match. The elven thrower is under pressure to quickly get the ball down field, but as he cocks his arm back for the throw, the ball flops out the back. Keller then hits him and forces him back. The thrower manages to step aside and pick up the ball, despite Keller's efforts to stop him, and dodges away from the blitzer, firing a quick pass to a line elf who proceeds to race down the field. Beecher and Cyril O'Reilly herd him towards the sideline, but he manages to dodge away from them, then runs across field and hands the ball off to a line elf, who advances towards the goal line. Alvarez gets smacked in the face, and has to be dragged off to the koed bin, whilst Pancamo falls on top of a line elf, landing on his leg and crippling him. With the orcs racing towards him, the line elf decides to take the point and steps into the end zone. [Turn 5]

The restart has Beecher cursing an errant shoelace, and falls onto the ball, causing it to bounce. An elven blitzer weaves his way through, and despite Peter Schibetta (line orc) lurking nearby, he gets clear, only to be brought down by Ryan O'Reilly. Schibetta then scrambles after the ball, but has the same problem as Beecher and falls flat on his face. Wangler then gets involved, tugging on the jersey of an elven blitzer, stalling him long enough for Ryan O'Reilly to charge in and clean him up. Beecher finally recovers the ball not far from the end zone, with Hoyt knocking out another line elf with a powerful punch. With time running out, Hoyt charges across field, pushes the elf off Schillenger, freeing him up. Beecher chances his arm, slightly lessening the distance to the blitzer, and lets loose with a beautiful pass. Schillenger juggles the ball, brings it under control, then sprints for the line and right on half-time, the game is tied at one apiece.

The orcs have their tails up and are looking to really assert their authority. The kick-off sees them right in amongst the eight elves on the pitch, and a number of them go crashing to the pitch, with Adebisi head-butting one and knocking him out. Alvarez deftly avoids the attentions of an elf, allowing him to stumble pass him and crash to the ground. Beecher spies an open Ryan O'Reilly, and delivers a good pass, only to see it dropped by the blitzer just inside the elves' half. The elven thrower weaves his way through the orcs, recovers the ball, with the blitzer swinging madly trying to stop him. He hurls a long pass across the field, to be ably caught by a line elf on the left flank. Schillenger arrives in time to force him back, whilst a blitzer charges in at the orc and knocks him out cold. Cyril O'Reilly, with no one around him, decides to take a little wander towards the elves' goal line. Adebisi then makes a successful charge at the ball carrier, knocking him out, and the ball bounces off the pitch, only to be tossed back right into the middle of the elves' half. Ryan O'Reilly sees a chance for a touchdown, but he cannot pick up the ball. An elf blitzer then tries to grab it, but there two orcs too many near the ball. Hoyt then lowers the number of elves on the pitch to five, as he crunches a blitzer, who has to be carried off the pitch and put in the koed bin. The elven thrower manages to finally grab the ball, dodge away from Pancamo, flick it on to the surviving catcher, who totally ignores the presence of Keller to take the catch, then dodges away from him, then Wangler and surges for the line. With most of the remaining elves providing an effective screen for the ball carrier, it's up to Wangler to stop the touchdown, but he trips over getting to the player and pulls a hamstring. The elf sees no reason not to score, and steps into the end zone for what will be the winning point. [Turn 6]

The orcs are further frustrated by the elves re-organising their defence at the last moment, countering the orcs offensive set-up. The kick is shallow, but Beecher still manages to exert himself and get to it. As Ryan O'Reilly and Alvarez barge their way into scoring range, Schibetta gets the team's first kill, king hitting the journeyman, and he is beyond saving. Cyril O'Reilly and Beecher are then brought down, with the elves once again recovering the pigskin. Said knocks out a potential scorer, and Adebisi charges in and flattens the line elf with the ball. Beecher scrambles to his feet, just manages to get to the ball and grab it, but his head is still quite rattled, and the intended long bomb down to Alvarez never eventuates, and he spills it, much to the disappointment of the home fans. The referee calls time, and the elves have their first win of the season.

The orcs troop off the field, annoyed with another hard fought game not going their way, but optimistic that a win can't be too far away. More so seeing Schillenger has acquired Mighty Blow, and Beecher's hard work sees him improve his agility. There's 30,000gp to assist in drowning their sorrows, and the loss doesn't affect the fan factor.

The green skins will be traveling away for their next match, with a twelve man squad, and a chance to take on the Dark Elves.

And with that, my match reports are finally up-to-date! Hoo-ray!

Ciao!