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Round 3

28 Oct 2024 - 10 Nov 2024

The end of Round Three has taken us over the halfway point for the season, with teams jostling for position as they go into the last couple of games. Let's take a look back at the action.

In Division 1, the Badlands Debating Society splashed out and brought star power to their match against the Dark Delvers in the shape of fan favourites Fungus the Loon and Bomber Dribblesnot. Fungus managed to start the game pointing in the right direction and claimed an early casualty, but was knocked down very soon after and carried off the pitch with his ball and chain lodged somewhere very painful indeed. Bomber fared a little better, at least in terms of survival, but after the orcs scored late in the first half the referee made it clear that the goblin was not to return to the pitch. In the second half the rest of the orcs realised they were going to have to do the work themselves, clearing several more elves off the pitch, including a dead blitzer, and denying them any chance at evening up the score.

In the other top division match, the Sokol Slaughterers saw an opportunity for blood against bottom-placed Huanchi's Jungle Rumble. The Rumble's Kroxigor managed an early blow, though only to a journeyman the Slaughterers had brought along to make up the numbers, but it was otherwise a one-sided affair. The Slaughterers cut through skinks and sauruses alike, destroying the opposition and scoring twice with no answer.

Division 2 started with a clash between the Sanguine Blade and the Blåhaj Blasts. With the Khorne team fresh from their decimation of the vampires in the previous round, it seemed perhaps their lust for blood was at least partially sated and they made much less impression on the elves, only managing to remove a couple of linemen. The Blade, of course, let nothing stand between them and running into the endzone, and so they leapt past the Blasts to score two touchdowns and extend their unbeaten run at the top of the table.

The Nevermore Ravens faced Khorne again in the shape of the Acomb Transfusions, with both teams looking a little the worse for wear after their previous matches. The Transfusions lost a player early after an attempt at fouling failed to escape the notice of the ref, and although they managed to remove a couple of thralls from the pitch they failed to stop the vampires from scoring in the first half. In the second half they pushed hard for an equaliser, but the vampires proved adept at hypnotising their defences and knocking the ball carrier down, even as they struggled to capitalise on the loose ball. A late opportunity saw the Ravens throw the ball up the pitch to deny the Transfusions the score, but their thrall was not expecting the pass and fumbled the catch which would otherwise have allowed a second goal for the vamps. Still, the Ravens get their first taste of victory for the season at long last.

Lastly, the Sauerapfel Sausage Rollers took on the Cripple Peak Craprats, with the halflings bolstered as usual with the services of a master chef and the mighty Deeproot Strongbranch. They proved powerful in their previous match against Khorne, but had far less luck here against the skaven. There were halflings being carried off the pitch at every opportunity as the rats scored three times, and only a late touchdown saw the Rollers salvage a small amount of dignity.

To Division 3, and it was humans all round as the Talabecland Thunder faced off against the Kroppenbruck Crusaders. It was a fast moving game with the ball regularly flying through the air with the greatest of ease. The Thunder took a fast lead, but left the Crusaders enough time to equalise before the half-time break. The second half was the mirror image, with the Crusaders taking the lead and the Thunder grabbing one just before the final whistle to end the game 2-2.

The Nuln Oilers faced the Blaa Korks, with Bomber Dribblesnot making another celebrity appearance for the greenskinz. Another high-scoring game with violence on both sides saw the Korks taking the lead early, only to let two past their defences. But of course Grak the Renowned can never be discounted, and he scurried across the line with the ball at the last minute to claim the draw.

And finally for this division, Minor Threat hosted the Hammer Horrors for what proved an entirely one-sided affair. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Horrors carved their way through the snotlings, taking every opportunity to smash the little boogers off the pitch and run in three touchdowns unopposed. The snots took every chance going to put their tiny boots in, but failed to make any impression in their sturdily armoured opponents.

Down in Division 4, it's sad news as the Full English have announced their retirement from the league. Despite a reasonable start to the season, a number of the players decided that their calling lay elsewhere and abandoned the world of professional sports in favour of a new career in dog grooming. We wish them all the best in their endeavours off the pitch.

The much beleagured Rottenham Hotfur squared up to the Mandalorcians, with both teams a little underpowered and relying on last-minute drafts to make up their numbers. The skaven continued their run of bad luck with another rat failing what should have been a simple dodge and breaking his own neck in the process. The orcs ground down the pitch for a touchdown just before the end of the first half, then stole the ball in the second half via a flung goblin to claim a second. The rats continue to hope for a win, or at least a game with no lasting injuries.

Last but not least, it was the Orksha Rippaz against Bushy's Bonerattlers. The orcs took an absolute mauling, with two blitzers off the pitch and out for another game before half time, while the undead took an impregnable 2-0 lead. The bad times continued in the second half, with fan favourite BatGob killed by a devastating blow from a mummy, and though they managed to grab a touchdown there was little for the fans to be pleased with.

Round 4 continues until the 24th November, and then it's one last push for victory!