“Finally the celebrations after the Human's win in the UI VII Qualifiers last evening have come to an end.
But what a match we have seen last night.
New Hope United came as an underdog and was facing a solid Elf team. For this reason some money was awarded to them by the arena owners and the tourney commitee.
The Humans brought some Bloodweiser Babes for good spirits and found another apothecary who would try to help them. What they have done with the rest of the money is unclear, but it is rumoured that the referee left for a shopping trip today.

Well, the match was starting very satisfying for coach Urrghs. With his team receiving and controlling the whole pitch during the whole 1st half there was no danger, and the team's No. 1 thrower Günther Holaus rushed down the field to score a late first TD.
In the meantime his team mates tried to take care of the Elves. It was quite brutal; Elfenlied's players were heard screaming not only once and I think I saw quite a lot of fouls, but this was all for a good reason.
"We were trying to outnumber them in order to be in a good position when entering the second half in defense." the coach was cited after the match. All in all, the first drive anded with a score for the Humans and only three Elves left on the pitch. But what Urrghs was underestimating was his opponent's motivation. The KO box emptied and the Elves could bring nearly a full squad onto the pitch.

So, this was to be a promising second half.
But,.....Elfenlied's fans who were expecting a quick attack now were disappointed soon. Coach Asiuk's players opened one side of the defense too early and could not handle the human's attack. Not only they could not secure the ball in their half, but they had to witness how New Hope United's squad recovered the ball and went for the 2-0 by Christiansen Zuggl.

What a score. Coach Urrghs was really satisfied now and was already thinking about the next match.
Who would have expected an outcome how it was about to happen.
So, the Humans in the defnse again, and the Elves got some assistance from the fans who threw a rock on the Human's main defender and kicker who got injured by that.
New Hope United defended pretty well, but the Elves have shown what it means to run through the defensive lines and presented excellent ball handling. So, in the end they could not be stopped from scoring the 2-1.
Now, in the offense and with not a lot of time left, coach Urrghs was pretty sure that his team could secure the ball and let the time run out. He got disappointed pretty fast since the Elves seemed well motivated now. A short kick, a blitzing unexpected move of the defense and suddenly Elfenlied was in control of the ball. Now the Humans struggled desperately to defend, and they did a pretty good job. A fine blitz brought the ball carrier down and it seemed that the Elves were running out of time. But in the end, they grabbed the ball and brought it elvish-like to the end zone for a score.
New Hope United even had some time on the clock left to try a quick passing play, but it did not work out.

Wow; what an outcome....and now over time.
The coin toss decided for the Humans to attack, but now, outnumbered a little, the team was not that confident that they could really do it. Both teams were tired and playing on last reserves.
And more than that, suddenly heavy rains started out of nowhere. This all was not for good spirits.
Still, after the Elves' kick off the Human's thrower was able to pick up the muddy ball. Facing an aggressive defense now, he was secured by his team mates while 2 players of his team were trying to get in a good position. If it was not for the Blitzer Asmik who jumped into the Human's cage and blitzed the ball carrier, coach Urrgh's team would have possibly tried to carry the ball savely over the whole field. But with this agility monster in the defense it bacame quite risky. We all have experienced such Elf moves in the past already. A jump into the cage, a fine blitz, then a pick up and suddenly the match would have been lost......those were Urrghs' thought during those moments. But fortunately the Elves' defense was started to being decimated a little during this over time and coach Asiuks felt forced to place as much defenders as he could in a position where they could endanger the ball carrier. Then suddenly everything went quite fast. The Human's catcher Madhias Donnerschlüpp was free deep down the field and his position could be secured very well. The offense was aware of the situation and started to prepare for the last strike. Now it went very quick. A failed Blitz on the Human's side, some slipping on the defnse side, and......suddenly the catcher went for the end zone. Recognizing this, the team's ball carrying thrower Theodor Wanderer broke out from his secure position and went for the long bomb. It was risky, yes; and who knows what would have happened if the fans would have gotten the ball......but this is all speculative.
Fact is that the pass was placed perfectly and the rookie catcher grabbed that slippery thing as if he was born to do that.

With this TD the tension in the audience broke and the Humans proceeded to the next round.
"It was one of the best matches I ever had,..." coach Urrghs was stating some minutes after that, "..and congratulations to the opponent coach. His team played well and he never gave up what made this match so intense. In the end the Elves would have deserved athe victory as well. "


So, another great Blood Bowl night yesterday.
Now in the Qualifier's final New Hope United will face another High Elves or Humans (not decided yet).
Looking at their squads, and taking into account the missing players coach Urrghs will have to compensate for, it is difficult to be optimistic, but who knows..........at least it is pretty sure that those Humans will fight for their chance.
”