“A game between two elven teams that ends 1-0 with the only score coming in the 8th turn of the second half may look like it was a close-fought contest, but this really wasn't anything of the sort. In reality, the hapless wood elves were out-played for most of the game, and although we were blessed with a little bit of bad luck along the way, this wasn't what lost us the match.

So we began with me building my usual house of cards on offence to receive the kick and sure enough, highball demolished it with a blitz result before I'd even got to enjoy the fact that there wasn't a blizzard for once. And although the blitz didn't actually result in the dark elves getting the ball, it did mean I was in no position to mess about with any unnecessary passing and had little choice but to lob the ball to a catcher as quickly as possible and run him downfield in whatever cover I could manage.

Oh yes, and the blitz also killed my star catcher, but I rather daringly used the apo and for once he came good, actually repairing the poor chap rather than killing him. But sixteen turns of no apo was not exactly the start I'd been planning.

Still, the catcher was downfield with the ball and there were no dark elves within range...oh, except THAT one, who dodged, went for it a couple of times, pushed me back upfield and then knocked me over (she was a witch elf) so that one of the blitzers was now in range for another dodge, another couple of gfis and a cheeky pick-up of the loose ball.

From that point on, highball kept the ball in a cage, moved slowly up the field, kept knocking over my players and no matter how hard I tried to chip away at his team, he always seemed to have another spare player just waiting to move in and keep the ball safe.

He could have scored, but wanting to delay things until the final turn, he allowed himself to become bunched up near the sidelines, and a rare failed dodge gave me a slim chance to have a go at the ball carrier. Slim was all I needed though, and the half ended with the wood elves passing the ball upfield, far enough to prevent the dark elves getting hold of it.

The second half was more of the same, as the dark elves closed in around the ball and proceeded upfield at their standard leisurely pace. Again, highball was looking to leave things until the last minute, and this was nearly his downfall when a failed block on turn 7 left him out of range of the endzone. But on his final turn, with nothing to lose, highball managed a chain push which left a blitzer two gfis away from the endzone. All he had to do for the score was dodge out of a tackler's TZ, go for it twice, hand off to his AG5 blitzer, run down, make the pass and make the catch.

And he did.

So what was looking to be a rare 0-0 draw suddenly became a loss for the wood elves - the dark elves had enough side step and a careful enough coach to make sure a one-turner was impossible without the help of a quick snap. And there was no quick snap.

So another loss for me, and another cart-load of fans has wandered off. But, another painless game, and with hindsight, an excellent use of the apo. Poor highball wasn't so lucky, losing a nice blitzer to a -ST and a useful witch who will be missing a game.

Another disappointing game from the tree who took root on both dark elf offensive drives and so managed only 6 blocks and no cas or MVP. And a disappointing day for passing as well. Two pathetic little chucks to top and tail the first half, and then a pointless (but satisfying) long bomb to close out the match.

Well played, highball. It was an excellent lesson in how to control the flow of play and even though it came close to being a draw, you were never in any danger of actually losing. I should take notes...but I won't, because I'm too lazy, and too set in my ways and you don't throw enough long bombs :-)

But I'm happy to keep coming back for more losses in future, and sooner or later you won't get a blitz on my first drive!”