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THE CRUELEST GAME

They say 'You make your own luck', but Unicorns fans must feel as if their team are only producing the worst kind after this heartbreaking defeat.

The Vikings came into the game with a 2-1-0 record versus the Unicorns 0-1-2, so the visitors were certainly not expected to win and, having only ever avoided defeat to the Vikings once in four previous meetings, even a draw was hopeful.

However, an almost faultless first half gave the travelling team real hope. The punches were landing; Bruno Giza KO'd David Edwards and Carlos Torrosa dealt such a hit on Carlton Davis that he was taken to the morgue before miraculously regaining consciousness.

Then it really got bloody. Rafa Brigante injured Paul Wright, Ruud van Buuren KO'd Jameson Leopopira, Juan Thornhill shoulder-barged John Bull into the crowd resulting in an injury that puts him on the PUP list for their next match, and Brigante launched both Carlton Davis and Danny Vitale into the unexpecting fans in row B. Amidst that, Coach Wilson's pre-match advice of 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em' was accurately translated into 'If you can't block 'em, foul 'em.' Both Arthur Dent and Rich Lane KO'd opponents through fouling and only Carlos Lobato got caught by the referee's beady eye.

Amidst all that, Bruno Giza capitalised on a failed pick-up to cross the line and for the Unicorns physical dominance to deliver a 1-0 lead at half-time. And, best of all, the cost to the visitors was just one injury to Torrosa and a red card for Lobato.

Early hope would soon be replaced by wide-eyed astonishment as the Vikings turned the game on its head.

Jmon Moore, a constant scoring threat, crossed the line early in the second period after the Unicorns defense over-committed on a deep blitz. Wilson was unmoved as conceding at least one TD was expected.

However, in the immediate response, Giza landed a blow on Carlton Davis which didn't knock him down, due to his nimble footwork (AKA a horrible mis-click). Big Josh Frazier, of all people, executed a dynamic run across from the centre to blitz Tancred Montfort and free the ball. Ottmar Wirt responded to collect the ball and look for an out but Jmon Moore regained possession. Somehow, a double-team blitz from Thomas Leboucher on Moore failed (Double-skulls twice). Moore could cross the line at will to give the Vikings a late lead.

The remaining minutes of the match are a haze as even the ever-vigilant match summariser could not believe their eyes at the cruel misfortune that turned travelling fans' stomachs.

The Unicorns couldn't catch a break with failed blocks across the pitch and, with another player badly hurt and a misstep (Failed 3+ dodge), it was another chance for a Vikings score. Carlton Davis - who appeared to have been killed early in the first half (The one time an Apothecary actually does his damned job!) and was thrown into the partisan crowd after the first restart (The one time a crowd of drunken maniacs doesn't do theirs!) - coolly delivered the fatal blow to the Unicorns hopes of gaining only their second points of the season.

Wilson refused to speak to reporters after the match, simply looking at Davis and running a finger across his neck. The one accolade is Brigante's MVP award for doing everything asked of him; one injury and two surfs from three blocks and being active in every phase of play.”