The anticipation was palpable as the crowd gathered outside the stadium. This was it, the moment we had been clamouring for since the team was establish in the summer. The first fielding of 8 ogres. Successes, albeit more financial than sporting, over the winter months had seen the Rattlers' coffers expand with an additional 170k gold pieces. Talent scouts had been reporting back from training camps across the Mountains of Mourn and a decision was made to sign a young, talented ogre, John Laird Mair Lawrence.
The doors to the mighty Monolith Worshipper's stadium opened and the fans flooded in, wave after wave of ogre supporters, far more than are commonly seen but this writer attributes it to the smaller distance to travel. At best estimate I would say the Monolith fans were outnumbered 2:1. The weather was perfect, I had a big bowl of goblin nachos and a great view. Let's play ball.
The BMW won the toss and elected to kick. They fielded a strong team but were noticeably lacking the muscle of Krank Cracker who was out, nursing a smashed ankle. Two marauders and the renegade orc stood on the halfway line with the rest of the team slightly back, waiting to steal an advantage. The ogres set up to receive with a strong front line of 5 shoulder to shoulder ogres all ready to lend assists. Previous XXX cas award winner Samuel White Baker was in the thick of the action with an ogre guarding each wing and speedy E W Middlemast in the backfield with 3 snotlings
Ref blows for the off and the ogres pause for a second to consider their options but that's enough for the BMW's to sieze the advantage, with a player streaming past Oswell on the south flank whilst on the north a gang of marauders gang up on new boy Lawrence, knocking him down. But not for long as Lawrence is straight back on his feet before anyone else can react. And indeed little reaction happens as Mackrell, then Eddis, then Middlemast all stand around looking confused, despite frantic shouting from the team coach. Oswell leaps to attention and steamrollers into a marauder, knocking him back and he lands with a sickening thud but waves to the ref that he is merely stunned. Aitchison follows the other three ogres by standing around picking his nose so it's up to fragile Spitshine, still in the team despite his niggling injury, to dodge free and mark the ball. Pottinger attempts to tackle the elf but he dodges back, shocking Baker who can only drool in awe. Grottleblagh, the top scoring snotling, picks up the ball and runs towards his own goal line.
So to recap. A slow ogre start leads the Monoliths to steal a blitz and the Rattlers retaliate with 5/8 ogres standing around navel gazing. We waiting all winter for this. I start enquiring about early coaches home.
The BMW manage to increase their positioning advantage, assembling a line between Grottleblagh and the rest of the team. Ghras Paingiver is feeling lucky and attempts to outmuscle Oswell but he's no match for the big ogre who throws him to the floor, stunning him. The crowd pick up, hoping that the first few minutes of the game was merely bad luck. And the ogres are back in the game just like that, muscling the troll backwards and new boy Lawrence throws the first block of his career and badly hurts a marauder. Middlemast blitzes into the marauder marking Spitshine the snotling and it looks like the ogres have recovered and formed a cage. Now they just need to get the ball into it... but no, Spitshine juggles the hand off and is unable to get a grasp. It flies back to Grottleblagh who is widely recongnised as a superb catcher but even he fumbles it and the ball falls at his feet. But all 8 ogres are finally paying attention and two Rattlers are next to the ball. The price is paid for not paying attention as Scrubbalick is carried off the pitch, badly hurt, and the Rattlers are down to two snotlings in their sea of beef. Another hit takes out Grottleblagh and there is one green guy left. Dialor, the noble elf, attempts to steal the ball from under two Rattler noses but is unable to and the ball scatters further away from the Rattlers. The ogres do a good job of increasing the pressure on the ball but are unable to free anyone to attempt to pick it up and the momentum is back with the Monoliths as Dialor is finally able to steal the ball and runs over the goal line to score 3/8 of the way through the first half.
At the reset it's ten Worshippers versus 9 Rattlers. The Rattlers clearly have the strength advantage but concerns are there about player willingness to listen to instructions, especially considering that awful start to the half. A bit of pushing starts the half and the ogres push forward slightly, leaving speedy Middlemast in the back field to retrieve the ball, which he does. But the Monoliths have the bit between their teeth as this unholy pact presses forward, easily clearly a hole in the ogre line which Strongblade and Flying Fred nimbly dance through.
New boy Lawrence is knocked from his feet again but this requires 4 of the opposing players. He blitzes his way to the vertical, stunning Khras the pseudo elf before joining Eddis and Spitshine by the sideline. Middlemast runs over and hands the ball to Spitshine and suddenly things are looking better for the ogres as they have a reasonably good screen on the sideline and a promising ruck developing in the middle of the pitch. But there is little that can be done to stop the advance of a blodging elf, who simply dances past the groping mitts of the ogres and easily plucks the ball from Spitshine's tiny paws whilst pushing him, stunned, to the floor. Flying Fred attempts the pick up but think he spies a snake on the pitch and drops the ball, which scatters away from the Rattlers into uncontested space. Eddis is staring into the crowd Baker is distracted by a butterfly and just like that 1/4 of the ogres might as well not be there. But 6 ogres is enough for now as they expertly maneuver into positions allowing for a clearing of the players around the ball. Lawrence shoulder tackles Oklas the Devastator who suffers a broken jaw. I hear his wife won't be devastated as he won't be able to tell those anecdotes about training camp for a few weeks. Notch two for Lawrence on his debut and Middlemast gets a hit in too, stunning Flying Fred. The ball is surrounded by beefcakes but the clock is still ticking closer to half time.
Suddenly a figure leaps off the Black Monolith Worshipper's bech, wiggles his hand, wiggles his eyebrows and shakes his booty and a fireball flies across the pitch, engulfing the area around the ball. But when the smoke clears, both Mackrell and Middlemast are still standing, with only Pottinger removed as he is knocked out. The Worshippers feel like they have the advantage though as they engage fully with the Rattlers and scorer Dialor the Noble attempts to push Middlemast away from the ball. Foolish elf, he is lucky he only suffered a smashed hand. What arrogance. And what confidence this gives the Rattlers as they precisely clear out the ball, which is retrieved by Spitshine who flies wonderfully halfway up the field into the Worshippers' half. With the time nearly expired, what will happen?
Sadly the flame of hope is extinguished as Ghras Paingiver is freed up, and after blitzing and powing Spitshine to the ground, the snotling is knocked to the ground just short of the maximum distance he can run. Looks like 1-0 at half time but just enough time left for another marauder to get knocked out and Spitshine to get ideas above his station and try and pass the ball, tripping on the dodge and smashing his hand. Looks like the Rattlers will be without any snotlings in the second half.
At half time I nipped down to the refreshment stand. The catering wasn't quite of the calibre that I am used to, various blood based pies, some containing suspect meats or meat like material. I did try a nice local ale called 'The Two Headed Minotaur.' A lovely earthy taste with hints of hoof.
Back to the stands and the crowd are trying to raise the spirits of the ogres with a rendition of stadium favourite 'We Shall Ogrecome'. The boys on the pitch raised their heads, appreciating the crowds support. And truth be told things weren't looking too bad for the ogres. 1-0 down, yes, but 7-8 up in players on the pitch with the BMW's goblin forced to take the field as star elf is out injured. The singing of the crowd echoing off the stadium walls has clearly got the Worshippers rattled (haha) as the pseudo elf fumbbles the pick up, grabbing it before it hits the floor and rushing up to the halfway line to support Stonemuncher the Ancient. Who fails to remain on his feet as he knocks down Aitchison. A chance! Aitchison refuses to get to his feet. Still hope? Middlemast is counting blades of grass. Oh please don't embarass yourselves. But no, nothing that drastic as a reasonable recovery is made with Mackrell being free to blitz into Khras the Enslaved, however he is only pushed. And pushed into freedom as it looks like the ogres have left the south flank completely unprotected. Khras runs along the sidelines with GRaarzas and Flying Fred providing point cover. Then, in an attempt to get free, Grimhand blocks into the brick wall that is Lawrence. Grimhand's not going anywhere other than down on his arse. The Rattlers swarm the sideline, almost cutting off every escape route for the ball. But almost isn't enough when you're facing a player with elf blood and he prances through, daintily touching the ground with his toes, heading for the goal. Things look bleak for the ogres. Mackrell can tell and shuts down on the pitch leaving the pressure on Baker to push himself as much as he can to get the hit on the ball carrier, which he does but is unable to pry the ball lose and his momentum pushes Khras over the line for a 2-0 lead to the Black Monolith Worshippers.
Ogre of the Match
E. W. Middlemast
Injured the Worshippers' star elf, threw Spitshine for a close TD attempt, secured the ball on multiple occasions and scored the team's TD.
Charles Umpherston Aitchison
6 turns of standing around being a bonehead. 3 tackles made but all pushes. A worse start to season would be hard to imagine
Gyles Mackrell
Spent most of the game marking opposing troll. Made most tackles on the team. Great promise for future but wasn't his day.
Samuel White Baker
Failed to knock down the ball carrier to prevent the second Worshippers' score. Otherwise was a nonentity all game.
Basil Eddis
2/5 tackles left stunned opponents but far too much of the game was spent not paying attention.
Eldred Pottinger
Didn't become a bonehead all game. Took a direct hit from a wizard's fireball midway through h1 which took him out until the third drive but solid reliable play.
William Cotton Oswell
Spent half the game away from the action but when he got involved was useful, tackling, positioning and marking. Early KO of Hunsra helped with player advantage for over half the game.
John Laird Mair Lawrence
Triple cas on his debut match, already an important part of the team. Played his role perfectly, only losing out on Player of the Match to multitalented Middlemast
Grottleblagh
Played 2 turns before crumpling at the first tackle.
Spitshine
Some good ball control although too eager to give it up to tackles. Close to scoring but that goodwill was quickly removed as he hurt himself showboating.
Scrubbalick
Much like Grottleblagh, barely on the pitch long enough to grade.