ABBF Fall Championship 2511 - Not the face! League

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Welcome Sports Fans

The Not the Face! League quarter-finals featured the usual deaths, with players giving their all for the cup: 5 deaths so far in the 3 games played.  And a lot of scores too.
But surprising:  the Utterly Fearsome Norse, picked by many to come away with the Cup, encountered some real difficulties!  There are still a couple of games to come, the very powerful Vampires vs accomplished High Elves and the Orc vs Dwarf battle.  Check it out at:

http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/current.html


Tuff Toffs (High Elf/Greg) vs ALNSBs (Chaos Dwarf/Paul)

Toffs Coach Whine took ALNSBs Coach Paul's generous advice after the last regular season game, and gave his star catcher Nanudart leap for his 5th skill.  This proved to be the deciding factor in the playoff game that ensued as Nanudart scored 3 TDs, all using leap, and got the MVP.  

The game started with a Toffs reception, and a quick TD down the sideline, courtesy of a Nanudart leap.  Then the CDs cunningly sucked all but two of the gullible HElf players into a gawdalmighty vortex-mash in the middle of the pitch, with Elves going down right and left.  Nothing for the CDs to do but to get their ball carrying centaur into it too, safely, and the Elves would have been in deep trouble:  but double skulls on a rr, the two free Toff players, who were in the CD backfield, were able to dislodge and pick up the ball.  It got knocked loose, but bounced Elfgraciously right onto Nanudart, who caught it, avoided a hit, and leaped for a second score and now the CDs were in trouble.  Get the ref!  Smiles on CD faces.  And still time for a score, but bungled ball, and half ended.  

Another get the ref!  Elves gulping.  Down to nine, 1st apo used up.  But two down and the ALNSBs pressed for time.  Still, a crunching drive, more fouling, and two more Toffs off (and a second apo successful!) and a quick CD score.  Now it was up to the 7 Toffs left on pitch.  Enough.  Of course - they're Elves.  Long pass, catch, Nanudart leap and score.  Still plenty of time, and a quick CD break down the sideline with only 6 Toffs left to defend.  But enough?  Of course - they're Elves!  The 4 St Elf catcher was able to GFI a couple times to get next to the running CD beastman, who had no choice but to dodge, and, in keeping with CD luck for the game - and the year - fell.   In keeping with the Toff luck, a pick up, hand off, pass, and this time Asaroah, the ace thrower, scored.  Dwarf lined up and blocked the Toff Kicker into the Face Restoration Invalids List.   Toffs are the highest scoring team, on average per game, in the history of the ABBF.  But they've certainly paid their price, with many of the arrogant ones departing forever.
 
4-1 (1-5) 1 killed


Norse vs Nurgle battle of attrition goes down to the wire.

Quarter-final 2 of the Not the Face League saw the rightly feared Norty Norse (Norse/Dan) take on the recently mutilated Rottenham Clotspew. A crowd of 46,000, mostly diseased, spectators found its way into the stadium under some glorious Blood Bowl weather.

Norty Norse kicked off the match and Rottenham's star receiver Pestigor got under the ball but failed to catch it. After making quick work of the first line of Norse defence on the LOS, the Rotters formed up on their right flank. Before too long, however, they had to switch to the right, when the Norsemen started muscling in on the Clotspew's planned route into the endzone.
Players on both sides were being carried off the pitch in droves. Most of the Norse went into the KO'd box, whereas the Nurgles suffered several casualties as well.
As the ranks thinned out, big holes were emerging everywhere and a well-timed Blitz! from the Norties saw the ball carrier sacked. The pigskin was quickly collected by a Norse Lineman, but just as quickly lost again and regained by Rottenham.
By that stage, however, it was too late to score for either team and they both retreated into their dugouts to tend to their wounds.

All 4 KO'd players recovered in time for the next kick-off, as Rottenham's kicker put the ball deep to the cheer of the fans.
Norty Norse pushed hard against the Rotters' defensive line, but failed to collect the ball in the backfield.
Things got moving again for the Norse shortly after, but a failed dodge to make the breakthrough pass to an open Lineman left the ball at the feet of two Nurgle Warriors. Rottenham now surrounded the ball with their big boys, while the Norse almost completely cleared the far side of the pitch of Nurgle players... several KO's as well as two dead Rotters.
A Pestigor then managed to pick up the ball and make a break into the Norties' backfield, where he was promptly taken down by two Norse defenders, one of which also caught the bouncing ball. Then the Beast of Nurgle sprung into action and muscled in on the melee for the ball... as did the Norse's Yhetee.
The Norse tried to clear the ball with a passing play, but things went awry and the ball was knocked loose once more. In the dying moments of the match, a Pestigor managed to break away (assisted by the BoN) and run for the endzone. A second Pestigor picked up the ball and fired a short pass to his waiting team mate for the match winning touchdown right on full-time.

So rather unexpectedly, Rottenham took home the win and will now face the Ponytail Prancers in the semi-final next week.

Norty Norse (Norse/Dan) vs Rottenham Clotspew (Nurgle/Christian) 0-1 (4-2) 2 killed


Wolfdregil (Norse/David) vs Ponytail Prancers (Elf/Nathan) 1-3 (3-2) 2 killed

 Game see-sawed Nuffle's luck favouring one side then the other throughout the game. Lot's of POW's came up for both teams but David's luck ran out towards the end of the 2nd half, trying to knock down a Blodge/Sidestep Pro Elf Blitzer on the ball. A Turn 15 quick pass to a Catcher who ran away from the bulk of the Norse secured a 3-1 victory for the Pro Elves although the next game will involve a few journeymen!

Pro Elf thrower died (had Accurate and Strong Arm) after botched Apothecary roll.
David's Snow Troll died after he blocked a Pro Elf Catcher, got a Both Down/Attacker Down results, failed Loner re-roll, failed to penetrate the Elf's armour who then went on to breach the Snow Troll's armour, cause a CAS resulting in Death which was then Apothecared to another Death!
 TD: 3-1  CAS: 2-3  2 killed


Drakenburg Demons (Vampire/Nick) vs Atlantis Falcons (High Elf/Regan)
Karak Hirn Tigers (Dwarf/Daryl) vs Foul Guys (Orc/Dale)

These games still to come.  Rumour has it Coach Whine of the Tuff Toffs was shivering with the prospect of either of these teams, but never having beaten Coach Nick......


Christian Schwager Commissioner and Co-convenor League
David Cleverely Co-convenor League

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

The semis had two very close games, including one that went into overtime with a crowd riot.  Check out these reports...

Quarter final report:
Drakenburg Demons (Vampire/Nick) vs Atlanta Falcons (High Elf/Regan)

Very closely matched in team value, the Falcons received on the opening kick-off as one of their fans KO'd a Demon with a nicely placed rock. They managed to KO another player in their first turn to take the numbers advantage and position themselves for the drive. The Demons managed to sack the ball-carrier twice but weren't able to stop a 4+ pub & 4+ pass over top of their players for a first quarter score. The Demons managed to equalise on the half after crowd-pushing a few Elves and running up a solid cage near the end zone. Receiving at the start of the 2nd half, the Vampires successfully caged and pushed the entire length of the pitch while keeping the elves clear. On the 7th turn, an 1 rr 1 bloodlust and a hungry vamp meant the cage wasn't quite closed well enough. With a bunch of rolls made and a lucky bounce and crowd throw-in the Elves were positioned brilliantly to stop the score. Unfortunately a failed dodge threw everything to the wind, and while a lot more work was required to score, the Vampires managed it to end the game 2-1. While the Vampires had great blood-lust rolls for the main part, the High Elves spent a lot of time blitzing lone vampire receivers without tackle for no avail and the Demons managed to keep a surprising number of thralls around all game long, with enough numbers all game long the Vampires had what they needed to produce a win.

Final Score: Vampires 2-1 (2-3) High Elves


Rottenham Clotspew (Christian/Nurgle) VS Ponytail Prancers (Nathan/Elf)
 
A Stadium packed to the rafters with Nurgle fans shouted a hoorah to the start of the ABBF Not the Face! Semi Finals. Both teams lined up for the kick off, evenly matched in ability due to earlier games that had left their respective rosters in ruins. Rottenham Clotspew kicked and the Prancers slowly ground their way up the pitch by going backwards towards their own TD zone. In a bid to get away from the reeking smell and pus filled limbs of the opposing team, Elf Catcher Kai-Phas threw a perfect short pass to a waiting receiver only to have it intercepted by a pesty Pestigor standing right next to him. The same Pestigor in fact who then went onto score and take the Clotspews into an early 1-0 lead. However, the Prancer fans were not having that and decided to lead not one but two Pitch invasions on the subsequent kick-offs that saw more of the Clotspews eating dirt than the Prancers. The help from their fans enabled the Prancers to equalise and pull ahead to at 2-1 lead by the end of the first half. Into the second half, it was anyone's game however Nuffle, who had been rendering the Beast of Nurgle with a slew of 1's for his Really Stupid roles averting his baleful gaze for long enough to allow the team to score some crippling strikes on the Prancers. Two deaths, an Elven Lineman Journeyman ("In Journeymen We Trust" it reads on this players epitaph) and the last of the Elven Throwers bit the dust. KO after KO racked up on the Prancers leaving four members on the pitch and the ball firmly in the Clotspew's rotting hands. It seemed the Nurgle would equalise leading to overtime however a lone Elf Catcher managed to blitz the ball carrier, knocking the ball loose and picking up himself, bringing the game to a Pyrrhic victory for the Prancers.
 
Rottenham Clotspew (Christian/Nurgle) VS Ponytail Prancers (Nathan/Elf) 1-2 (4-0) 2 killed


Drakenburg Demons (Vampire/Nick) vs Tuff Toffs (High Elf/Greg)

Elf Coach Whine was petrified at start of game, and only a couple Argentinian beers enabled him to bring his team to the pitch.  Facing him was the legendary Coach Nick, gazing hypnotically across the pitch.  Demons got the fame and the kickoff, and raced down for a quick, easy score.  Tuff Toffs time to reply, and as in their previous encounter, they blew it.  The usual sideline box procedure with catchers did not work as the hypnotic gaze left markers everywhere and the Elf receivers crushed into the sideline.  But with the other side of the field wide open, the Toffs tunnel vision decided to go with the tried and true.  They shoved the top Vampire off the pitch, but then that left a couple dodges, which the catcher failed on double 1's.  Ball went into the crowd who threw it conveniently to the Demons, who scored instantly.  Down 2-0 with the usual despondent coach, it looked all over.  But a great effort from Elf passer and receivers, who this time flooded the enemy zone from the middle, resulted in another quick score.  Then the Demons attempted a slow slog down field.  But Vamp dietary habits made it a bit more difficult.  Lost ball, but gained again, and a nice easy pass to the end zone - dropped!   Elf pick up and attempted pass for likely score, fumbled.  End of half. 

Second half kick-off went to the Toffs, who converted it into another quick try, with catchers all over the Demon half.  Again, the Demons tried a long slog and the Toffs made a few failed leaping blocks on the ball carrier.  A huge mall ensued, and an easy out down the sideline for what would have been the winning score, but double skulls on a Vamp.  Toff hit the ball carrier successfully and the St 4 catcher took off downfield.  A failed GFI and a huge surprise - Toff score!  Here it looked like a sure Toff victory, as only one turn remained, but the forever dismal Coach Whine quoted to the press, "Nah, game's not over and Vamps will win, bet on it."  Sure enough, Coach Whine's kickoff resulted in the predicted Crowd riot and an extra turn ensued.  Demons got 5 players in scoring position with no rr.  Toffs covered them all, but then a one die block, which would have made a Demon score large odds-against, skulled.  A couple of good Demon blocks, pass, catch, and a couple GFIs later and the score was tied at full time.

Now to Extra Time, with no rerolls for either team, and the Vamps finally down to 11 players.  There was a re-kick necessary, and the second kick-off was much better for the Demons with the Toff passer unable to move away from an attack from two Demon linemen.  But instead of protecting the passer, in an incredible blunder, the Toffs panicked and formed a really thin line, left the Demon lineman alone, and sent out 5 players to receive.  Blunder of the season! but not that atypical of Coach Whine.  After a number of gfis and hypnotic gazes, the Toff passer was crashed to the ground and ko'd.  Even so, there was a chance for an Elf pickup and pass, but failed Elf dodge, and that was that - the Demons had it.  And due to the vamps having to roll before each move, the Demons were able to stall right up to the last turn without facing the thrown rocks.  Finally a Toff got through and pushed the Vamp into the end zone, but it was too late.  Toffs tried a one-turner but failed, and so the game ended as Coach Whine predicted, with a victory for the Demons.  And the Demon pro-blodging Vamp got ag5. 

Coach Whine was fired and has retired from Bloodbowl altogether.

Drakenburg Demons (Vampire/Nick) vs Tuff Toffs (High Elf/Greg) 4-3 (1-4) OT

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

An Elf League deserved an Elf champion, but with the two main contender High Elves teams eliminated earlier in the playoffs, it was up to a seriously undermanned Pro-Elf team to gather its journeymen and show the way.  And so it was.  Fantastic season with many memorable games and memoriums.  Congratulation s to ABBF first timer Nathan.  And congratulation s to the Nurgle and the Vampire for getting their teams into the top 4 in this biased league.

Big Guys League has started up already with a game between two French flavoured concoctions, but the true opening will be Sunday at City Guard and Monday at the Manor House.  Check out the rules for the new league:  heavily favoured for the Big Guys.  http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/index.html   By the way, to clarify:  If you choose a Big Guy with Leader in your initial set-up, you will have 113 TV.  Also, we may have a veteran team season later, so save those good teams rosters.

Now the reports...


Grand Final:

Drakenburg Demons (Nick) Vs Ponytail Prancers (Nathan)

A capacity crowd of 68K fans for the Not in the Face League final assured onlookers that this game would be one to watch. Not wanting to show their lack of support, fans from all corners of the Old World came out to support one team or another, resulting in no one time gaining the FAME. With the Ponytail Prancers being very much the underdog in this game, claiming over 400K's worth of inducements, the fans were expecting a good game. Prancers received, but an early blitz by the Demons led to a early 1-nil lead for the Vampires. For the rest of the half and, indeed most of the second half, the ball seesawed back and forth between each player's TD zone. The Demons were using their formidable staring powers to put the hiatus on the much feared Elven catchers and their NOS catches (Ed- Much feared Elves?). While the Prancers were using their superior speed to stay out of reach and get to those parts other teams can't reach. Casualties were mounted on both sides, primarily due to the blocking and biting efforts of the Demon's Vampiric players, but a lucky Elven blitz put their only Vampire tackler in the KO bin. With the 2nd half running down and fewer players on the pitch, it was looking to go into extra time from a 3-3 tie. The Demons had the ball close to the Prancers TD zone but the last remaining Elven blitzer knocked the ball loose and managed to pick up it up on the bounce. The blodging SS player managed to move away from the scrum close to his TD zone and handed off to a catcher who passed to another catcher and scored, leaving the Prancers dumb-founded at winning this League in their first debut of Blood Bowl.

Drakenburg Demons (Nick) Vs Ponytail Prancers (Nathan) 3-4 (3-3)


3rd Place:

Rottenham Clotspew (Nurgle/Christian) vs Tuff Toffs (High Elf/Greg)

Horribly disappointed after their defeat by the Vampires in the semis, the Toffs fired their brooding coach and hired a new interim coach, Culd Givastuff.  This turned out to be quite a chaotic game, with the ball bouncing around randomly for much of it.  Clotspew got the kick-off and decided to make a slow bashing cage thing down the middle of the pitch, to take out as many Elfs as possible in the half.  Unfortunately, the Elves proved elusive and their teflon armour worked a treat.  & they took out the Beast.  So, instead, it was the Elves putting on the pressure.  They managed to leap into the cage a few times, and every time they hit a ball carrier - mostly with one die blocks, they flattened him.  But the loose ball also proved elusive, and the Clotspew finally managed to hold it long enough for, yes, a pass and a score as the half was running out.   

Second half, and a quick Elf score down the sideline.  Then the Clotspew started their patented drive.  Once again they had difficulties getting Toffs off the pitch, and once again, the Elves managed to flatten ball carriers every time with one die blocks. They even picked up the ball, but with 4 or 5 disturbing presences around, found the putrid smell impossible to deal with, and fumbled away, until finally the ball landed close enough for a 5 ag lineman to take numerous dodges in tackle zons, pick up the ball and dodge out again to an area relatively clear of the odour.  He then took off, passed to the catcher and the Toffs had the go-ahead TD.   Still time for a Nurgle reply, but with the Elves forcing themselves to closely mark the abhorrent ones, it wasn't to be. 

Celebration was non-existent in the Toffs dressing room:  they were totally fanatically focused on removing the pudrid stuff from their bodies, and applying masses of perfume - and even that was not enough.  An awful experience.
 
Rottenham Clotspew (Nurgle/Christian) vs Tuff Toffs (High Elf/Greg) 1-2 (2-0) no deaths


And first game of Da Big Boys League

Les Fleurs du Mal (Dark Elf/Greg) vs Liberez les Grenouilles de guerre (Slann/Paul)

The kick-off to the new season featured a couple big guys, but only one focused on the game.  The Slanns large ape-krox was everywhere, creating chaos, while cold one Xidde Bonedragon was disinterested and marginalised.  But it was not that that was to win the game:  it was the diving tackle of the well placed frog blitzers, about which the darkgirls simply couldn't remember .  Kick off came to the girls, and they worked an ok sideline pattern and throw, for a quick score.  Grenouilles came back with one of their own.  Girls tried for a second, but that diving tackle.... and end of half.  Second half, the froggies scored a quickie, and the girls likewise.  Then came the turning moment:  Fleurs stole the ball and had a chance down the sideline.  But too many players off the pitch and tied up by the cursed diving tackle, they tried a chancy move down the sideline. However, having used up all their rerolls by the 3rd move, the attempted handoff, which would have led to a late TD and a win, was dropped then thrown by the crowd conveniently to a frog stronghold.  One turn from there for an easy try for the win.

Les Fleurs du Mal (Dark Elf/Greg) vs Liberez les Grenouilles de guerre (Slann/Paul) 2-3 (1-2) no deaths