ABBF Spring Championship 2511 - "Stars in Stripes"

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

The ABBF Spring Championship 2511 - "Stars in Stripes" is proudly brought to you by RARG (Referees & Allied Rulekeepers Guild aka David & Paul).
The new season kicks off Monday 19th of September and will run for 15 weeks, followed by three weeks of play-offs. There will be referees, dirty tricks, and bribes will be the order of the day!

Matches are being played every Monday at the Manor House Bar & Brasserie in Grey Lynn, from 6 PM every Monday.
The address is 465 Gt North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland... as well as most Sundays at the CityGuard, Freeman's Bay Community Centre on Hepburn Street

You can download the house rules PDF from the link below.
http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/download/ABBF_stripes_rules.pdf

[schwager]

Welcome back Sports Fans!

The Spring Championship "Stars in Stripes" got off to a great start last Monday night, with 2 players dead (and now available for hire) in the first two matches. You can read all about the action from those matches further below. The current results and standings can be found online:
http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/current.html

First off, however, we bring you special report from last season's Big Boys League final and one of the greatest achievements in ABBF history:

Darkpact Debacle take out Da Big Boys League Championship in style!
That's right folks, coach Nick "the Undefeatable" Gyde has finally done it. Under his guidance, the Darkpact Debacle (Chaos Pact) rampaged their way through the pool stage with 10 wins in 10 matches. So what better way to top off a perfect season than with a Championship win... but not only that, the Debacle also didn't concede a single TD throughout the finals round (not to mention causing an average of 6.3 casualties per match). Well done, Nick and his team of homicidal maniacs!

For those of you who missed this epic feat, below is a report of the action. All results and standings from last season can still be found on our website:
http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/winter2511.html

Darkpact Debacle (Chaos Pact/Nick) vs An Experiment in Finesse (Orge/Dan)

The Debacle turned up with their biggest roster of the season, giving the Ogres enough inducements for 5 dirty tricks.
The Experiment received the kick-off and laid into the Debacle as best they could, getting an early cas & KO. A ball-handling error down the back-field left the ball on the ground and by the next turn they were under enough pressure that a Hail Mary pass was needed to the other end of the field. It was nearly perfect, but bounced 1 square too far and the crowd threw the ball half-way down the pitch to the Pact's AG4, Sure-Hands marauder open on the wing...
The Pact walked the ball in and lined up for another kick-off, the fans rioted, leaving more time in the half. The Ogres tried their best, but Nuffle kept rewarding them with double 1's in inopportune moments and the Debacle held them off till the half.
With the cas and KO bins for the Ogres filling up the Pact received at the start of the second half and did their best to clear the pitch - helped by double skulls and double 1's from the Ogres. When the Pact finally scored at the end of the half there were only 3 players not in the cas/KO dug-outs. With not enough players to attempt a throw-team-mate touchdown the Debacle put their rookie's on the line and let the game run-out.

Final Score: Chaos Pact 2-0 [8-1] Ogres


Spring '11 "Stars in Stripes" - Week 1

First game of the new season saw...
Trees R Us(Elf/Kyle) vs Eeeeekkk! (Skaven/Paul)
 
As both teams Refs were still trying to find the pitch, an Orc ref stepped up.
 
Trees R Us had the ball first and were taking their time moving it down the field but lost it to a blitz by the Skaven loosening the ball and was moved down the field for a TD.
The kick off saw Eeeeekkk! Ass.Coach handing some money to the ref (Bribe used later) as part of his brilliant coaching.
Trees R Us had the ball again and were one lineman down (Dead), they moved the ball quickly this time and scored. During the drive Eeeeekkk! was stomping the shit out of any elf on the ground resulting in a KO and bribe used on the ref when spotted. Eeeeekkk! failed to score again before the half finished. One Skaven was BH during this drive.
 
Half Time 1-1 TD  1-1 Cas
 
Eeeeekkk! got the kick after the Ass.Coach was seen handing more money to the ref (brilliant coaching). They scored in 2 turns and injured SI an Elf also stomped more elves. Trees R Us fans had had enough of the ref and dragged him from the field and beat the snot out of him. A Dwarf ref walked onto the field to continue the game. Trees R Us again managed a quick TD but lost a Blitzer, SI MNG. With 4 turns to go it looked like the Rats would score and win by one. A single dice blitz knocked the ball out of the skavens hand and into an elves. The catcher ran into the enzone while the elf who caught the ball dodge away from skaven ran down the field a passed it to the catcher SCORE.
 
So Elves up 3-2 with 2 turns left. 7 elves on the field (1 Ko & 3 injured) to 10 skaven. The ball was moved down field to a Gutter Runner who was 10 squares for the TD but slipped on a GFI and the ball was left one square away from the enzone and only a Skaven Blitzer in range but no skaven turns left. The skaven coach used a bribe to get one more turn but fickle dice stopped the skaven in their tracks.

So final score 3-2 TD Elf and 4-2 Cas Skaven
 
Orc ref got 1 xp (BH) and Dwarf Ref got 4 xp
 
A New catcher has joined the elves but are still 2 down for the next game.


Pestiferous (Nurgle/David) vs Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian)

Just as one session ended, another began.
Just as Nick was finishing with a clean sweep from the Big boys league, Christian and I rolled out our new teams for the "stars in stripes" league. Both TV=100, Christian playing Human, and I playing Nurgle.

With the weather fine and 16,000 fans, we were given an Elf Ref to umpire the match.

Winning the toss I elected to kick and was immediately down one rotter into the KO bin for the rest of the game. I don't know what it was, maybe the odor but Christian played a strategic running game which meant not committing until I was out of position. This resulted in the turn counter being the fastest mover until, running out of turns, the humans had to try and bust through. With some lucky blocks the ball came loose and a Nurgle dog pile stopped any scoring. Nurgle managed to CAS (SI) two humans but lost another rotter to the beady eyed Ref while fouling.

Second half started with Nurgle receiving, a 6 turn rolling cage drive that mauled more humans into the KO bin, and CASed the Beast of Nurgle who regenerated. Ref got another rotter for fouling.

The last two turns saw the humans kill a rotter, and get bogged down in Nurgle.

The Result: 1-0 to Nurgle 3-2 CAS
Bonus money for Deaths, Serious injury, and a close game saw both coaches go away happy(-ish).


Right folks, that's it for this week... see you on the pitch!

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

Dem refs 'as taken over.  Da psycho one's scary. 'N da Money's flowin'.  As players die from brutal fouling.  All good.

Yes, the Stars in Stripes season is truly underway, and it's really fun.  It's all about fouling and money - and yeah, you lose players a bit more, but you can afford way more.  Average pay out after the game is somewhere around 100 k.  Players' dilemma: do we use it for a bribe or 3, or do we develop our team further?  Nothing finer for a BB fan than this murderous mayhem.  Lots of laughs.  So if you haven't been around yet, and might have been put off by the length of the rules, come around and have a go - the rules are not as daunting as they seem.  Most are about figuring your payoffs at the end of the game.  & everyone's got to grips with them after a game or two.

Don't forget the Greenstone Cup either.  Promises to be like no other, full of possibilities: http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/gsc/news.html

The new season has started very evenly, with 4 teams in first place with a win and a draw each.  No one has a perfect record (yet): http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/current.html

The reports:

Nuffle favours the brutal!
Themiscyran Titans (Amazon/Nathan) vs Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian)

A crowd of 11,000 had gathered on a nice Monday evening to witness the season debut of the Themiscyran Titans. Their opponents for the match, veterans of many seasons past, the Grünburg Bruisers.

The Titans won the coin toss and opted to receive. As both sides were setting up for the kick-off, the fans started to riot. The ref for the match, however, having just recently turned into a Psycho, enjoyed the mayhem and let the clock run on.
When things finally got underway, both teams were being very stand-offish at first... neither side willing to engage. The Amazons went left, then right, where they eventually managed to slip through a gap and into the Bruisers' backfield midway through the first half. The Bruisers only needed to free up one more player to get a two dice blitz on the ball carrier, but a double Both Down from a Lineman turned into double Skulls and that was that.
The Amazons even managed to stall for another turn before running the ball over the line for the opening TD.
With only one turn left in the half for the Bruisers, there wasn't much they could do, except take out their frustrations on their opponents. One Titans player was injured and another one killed shortly after, reducing the Amazons to just 9 players for the second half.

The fans cheered as the second half kicked-off, granting the Titans an extra re-roll and the Bruisers a bribe.
A Human Blitzer caught the ball on the LOS, out in the widezone, and the Bruisers started things off by sending another Amazon to the casualty bin. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Titans managed to hold back the Bruisers for a few turns... before loosing two more players to injury. The Humans now pushed through the remaining defenders with ease to score the equaliser halfway through the second spell.
The Titans now only had six players left to field for the next kick-off, but initially got off to a good start. That was until they were surrounded on all sides and beaten to a pulp some more by the rather aptly named Bruisers. Despite the kicking, they managed to hold onto the ball for another turn, but after three of the Humans had a go at the hapless Titans Thrower, she got one right in the face and spilled the ball.
With most of the Amazons now off the pitch, on the ground, or totally surrounded, there was no-one left to stop the rampaging Bruisers from running in the winning TD... and so they did, but not before fouling yet another Titans player into the casualty bin.

Watch out for the Bruisers folks, they might just be back in Nuffle's good books!

Themiscyran Titans (Amazon/Nathan) vs Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) 1-2 (0-6) 1 killed


Lil Shoppe of Horrors (Necro/Daryl) vs Las Nuits d'Hiver (Dark Elf/Greg)

The Dark Elves showed up for their first and perhaps only game this season, with only 10 players.  The crowd and even the undead opponents were so roused by their new and even briefer uniforms that nobody noticed this until half time.  Game started with the Nuits getting the kick-off  and scoring quickly down the sideline with their assassin.  The Horrors had plenty of time to score, but lost the ball to a tenacious DE defense.  Elves couldn't hold on to it though, and a wolf score.  Second half, and the Nuits started with only 8, prompting the Horrors coach to notice the shortage of girls.  Whoops.  Ref ruled the game should continue however, and the Horrors bashed the elves quickly to 5 remaining players on the pitch.  It was a slow drive, and further girls fell, one to her death.  Score, and just enough time for a Nuit reply, but a dropped pass put an end to it.  Crowd then invaded the pitch, and the Girls disappeared in the mass.  Oddly, no one approached the winning Horrors, who managed $12 from the game.

2-1 (3-1)  one death, not co-opted onto the Necro team, an elf linewoman - Not-so-sweet Georgia.  No SI's.


Lil Shoppe of Horrors (Necro/Daryl) vs The Green Party (Orc/Greg)

An fresh, green Orc team showed up for the second game of a double header, and were able to afford a goblin chainsaw.  Horrors got the kick off, but their cage immediately collapsed as players fell all around and a black orc took out the ball carrying ghoul and grabbed the ball.  A desperate effort from a wolf who smacked the BO and took the ball himself.  a lunge around the sidelines was thwarted as the wolf ball carrier was shoved into the crowd.  Ball was thrown by fans right across the field, but bounced next to the flesh golem, the only Horror player there.  the Greens tried to deal with him but instead rolled quadrupled skulls, giving the ghoul the opportunity to pick up the ball and pass to the remaining wolf. The wolf was smacked on a both-down by a puffing BO, but was able to pick up the ball and score as time was running out.  Chain saw had to come on with only one play left in the half, but a get the ref kick off meant he could stay in the second half.  This was nice for the Greens as he got in amongst the two wolves, buzzing each about 3 times.  Unfortunately, nothing worse than a KO and stuns.  With the wolves thus occupied, the Greens had no trouble scoring.  Plenty of time left and Orcs confident with their defense, but a crowd riot shortened the game.  Horrors secured the kick-off, but couldn't get anyone into scoring position, and so the game ended.  With their ample winnings from these games, the Horrors now have a full complement of specialist players.

1-1 (1-1) no deaths or SI's.


So second round match saw the Pestiferous (Nurgle/David) lined up against Trees R Us (Elf/Kyle), so either the passes were going to stick or.....

With both teams fairly even, there was only enough inducements for the Elves to get a card. Winning the toss, the elves choose to receive.

In what can only be described as “running and screaming” play, the elves collected the ball and keep it safe at the back, while receivers, Blitzer’s, and linemen tried to get free from the Nurgle defensive grip and be free to receive the pass.  The Elf Blitzer retired with a Serious injury, 6 elves got KOed, one chaos warrior, and a rotter were KOed in the drive. With time and players running out, the elf coach pushed a pass from a thrower in disturbing presence, to a catcher in cover. Intercept by the cover chaos warrior saved the inevitable elf TD. The Nurgle now begin to drive back in a loose cage. The elf’s throw themselves into the attack and managed a two uphill to finally drop the ball carrying chaos warrior. With rerolls gone and player having issues picking up the ball, the half ended as a Nurgle dog pile. 0-0 with 1 rotter sent off for being foul.

Second half saw 8 Nurgle play 8 elf. Nurgle received, got the ball, lost the ball, dog piled the ball, ran out of rerolls, had to keep the ball covered, ran out of turns to score. The elf’s looked like scoring a couple of times, throw to player in cover, completion, failed the dodge to score, player hurt.

End result: 0-0 and CAS 2-1, all serious injuries


The Green Party (Orc/Greg) vs Eeeeekkk! (Skaven/Paul)

A truly reluctant rat team was shoved quivering onto the pitch, short of numbers, skills and gutter runners.  Their squeaking protests were met by the coach's, "Wha th f, u're just useless rats."  Kick off went of course to the Orcs, who began a trudge down-field with the passer holding the ball.  Good cage, plenty of thumping, but quickly the rats abandoned the ball and swarmed a black orc and a lineman on the far side of the pitch, who had been cut off from the action.  Then began a series of fouls by the rats, to little advantage, other than the odd send off.  Eventually they matched and exceeded the sending off of orcs, who had 2 go in the first half, one usefully getting rid of the Skaven passer.  Orcs didn't stall, scoring quickly.  Rats had opportunity to counter, but were blitzed and squeezed, then thumped and failed to score.  Second half, the rats managed, with a few returned from the KO bin, to run in a quick one, thanks to double skulls.  But with plenty of time, and even fewer rats left on pitch, the Greens lumbered down the field, handing off to a blitzer in the endzone as time ran out.

2-1 (3-1) 1 killed


Until next time!

Greg Hagg - ABBF News Editor
David Cleverely - League Commissioner
Paul Dalton - Assistant League Commissioner

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

Corrupt & be-hated refs took in more bribes and gained ref skills:  and no, we're not talking about the RWC, but Bloodbowl, the true sport of life and (hopefully) death.  Some entertaining games, one of which is always a crowd pleaser, a rat clash.  It's going to be an interesting season:  by 3 or 4 games, most teams will have an optimum number, with the dilemma - how do I spend all that money?  And fun things to spend it on.

9 teams now, and 9 refs, including at least one Psycho.  http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/current.html


Bubonic Scutterers (Skaven/Murray) vs Eeeeekkk! (Skaven/Paul)

Every member of the crowd waited with baited breath and cheese sandwiches for this clash off ........  well skaven.  No one could tell who was on which team because...face it, can you tell two ratz apart?  The ref surely could not, and he was a rat as well,  sending players off pretty much at random and drug testing too.  Believe it or not, skaven players were found to be drug free! and of course sent off.  The ref enjoyed that, and also the money gained for a bribe for extra injury time.  First half, rats scutted about the place, also seemingly at random, but occasionally, a score and at half time it was 1-2 in favour of Eeeeekkk!

At halftime, the coaches opened their cheese lockers to bribe the skaven ref , after which both teams of dirty ratz proceeded to trade foul for foul all through the second half.  Again, someone thought of the ball occasionally, and finding himself with it raced for a score.

2-3 (3-4) 1 killed and Bloodbowl the stud winner on the day.


Confused Orcs and dodgy Humans
Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs The Green Party (Orc/Greg)

The rain was pouring down on Monday night as the Bruisers prepared to face the Onslaught of the Green Party. 17,000 fans, slightly in favour of the greenskins, were in attendance.

The Orcs won the coin toss and opted to receive, while the Bruisers spent their cash on a pre-match meeting with the ref for the game... the Bruisers' own Hacker Pschorr, hater of anyone ST2 or less and Stickler if ever there was one. The Humans also also hired a Bloodweiser Babe and invested in a couple of Magic Items with their inducement money.
The crowd cheered as the Bruisers kicked things off, earning them yet another bribe, and the Greens an extra re-roll. Then the Orcs started pounding Grünburg's frontline and set up a large cage in the centre of the field. From they were ready to move in whichever direction would present an opportunity, but confusion crept into the greenskins' game early on, and the Orcs started to get in each others way. This, in turn, enabled the Bruisers to put pressure on the Orc thrower with the ball, who, astonishingly, was unaware of him and was  brought down (and casd and apo'd) when he realised,  trying to dodge away from his marker.
After that, a massive brawl for the ball ensued just inside the Orcs half, but neither team managed to hold on to the elusive pigskin and the half ended without a score.

Both teams were back to full strength after the half-time break. Another big cheer from the fans gave the Orcs some renewed confidence (and a bribe), but it was the Bruisers who were handed the ball on a touchback and started to make inroads into the Greens' territory. Some solid defending from the Orcs, however, saw the Humans' drive become stuck on the left flank and the ball carrier sacked. Briefly able to recover, the Bruisers' other thrower went down (and out KO'd) shortly after and the ball ended up right next to the sideline on the LOS.
It was then that Bruisers' thrower Hans Schussmann got up, blitzed and dodged his way through to the ball, picked it up, dodged away again (past two opposing players) and got clear of the Orc defenders behind a screen of his own team mates. The best the Greens could do now, was to put a tackle zone on the would be scorer, but it wasn't enough. A dodge and two go for its later and it was 1-0 to the Bruisers.

A big blow for the Orcs so late in the game, but there was still time to score an equaliser. Eager to get going, Green Party started the next drive with a quick snap and punched a whole through the line. Orcs were now swarming into the Bruisers backfield. The only thing the Humans could do was to mark everyone. The Orcs' pass that followed was good, but the intended receiver was well covered and dropped the ball at the feet on two Human defenders, as the clock ran down... but that wasn't the end.
After having a quick chat to the Greens' headcoach, referee Hacker Pschorr decided to play injury time and the match continued for another turn. In a last ditch attempt, the Orcs ran a player into the endzone, where he stood waving his arms awaiting the pass form his team mate... but the pass never came. The pick-up foiled by the many Bruisers defenders surrounding the ball, the ref blew the final whistle and the Humans took home a hard-earned win.

Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs The Green Party (Orc/Greg) 1-0 (1-1)


Pestiferous (Nurgle/David) vs Themiscyran Titans (Amazon/Nathan) 1-0 (1-0) 1 killed

So Nathan bounced up with his new Amazons at TV= 100 and got $140K from Pestiferous (Nurgle) and took a bribe and a Star player rotter.

With sweltering heat (Yah Money) and down 2  fame, the Amazons choose to receive. Picking up the ball and keeping it safe at the back, The Amazons then tried to penetrate the Nurgle defence and get someone free. I don’t know what was happening on the field but the chaos warriors were chasing amazons, amazons were trying to run away. The occasional “slap and tickle”, then more running and screaming. The Amazon passer kept looking for targets but none were free of the disturbing presence. He was finally tagged by the Beast of Nurgle (Fluffy) and the play deteriorated into a “Dog pile” maul. One Amazon Blitzer fell for the charms of a chaos warrior, contracting a fatal STD and is now playing for the Nurgle as a rotter.   

Half time saw the score 0-0 and the heat affecting 3 amazons and 2 Nurgle

Kick off by the Amazons saw a pitch invasion (More Money). This left 3 Amazons standing and dropping 2 Nurgle. Nurgle picked up the ball and formed a cage unopposed at half way. The amazons chose to contain the nurgle and let their players recover from the kick off. With the Nurgle struggling to get free of the Amazon wall, it all came down to a two dice uphill by a Amazon Blitzer, skull/push, followed by skull/pow saw the Blitzer stunned. The Nurgle rolled out of the cover and got a pestigor through to score.

With one turn left the weather changed and injury time played but with no change in score.

Nurgle 1-0 and 1-0 in CAS and plenty of money.


League Commissioner David Cleverely
Associate League Commissioner Paul Dalton
Newsboy G Hagg

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

Eleven teams now and five games last weekend, but not a soul departed.  Slack!
Anyway, a couple new refs, and a star performance from the psycho ref, who managed 10 SPPs in one game!  Oh yeah, and there were winners and losers, in one of the closely contested Leagues ever.  Definitely not too late to start a new team; there are 4 teams with 2 games or less.  And a great chance to use those bribes to get - extra turn at end when needed, a free punch in before kick off, a 12th man snuck on the field..... There's a good contigent at City Guard, so check it out Sunday.

This site is great for giving you an up-to-date tidy spreadsheet for your team(s):  http://www.arosbb.dk/default.asp?p=dl

Also, don't forget to sign up for the Greenstone Cup, places filling up.  http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/gsc/news.html

Here's a brief report from this season's League Commissioner David, followed by game reports:

The ref experiment is working out very well so far.  There's a lot of laughter, and much fun with the semi-random events:  noise levels are definitely up. While illegal plays can change a game, they are not guaranteed, and both sides tend to use them.  The overall impact of the rules is not extreme, but games now are nearly always close - there's been only one game this season with more than one TD difference!  Bribes are a useful threat, even if not used, and the money - yes!  everyone loves it; even makes up for those Amazon and DE blitzers that keep dying.  The Dead/Retired pool hasn't been much used so far, as those bribes are so tempting.  And now with the psycho ref getting corruption for his second skill, teams might even get a two-for-one deal for bribes.  3 other refs have a first skill, and their are many varied hatreds operating.  4 refs have been 'got at' but none have died yet.  It will be interesting when refs get even more powers.  There are now 11 refs, each itching for a chance to get a back-hander.

We only got in 3 game reports, coaches too exhausted after the confrontations?


Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs Lil Chop of Horrors (Necromantic/Daryl)

The CityGuard played host to Sunday afternoon's encounter between the Grünburg Bruisers and Lil Chop of Horrors. The crowd of 15,000 smelly spectators was firmly behind the Necros, which earned them a Re-roll at the first kick-off.
It was the Bruisers, however, who were the first to strike. Despite loosing their Guard Blitzer in the opening minutes of the match to KO, they made good progress into the Horrors' territory. A Werewolf went down in a heap (Double Skulls), trying to stop the rolling cage, and the way was clear for the Bruisers to score the opening TD.
There was still plenty of time left in the first half for the Horrors to strike back and they had been training hard all week, earning them another Re-roll on the following kick-off. After collecting the ball, the Necros set up a cage in the middle of the pitch. Shortly after, they were completely surrounded by the Bruisers, who penetrated the cage and knocked the ball loose.
A Human Thrower swooped in to pick up the ball at the feet of a Zombie and handed it off to a Blitzer who legged it into the Horrors' backfield once more. The shambling Undead did what they could to catch up with the would be scorer, but his team mates shielded him well. Just before halftime the Bruisers scored their second, but there was still time for one last kick-off.
The crowd, the majority of which were cheering for the Undead, was pretty upset at this stage and threw a rock at the Human Thrower... but he was all right again for the second half.

As the kick-off for the second half got underway, the fans got rowdy again and invaded the pitch. Leaving six Humans and on Zombie stunned in their wake. With the Bruisers' defence virtually wiped out for the moment, the Horrors proceeded to run the ball up the field as far as they could... sacrificing a more secure cage for the opportunity of a quick score.
One of the few remaining Human defenders saw this and ran back to out on the hurt on the ball carrying Ghoul and knock the ball loose. Another Blitzer came in from the other side of the pitch and tossed the ball back towards the halfway line. A well positioned Lineman, however failed to catch the ball.
This handed the initiative back to the Undead and they managed to recover the ball and push forward once more.
After plenty of pushing and shoving and several players on both sides going off into the KO'd bin, a whole finally opened in the Bruisers' defensive wall. The Necros now spilled through the gap in force and eventually into the endzone for a TD.
With only moments left on the clock, the Bruisers had another go at a quick score, but the Horrors defence held firm and the scoreline remained the same.

Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs Lil Chop of Horrors (Necromantic/Daryl) 2-1 (1-0)


Bubonic Scutterers (Skaven/Murray) vs Las Nuits d'Hiver (Dark Elf/Greg)

The Dark Elves and the Skaven were looking forward to scoring heaps and gaining valuable SPPs.  Not to be.  Rats got the kickoff, but the staunch DEfence ripped the ball away.  General scramble, DE sent off, rats KO'd and nothing happened.  Second half, 6 rats (5 of th 6 KOs stayed in the penalty box) and 8 DE.  Pretty easy victory, right.  Not to be.  Immediately the rats smacked a couple elves into the various bins, and the ball came loose.  Another scramble, and only 4 DEs left, but enough - a pick up in difficult circumstances, pass, and score, nearly as time ran out.

0-1 (1-1)


Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs Decaying Gentry (Khemri/Dan)

Monday night saw the season debut of Decaying Gentry, who took on the Grünburg Bruisers in front of 24,000 lively fans.
The Bruisers kicked things off to the cheer of the fans, earning them another bribe for the match... while Decaying Gentry started putting on the hurt. Things looked well for the Khemrians initially, as they pushed the Humans back over the LOS. But the Bruisers' defence was resolute and this was as far as the Undead would go. In a desperate attempt to push through, the Gentry left their ball carrier exposed and the Humans managed to sack him. The ball bounced from one player to the next, none of them being able to catch it. Eventually it popped out the back of the Gentry's line.
Now the Bruisers came flying in from all sides and secured the ball behind the Khemrian defensive line. The Gentry regrouped, however, and in a bloody struggle that took it's toll on both teams, managed to hold off the Humans until the end of the half.

After the break, it was Grünburg's turn to receive and, besides the ball, they also received an extra Re-roll, thanks to the coaches' excellent pep talk during the break.
What followed was a text book play from the Bruisers. Initially drawing their slower defenders in on the left flank, the Humans then quickly switched play to the right. A few precision blocks and a short pass to a Blitzer in the open later, and the Bruisers were in scoring position. The Undead did what they could to scramble their defence, but it was too late to stop the Bruisers from scoring the opening TD midway through the second spell.

There was still plenty of time left for the Decaying Gentry to grind out a draw, as a high kick from Grünburg got things underway again. The Khemrians collected the ball and pushed forward, but once again, the Bruisers defence was up to the task and stopped them in their tracks. Some bad blocking from the Tomb Guardians saw the ball carrier exposed yet again, and the Bruisers knocked the ball loose once more and ran off with it.
As the time ran out on the clock, the Bruisers' head coach had a quick word with the referee and injury time was being played. This allowed the Bruisers to run in their second touchdown of the match and deny their opponents a valuable cash bonus.

Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs Decaying Gentry (Khemri/Dan) 2-0 (3-1)


Eeeeekkk! (Skaven/Paul) vs Themiscyran Titans (Amazon/Nathan)

Zippeddydoda.  This time the skaven kept their feet and even thumped the delicate zons.

3-2 (4-2)


James (Human/Kirk) vs Pestiferous (Nurgle/David)

No one, repeat, no one wants to play the Pestiferous.  The putrid smell reeks into unconsciousnes s.  But the humans hung in there, gaining a first up draw.  Well done Coach Kirk.

1-1 (1-0)


David Cleverely League Commissioner, Paul Dalton Co-Commissioner
G Hagg  aspiring pundit

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans!

And another new coach, welcome James.  It's still early yet in the Season, and a team starting now is not disadvantaged.

Week 5 and not a single death, pretty disappointing for the spectators - but wait, they're carrying that ref away from the stands after 'get the ref': in small pieces! Souvenirs for all.  Good things come to those who don't wait. Another psycho ref emerged, very keen to give his particularly hideous sending off.  Five games: two coaches were silly enough to score that extra TD and miss out on the extra money, much to their players chagrin.

A really close league, catch up on the standings at http://www.solitudo.com/bloodbowl/results/current.html.  And Issue 2 of the excellent BLITZ is now out on http://www.ausbowl.com/viewtopic.php?f=188&t=6822


Now for the reports:

Lil Chop of Horrors (Necromantic/Daryl) vs Themiscyran Titans (Amazon/Nathan)

A small but vocal crowd showed up for the game between the Amazonian Titans, and Gorgon Ramsheads Necro-halflings.With the crowd firmly behind the hell-raised half-pints the Horrors caotain decided to recieve the kick off in perfect football weather.
 
 The first drive of the game saw an Amazonian linewoman trip over while tryingtrying to dodge away from the twin flesh golems on the front line, thus opening a big hole, which Fifi the Werepoodle would take advantage of and push through for a score in turn 3.
 On the next kickoff, the Horrors put up a huge spiral  allowing the Amazon catcher all the time in the world to get under the ball for the catch. However, there ladies hands would let them dowm, spilling a hand off close to the side line. A huge melee for the ball ensued, and when an Amazon was smashed into the ground on top of the ball, it spilled into the crowd and was thrown back into the middle of the pitch. With the bulk of both teams tied up on the sideline fracas, the available zombies backed up by a wight managed to clear the 2 amazons off the ball, allowing Fifi to race through and score again.
 Another high kick saw the Amazons looking for a quick score at the end of the half to get themselves back in the game. A sideline run saw the catcher break free with a blitzer in support. The amazon coach bribed the ref to allow them an extra turn to get into the endzone. Despite a valiant effort by a lone Werewolf, the Amazon blitzer ended up running the ball in for a score and the teams went to oranges with the Horrors 2-1 up.
 
Second half started with the Titans fumbling yet another handoff and another all-in fracas breaking out around the ball. After both teams trying multiple times to collect the ball it finally spilled free back towards the Titans goal line where it was retrieved by a desperate Amazon blitzer. However she was out on her own and ended up getting tag-teamed by a pair of werewolves who knocked the ball free, allowing the wight, Barak the Bloody to swoop on the ball and score the Horrors 3rd.
 
3-0 (0-2) no deaths


Las Nuits d'Hiver (Dark Elf/Greg) vs James (Human/Kirk)

Both sides emerged from the dugouts looking for a lot of running and scoring.  The humans also to get away from the stench of the rotter who joined them for the game.  Kick off went to the DEs who rushed it through the right and scored while the humans were intent on doing something to the prone elfwomen lying on the field.  Tsk tsk.  Humans came back, but one of them - a blitzer - was painted up like an elf and was unseen.  Pass went to him, and he took off.  DEs noticed but were ineffectual in their attempts to tackle, just pulling his shirt and a leg of his trousers off.  Oh well,  still time, and with fouling going on regularly, the elves had another shot up the right sidelines.  A dump-off went astray but landed luckily for the Nuits, who picked it up for a second score. 
Second half, one elf down, humans finally came back from KO bin.  Humans began a slow drive and got squashed in the middle.  Loose ball.  Human pick up but then 4 skulls.  "Clumsy idiots," said the elf blitzer, who proceeded to roll 2 skulls on her block on the ball carrier.  Human dodge, hand-off, one die blitz, couple gfis and score.  Still time for the girls to reply, but their drive stalled down the right sideline as time ran out.

2-2 (0-1)

 
Decaying Gentry (Khemri/Dan) vs Eeeeekkk! (Skaven/Paul) 1-1 (5-1)

Coach Paul's Skaven had the usual major issues going for them:  as usual, falling over pretty much every time... and of those, most went off the pitch.   In the meantime, Coach Dan's Khemri were gleefully putting on the hurt to further add to the carnage.  Noisy crew. The Decaying Gentry took the early-ish lead, but Eeeeeekkk! somehow (well, they are bloody quick) got one back just before full-time to steal a draw.


Las Nuits d'Hiver (Dark Elf/Greg) vs Khemri (Khemri/Paul)

The girls of the night snuck onto the field, trying for invisibility, but their brief costumes soon put paid to that.  No one had money for bribes, but that soon changed when the ref appeared.  Immediately the crowd took exception to him, and tore him to pieces:  first dead ref of the season.  His replacement was so intimidated he turned a blind eye to the 14 or so fouls that followed for the first half.  Girls received the ball and went up the middle briefly, getting two skeletons off the pitch quickly.  Then a dash down the right sideline, and just enough space to stall a turn, but not two, and a score.  Kickoff to a depleted Khemri side, who could not hold onto the ball.  Elf pick up and another score. 
Second half, both sides back to full strength, but a couple of DE casualties and the Elves struggled to defend.  But defend they did, when the Khemri could not pick up the ball and an elf blitzer did.  Blitzer knocked out of the game, and another loose ball, with 3 Khemri around it.  No problem:  an Elf linewoman stepped in, picked it up (in the pouring rain), dodged away, and fired a pass to a waiting runner, who caught it, was blocked down, but leapt to her feet to score.  After this, more and more Khemri fouling and the girls down to around 6 players, but no problem - another loose ball, attempted pass, but failed as the whistle for full time blew.

3-0 0-2 no deaths


Bubonic Scutterers (Skaven/Murray) vs Pestiferous (Nurgle/David) 0-1 (2-1)

A sluggish match with lots of pushing and shoving and lots of Skulls, Double Skulls and Skulls that were re-rolled into, you guessed it, more Skulls. Despite all that there were no injuries or TDs in the entire first half.
Second half saw slightly more action and a TD from Pestiferous near the end of the match.
Scutterers used a bribe to get an extra turn, but all that Disturbing Presence messed up their passing play and they couldn't get the equaliser.


David Cleverely League Commissioner
Paul Dalton League Co-Commissioner
GHagg pencil

[schwager]

Welcome Sports Fans

A busy week with 6 games, all but one decided by one point - make that 7, something about that woose game rugby and one point.
There are now 14 active teams, and 13 active or not so active refs (RIP). 
Good crowd both at the City Guard and the Manor House.

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


The Green Party (Orc/Greg) vs Pestiferous (Nurgle/David)
 
“There I was” having just watched the other close game , again, (All blacks by 1 point) when Greg popped up and asked if I had played his Orcs yet ?. So with 50K inducements I merrily wondered onto the pitch with my Nurgle as the Orcs sat around sharpening their sprigs, I wonder why ....?.

The 50K purchased a random card ( player of my choice gets Pass, Dump off for the drive). Losing the Fame but winning the toss saw me kicking the ball, and the Orc keen to beat the hell out the Nurgle. Our Ref didn’t like really fast bastards so all the players on the pitch took it easy. So the first 6 turns were: Orc.....Hit, Hit, hit, hit..Kick... bugger can’t get through armour, can’t open a hole in the defence. The Nurgle: Stand up and spread out.......wher e’s the ball.... Oh did I roll POW again ?. On the one occasions that the Orcs got through the rotter armour he was SI with -1 MA and -1 AV (no not dropped ). After 6 turns with the Orcs being unable to open a running lane, the Nurgle managed to  sack the ball carrier, dog pile the ball, pick it up, got sacked but ran out the half 0-0. 1 CAS each, A rotter and a Black Orc .

Second half started well, The Ref was Got, killed and regenerated, Bloody khamri. The new Ref was a human Ref that hated mutations. Orc’s were all smiles and keen to test the sharp sprigs. The downside to the sharp sprigs was that the Orcs seemed to fail all of their dodges. Nurgle finally recovered the ball and began a 5 turn drive through the middle of the Orcs for a TD. The two Prestigors that were SI/Killed by the Orcs Regenerated, proving that there is a God, Nuffle, and his one sick mother.

With 4 turns left the Orcs tried a running play but were unable to shift the big Nurgle players.

Final score 1-0 and 3 – 3 CAS, No dead, No bonus money.


Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs Eeeeekkk! (Skaven/Paul)

Monday night saw the Grünburg Bruisers face off against Eeeeekkk!, due to a slight misunderstandi ng between the match organisers. The Skaven had been under the impression that it would be an even match up, but the Bruisers made the most of their 520,000 GPs of inducement money... hiring Helmut Wolf and his chainsaw, as well as 3 bribes and 2 magic items.

26,000 rowdy fans, slightly in favour of the Bruisers, made their presence felt early on, when they invaded the pitch just as the Humans kicked off the match. 3 Humans and 2 Skaven were left face down on the pitch and the ball landed deep in Eeeeekkk!'s half.
The Vermin faked right with a ferocious blitz from the Rat Ogre, but the ball went through the middle, where the Bruisers' defence had been weakened by the fans. The Human's, however, managed to regroup and their defence was resolute, despite taking heavy casualties. The Bruisers even managed to knock the ball loose, but the Skaven recovered... at least briefly. Things started to look especially bleak for the Bruisers when their guarding Blitzer was killed. The Apothecary said he could fix him, but at -1 ST, so management said no. He's now available as a a player for hire from the deadpool.
Nevertheless, Eeeeekkk! were still going nowehere and eventually spilled the ball once more.
Had the Bruisers' coaching staff been a bit more on to it at this point and used one of their magic items for the match, their team would have had a real chance of scoring just before halftime. But they weren't and so the half ended 0-0

After the break, the Bruisers were down to 10 men, whereas Eeeeekkk! still had plenty of reserves. During the kick-off it looked as if the weather was changing, but then it didn't and the ball bounced twice in the Bruisers' backfield.
Despite being short on numbers, the Humans made good inroads along the left flank. This was largely due to the fact that most of the rats were busy beating up the rest of the team on the other side of the pitch. Mere inches from the endzone, the Bruisers tried to play for time, but a brave Gutter Runner slipped through the screening players and pushed the ball carrier into the enzone. 1-0 to the Bruisers.

There was still plenty of time left for the Skaven to eek out a draw (excuse the pun), but things didn't quite go as planned. A dropped ball just behind the LOS and the Bruisers defence, or what was left of it, was all over the rats once more. For while the pigskin was hotly contested by both sides, while an Eeeeekkk! receiver was standing clear in the Bruisers endzone... until he was pushed into the crowd, that is.
With no one left in range, both teams seemed out of time, but the Bruisers used their last bribe to persuade the Ref to play injury time. The only thing this achieved for the Humans, however, was that yet another one of their players was carried off into the casualty bin.

So a win for the Bruisers, but at a steep price.

Grünburg Bruisers (Human/Christian) vs Eeeeekkk! (Skaven/Paul) 1-0 (0-4) 1 killed


Trees R Us (Elf/Kyle) vs The Green Party (Orc/Greg)

Orcs hate Elves and got themselves psyched up for this one, blooded kicking boots on.  Elves got the kick off and did their Elf thing with a long pass, handoff and 2 turner.  Then Orcs did their thing:  a long painful drive down the field, fouling every turn, ko'ing and injuring with seeming impunity, with the so-called 'stickler' human ref overlooking these for the most part, only one sent off in 7 fouls in first half.  Orcs managed to deplete and then break through, losing the ball a couple times to a brave warrior but getting it back.  Then Orcs got the kick off, snuck a 12th man onto the field and began a  really painful drive.  This time the ref caught 3 of the 7 fouls, but though the Orcs were down 3 men to 9, the Elves were eventually down to 2 players, neither of whom were standing, surrounded as they were by foul-breathing, booting Orcs.  Dead and broken Elves everywhere, but they still had enough for a quick strike as time was running out:  if only the replacement passer could pick up the ball.  But no.   Lots of money: 140 & 170 k respectively. 

1-2 (1-5)


Khermi (Khemri/Paul) vs Lil Chop of Horrors (Necromantic/Daryl)

Daryls Lil Shop of Horrors beat Pauls Khemri 2-1 (0-1 cas) with the Pouring Rain weather result wrecking any chance Paul may have had right from the start.  The sucking sound of the Khemri trying again and again to pull the ball out of the mud was muted by the berserk raging of their coach, cursing the weather, stamping around in some sort of demented rain dance.  Most entertaining for the fans.


Arboretium Archers (Wood Elf/Nathan) vs James (Human/Kirk) 1-3 (0-2)


Altdorf Chargers (Human/James) vs Trees R Us (Elf/Kyle) 2-3 (3-1)

Coaches of these winning teams were too shocked to be coherent, and as a result, no reports available, except from the losing coaches:  these were brief and to the point, "Mslsuoiwoijask kkk!"  except for the Wood Elf's coach, who also said of his new team, "Whihooowhihooo these guys can run fast!"


League Commissioner Sir David
League Co-Commissioner Mr Dalton QC
Gossip columnist G