Bloodbowl League December 15th

League Table 11 December

Karak Norn Blitzers 2 - 1 Night's Watch

In what was to be a tense match between the commanding Night's Watch and the dauntless Karak Norn Blitzers, both teams were out for the other teams blood after their previous encounter. The blitzer's, having been painstakingly defeated in the last encounter, seemed filled with purpose as they kicked to the opposition opening with a bonecrunching injury to the Night's Watch norseman.

The use of a deathroller was not lost on the Night's Watch as it proceeded to roll over several terrified players, knocking them out in the process. They pushed towards the ball but the night's watch were as ready as they are dangerous, pushing a breach through the blitzer's left flank and scoring early into the first half of the game. This did not damage the resolute blitzer's morale or purpose as they again opened with team-worked violence allowing for blitzer Drakk Rik to sprint past the perforated defense to score his second touchdown of the season at the ending moments of the first half.

At the opening of the second half both teams were struggling to field players with several knocked out and one of the Night's Watch injured. The blitzer's would recieve again and this time it was karak Hunk, the team captain who took responsibility for the ball. Pushing down the right flank of the night's watch the formed cage helped to injure yet another night's watch player, while the rest of the pitch was a desperate melee between dwarf and Night's Watch team member.

The snow troll was a constant danger to the blitzer's line often keeping several dwarfs down at once while the rest of the team attacked the cage. Despite their efforts Karak Hunk dodged through behind the lines making his way to score, and with the dark elf tripping in pursuit Hunk's path to score was clear.

With the blitzer's in the lead, and several players now off the pitch all the dwarfs had to do was hold off in the final moments, and although the night's watch offered a swift retribution for the second touchdown, their speed was not enough and the game ended 2 touchdowns to 1, giving the victory to the Karak Norn Blitzers.

With both teams having won home matches, and easily being the closest rivals in the league, many expect a vendetta match to ensue at the end of the season, with fans, coaches and players alike showing their dislike for the other team in what was a very close match.

- report by Dan

League Table 8th December

LIONS REMAIN UNBEATEN

Sapphire Dream 1 Albion Lions 1

In their sixth match of the season the elf team were hoping for a good performance, and a win, following two uninspiring draws against the Munch Bunch II and the Bunnies. Mykal Eauwin, the team's coach was particularly furious about the last draw, in which another pass from thrower Seaweasel wasn't up to scratch, allowing an Amazon linewoman to intercept and draw the game. Eauwin had seen red at this point and took his anger out on the dwarf coach of the Karak Norn Blitzers, who laughed at an inopportune moment, as dwarfs do... Since then the dwarfs have been trying to get a game against Sapphire Dream, presumably to enact revenge!

The had coach looked a lot more relaxed going into the game against the Albion Lions, and the match could not have started better as a pitch invasion on the Lions' receive allowed the elves to break through. However the Lions are not amateurs, coached by veteran Blood bowl owner Simon Canham, and the humans soon had the ball in a cage. As the half continued the humans struggled to get their catchers through as Firerider and Lightblade proved their worth, finally blitzing into the human cage and after a long and farcical struggle the elves managed to wrestle the ball free. Unanuoc Zephyrcat scored the rather unlikely touchdown, and further bad luck on the human team kept it 1-0 going into the second half.

Once again the elves started the second half receiving, and leading. However once again they failed to take advantage of the situation. This time Seaweasel couldn't be blamed as he'd managed to get himself knocked out in the first half, frcing the elves to try a running play. It started well too as some effortless dodging allowed Sapphire Dream to get the ball into the Lion's half. However the more powerful humans put pressure on the elves, and Jadeleaf, usually sure-footed, made a mess of it trying to run and score.

The following debacle mirrored the last two elf games and Mykal Eauwin once again despaired of his team's inability to actually score when they receive. Gradually a mid-field punch up left the humans in control, but it wasn't until late in the second half that they managed to get control of the situation. An unlikely catch by Ogre Martin Johnson made he elf blitzers unable to wrestle back possession and the giant player scored late on to draw the game.

All in all it wasn't a bad result for either team, but the elves will need to do better to qualify for the Albion Cup, as they have only managed one win, that against Warpstone 13 who obligingly self-destructed in the first half. Once again the elves should have scored and gone 3-0 ahead in the second half, but they cannot seem to make their posession count! The Lions meanwhile remain unbeaten, but need more games and experience to threaten the likes of Good Question and Munch Bunch II.

LEAGUE ROUNDUP

In a frenetic couple of weeks the Albion League has grown to its largest size in five years with a number of teams now looking like real contenders in the race for the play-offs.

Munch Bunch II nailed thier credentials to the mast with an impressive six wins in their last seven, including victories over the hard to beat Warriors and unpredictable Monster Mash. Meanwhile the Warriors continue to underwhelm, with only one win in seven.

The Karak Norn Blitzers managed a very respectable draw against Dave Bone's That's A Good Question and consolidated their position with wins over newcomers Hexoatl Harbingers and previous league leaders Valhalla Destinies. Against the norse the Blitzers destroyed their opponents reputation as the hardest team in the league, winning 7-0 on casualties and showing off their newest addition, a deathroller!

The Lightning Lizards managed three wins after a dire run of form which ended with a 5-1 defeat to Warpstone 13 and a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Night's Watch. Since then they have managed winss against less experienced teams though in doing so managed to have their Kroxigor killed! Even so the Lizards are finally putting together something of a run of form.

At the top of the table the Albion Lions continue to look threatening, earning two draws against veteran coaches, adding to the woes of John Harris this weekend. Quasi-sollipsistic Post-senilist Balletomaniacs, coached by ex-Buttenoids star Poncey Pointy-Earned Nonce, had a torrid day, losing to Munch Bunch II thanks to unseasonable heat at the forge stadium,and drawing to the humans of Simon Canham. Even that match looked like being another defeat for the Dark Elves as they were 2-0 down at half time. The game against the Chaos team, where the Balletomaniacs were reduced to five players for one setup recorded sweltering temperatures quite at odds with the weather patterns outside. The Chaos coach refused to answer questions on daemonic involvement...

Quietly moving into scond place are Night's Watch, after recording five wins in six games, beating Karak Norn Blitzers, Warpstone 13 and Prodigious Vermin among others. Their team now includes some very skilled players, including an exceptionally strong elf, and many are now tipping the horde team as one of the real threats in the play-offs... As ever, there is still a long way to go.

League Table 01.12.07

League table now including modified averages for those teams yet to play 5 games. There will be two prizes, one for finishing top of the league (ABBL trophy) and the winner of the play-offs (Albion Cup). If the skaven of Warpstone 13 bring it back! The latter is the more prestigious trophy but BOTH will earn all time points...