[Lizardman] 6 Sauri or a Skink on the bench?

[Gio]

Third game was yesterday against the Head Hunters (humans), again I'll have to be concise because a pile of papers is waiting on my desk.

They choose to recieve. Kick-off results in the fans throwing a stone that knocks-out the Saurus in the middle of the LoS!
So in the first turn the Head Hunters manage to get 2D blocks on the remaining 2 Sauri on the LoS (no armor break, but still quite annoying), tying up 2 other Sauri with LM, and tying up the last Saurus after blitzing a Skink with a Blitzer (the Skink was injured ) What was I to do? The ball seemed loosely protected so after standing up the Sauri, I sent the rest of the skinks after it. Cancelled 1 assist of the 1/2 a cage in wich the Thrower is standing (so it's only 2D against instead of 3 ), 2 Skinks lurking around waiting for the outcome, and a skull on 1 of the dice means the skink has to bite the dust and hit the knocked-out box(really should have burned a RR). Head hunters get more 2D blocks on the Sauri and start chasing Skinks with no hurry at all to score. Repeat this process untill turn 8 when they finally score after having stomped on every single Skink (3 injured and one knocked out) and gang fouled a Saurus (the ref must have been busy elsewhere while my Saurus was being illegaly injured).

1-0 for the Head Hunters

Second half.
None of my knocked out lizards come back , so all I can field are 4 Sauri and 1 Skink . Kick-off result is change in the weather, it's now rainning. Yes, that sucks. Eventually they get to the skink, they get to the ball, and spend the rest of the half throwing 2D blocks at my Sauri.

Final score: 2-0 for the Head Hunters.

I knew this was going to be a tough game... but I couldn't break their armor not even once... and they had blockers and dodgers and sure hands and pass and enough RRs and even a reserve that never saw play!!!
That stone got to me, I started a bit nervous and demoralized. My biggest mistake was sending the skinks after the ball. I really thought I had a shot at retrieving the ball and scoring early so the Saurus could come back. Backfired and cost me the game. The dice and Nuffle were not of great help either, rolling double both downs against Blitzers, double defender stumbles against catchers, and oh yes did I mention I couldn't break any armors?
Next up is The PMS Avengers (amazons) and losing this match would seriously jeopardize my chances of getting to the play-offs. (Darn I hate amazons in this format, they're just too damn good)

[Coach]

Oh dear sounds like you realise where you went wrong though.

Should have just blitzed the side of the cage and put Saurus next to the ball carrier. Humans don't like dodging and handling the ball if they can avoid it. You certainly don't want to be doing two dice against blitzes with Skinks.

Better luck next game.

[Gio]

Don't know what just happened.
I wrote a report, but then had to log in again, and finally my report was lost.
Anyhow, beat the amazon's 2-0. Maybe I'll rewrite the report some other time.
Next up is the Orkyd Orkestra (you guessed it, orcs: 4 Balck Orcs, 4 Blitzers, 1 Thrower, 2 Lineorcs, 3 RR's and some FF... yes, this is a team to watch out for)
Any advice is welcome and greatly appreciated.

[Netsmurf]

Try to keep your saurus´es /sauri??? mobile. Make hit and run instead of marking players, just stand in front of them. If he marks your sauri (sounds better to me) then try to use skinks as assists if you need any, and don´t follow up any blocks untill you are on top numbers vice. Never ever use your skinks to hit unless they get 2D for them and you don´t mind a skink ending up in a TZ if you fail.

Keeping your sauri mobile is the key as I see it. Good luck

[Gio]

Saturday was a perfect day to play Blood Bowl !!
Orkyd Orkestra Vs. Tongue Twisters

Twisters win the toss and choose to kick. The ball scatters and ends up on the left side of the pitch, close to the LoS, much to the Orkyd's desmay as they had set up to recieve it deep in their half. Kick-off result Perfect Defence. . Now the Sauri shift to the left, ready to go for an onslaught.
The Orkyds are quite nervous, they throw a couple of blocks at the LoS, all resulting in pushes they couldn't follow up to keep on blocking. All the Sauri are free of TZ . The Orkyds send 2 Blitzers to loosely protect the ball and then send the thrower, who fails the first GFI, RR, then fails the second GFI; the ball is pretty much mine.
4 Sauri run to build a wall, screening the ball from the Orkyds, 2 Skinks dash through their defence 8 sqaures away from their EZ to act as recievers (decoys), 2 Sauri get next to the ball after blitzing and Badly hurting a Blitzer , the last 3 Skinks go after the ball and pick it up.
Orkyds send reinforcements to the left, before marking the skinks they decide to throw a 2D blitz against a Saurus with a BO only to roll both down, they choose not to use up a RR , both the Saurus and the BO are fine (Armor 9 is just too tough).
Twisters run the ball out of Orkyds reach, skinks gathered to protect it while the free Sauri mark all the possible threats, then they have a round of 2D blocks sending off a Lineorc to the KO box, BH a BO and pushing a blitzer next to the sideline.
Orkyds are in a tight spot, they are outnumbered and outmuscled by the Twisters. They know they have to forgo the bashing and put some pressure on the ball. They send 2 blitzers the thrower and the remaining LO as close to the skinks as their movement allows and then try to doge the remaining blitzer away from the sideline rolling a 4 and then a 6, ending his movement next to the skinks (good thing it wasn't a blitz, though it wouldn't have had the ball carrier as a target), the BOs throw 1D blocks against the Sauri marking them, and though they all fall down their armor holds.
Twisters choose not to risk it and score an easy TD.
The Lineorc returns from the KO box. Twisters set up to kick again, ball lands deep in the Orkyd's half. Kick-off results in a Riot eating away a turn.
Orkyds quickly realize their chances of scoring by forming a cage are dim, so they choose to go hunting for skinks and waiting for a pass. However, the thrower is still a bit dazzled from the previous drive and fails to pick up even after using sure hands.
The skinks manage to stay away from harm as 2 Sauri manage to pierce the Orkyd defence and pressure the thrower.
Not much more during the few turns left, a block here and ther but of no great impact.

First Half 1-0 for the Twisters !!!

Second half starts with the Twisters recieving. Ball lands in the middle of the reptilian half. Kick-off results in yet another Riot eating away a turn. Skinks rush to protect the ball, no pressure to pick it up yet since the Orkyds had set up a bit too deep in an attempt to counter a quick TD. The Sauri at the LoS manage to down the BOs, the other 3 SAuri push forward to slow down the already slow Orkyd progress. The last skink decides to forget about picking up the ball and go for a foul instead. The ref sees him as he breaks the armor and KO's a downed BO. (really think it was a good trade )
Orkyds (try to) rush forward avoiding the Sauri BO stand up and throw a 1D blitz against a Saurus, he hits the ground but the armor holds.
4 Sauri go face the Orkyd opposition, 1 Saurus blitzes away from a BO and also goes forward targeting the orcs who can actually handle the ball. The Skinks remain in their half waiting for the right time to sprint like maniacs.
Orkyds throw their blitz with the BOs against the saurus that remained in the LoS, Badly hurting him. It looks like it's gonna be 2 Black orcs chasing the skinks while 5 Sauri hold back the rest of the Orkestra.
So yes, that's pretty much what happened for the rest of the half, the skinks waltzed around and away from the Black orcs while the sauri kept the rest of the orcs at bay. I did have a chance of scoring on turn 15 but failed a dodge roll. With only 2 turns left, the Orkyds were not able to equalize.

Final score 1-0 Tongue twisters

I realized during this game, that this team (or maybe it's just me) is better at defending. From now on I'll always choose to kick if I have the chance!!!

[Coach]

Congrats on the win, seems my article on kicking or receiving didn't make much impact on coaches still choosing to receive.

People learn eventually though, good luck in the next game!

[Gio]

Actually, I learned my lesson about kicking being better than recieving... you're absolutely right Coach, it's easier to defend with a full team plus you control the pace of the game when you kick first, making the 2-1 grind much easier.
I keep telling all of my mates what I've learned, but it seems they think I do so in order to decieve them. Nothing I can do about it, I guess it's their loss:
Kicking is better than recieving (a kicking)