Bloodthirsters 0 - 2 Gouged Eye

3rd game in the Cakebowl League, Battenburg league is in the record books and the Gouged Eye record their first win.

Still bearing the scars that followed the lashing they were given following last weeks performance, the Eye ran out into the gloom of the Bloodthirsters permanently darkened stadium with a look of steely determination on their faces.  Worried that the team might take a few injuries this game - and equally worried that another loss might see the Whip permanently injure a couple himself - the management had invested in an Apothecary for the team.  Barred from all normal medical practice, 'Mad Doc' Hacker took up his position in the dugout and prepared his saws.  A couple of the Orc players looked over at him and visibly shuddered.

The Orcs won the toss and chose to kick to the Vampires who quickly recovered the ball and set about dodging with abandon in an attempt to get away from the Orcs.  Confused and desperate to hit something, the Orc front line chased the Thralls all over the pitch and, where they could, punched them to the ground.  With only two Vampires on the field the Bloodthirsters struggled to match the Orc strength and it wasn't long before the Orcs had the ball and an accurate pass from Osgar 'Uh-Oh' Snotchucker saw a Blitzer sprint down the line and into an open back-field.  The Thralls, however, rallied and managed to sack him.  A crunching tackle took the Blitzer down and saw him laying on the ground, writhing in agony and clutching his leg.  The Whip, sensing that the player could have a career threatening injury, gestured to 'Mad Doc' and sent the apothecary onto the pitch.  Seeing the blood stained Orc, with a gleam in his eye, a smile on his face, and a rusty bone-saw in hand, Rurk Rock-Breaker hastily stumbled back to his feet.  "It'z OK!", he bellowed, "I'll be fine, just let me rest me up a while, I can work it off and be back for the 2nd half".  He limped off to the reserve bench with a visibly disgruntled Doc trailing behind.  It wasn't long before once again the Vampires had worked the ball into the Orcs half of the pitch.  A desperate blitz from the Orcs and with time ticking down the ball was on the floor.

Up until this point in the game the Vampires had been extremely well behaved and managed to avoid almost every pang of Blood Lust.  Only the one incident had occurred which, although it badly hurt the Thrall chosen as a snack, had not caused a turnover.  So it was with confidence that the Vampire Coach urged his blood suckers to get into scoring position.  The first ran into the Orc End zone, turned and held his arm high, signalling to his fellow Vampire that he was free of coverage and available to receive the ball.  The second Vampire looked up, saw him and made to move towards the ball but just as he did so he caught a whiff of something in the air.  One of the Thralls who had been knocked down earlier in the Orc drive was lying in a crumpled heap on the pitch, blood streaming from his nose and as he tried to raise himself to his feet he coughed, spraying blood droplets into the air.  The acrid tang of iron tickled the Vampires nostrils and triggered a deep hunger that he had fought to suppress all game.  Unable to control himself any more he turned from the ball, ran back up the field and sated his desire for blood on the poor, unfortunate Thrall who lay there.

Taking advantage of this rather unexpected turn of events, the Orcs grabbed the ball, sprinted up the pitch and another pass from Snotchucker saw a Lineman run off towards the Vampire Endzone.  There was still time for one, last, desperate play by the Vampires and a plucky Thrall threw himself at the Orc.  In the clash both players were knocked to the ground and the ball spilled on the floor.  Not to be denied, Vork Wormhole scooped the ball up and ran over the line, almost stumbling as he did so but catching his feet in time to score the opening touchdown.  The referee blew his whistle to end the half and both teams, utterly exhausted, trooped off for a short break.

They lined up for the second half and this time all three Vampires took to the pitch.  The Black Orcs lined up opposite them, with a few assists, and waited for the whistle to start the game.  The kick was good and the Thirsters fans were in good voice, giving the Vamps the confidence they needed to get through the match.  Slaugh Axe-Cutter wound up a big right hand but the Vampire in front of him somehow dodged the blow and looked like he was about to knock the big Black Orc off his feet in return.  Just in time, Slaugh turned his body to avoid the hit and struck the Vampire to the ground.  Following that initial scare the Orcs went an unstoppable hitting spree and scattered the bodies of Vampires and Thralls all over the pitch.  Bloody Mary II, heir to Bloody Mary who sadly died in the 'thirsters first game, was smashed into the grass with such force that she died almost instantly.  It's not sure if the team will persist with this unlucky naming policy but any player coming in called Mary should probably be very, very afraid.  A Vampire was fouled off the pitch and the Orcs stalled the game out to score right at the end for a 2-0 victory.

Vork Wormhole was the obvious star of the show with a touchdown and a dead Thrall to his name but this was overlooked and MVP went to Rurk Rock-Breaker for bravely coming back from what many thought was a serious injury to play the entire second half.  The Vampires were a little downbeat, this being their 3rd defeat in a row, but the season is still young and there's plenty of time for them to come back.