Average Joes - The Rats Rise Again - Part 3

Match Day 2 - Average Joes Vs. Deeside Ankle Biters

Match day 2 should have seen the eagerly awaited clash between the rats of Average Joes and the halflings of the Deeside Ankle Biters; a team coached by champion-elect Paddy.  However, the other work committements of the Average Joes coach; Lord Flasheart, meant that the match was postponed several times, before the time available for it to be played in elapsed and 'Joes were forced to accept the default result of failing to show for a match; a defeat.  This was an extremely disappointing outcome for all, including the halflings who had set their little hearts on ratatooee stew for their post match kitchen show.  With the tournament moving on to Month Four 'Joes would have to wait for their own Match Day 3 to arrive against the human side Wrexham ABC.

Match Day 3 - Average Joes Vs. Wrexham ABC

With a 100% better attendance record for match day 3 than they had achieved for match day 2 Average Joes took to the field against the human side Wrexham ABC, coached by Dafydd.  The humans had had a disappointing season so far, but were still in the hunt for a top 8 finish, and hoped to kickstart this drive with a victory over the rats.  To this end they were able to field 13 of their 15 players, including their ogre.  'Joes were blessed with a full strength squad following their victory several months ago over the Norse of Lakhti Longships, and went into the game with a determination to stand up and be counted, all 13 members of them.  The 11,000 ratty fans outnumbered the oppositions supporters, 8,000 of them, for the second match running.

The humans won the toss and elected to kick to the rats, a sound strategy up to the point where the gutter runners began to take control.  Firstly Pepper Brooks found space and time on the left to pick out The Rat in the endzone to make the score 1-0 with an excellent pass.  Then, after the ball had been dropped and scrambled for by rats and humans the same 'runner made sense of the mess and found the only free rat in the opposition half; storm vermin La Fleur.  It was pulled down before it could break for the endzone, but the humans fluffed another opportunity to clear and equalise when in a good position, and it was The Rat who picked up the pieces and found an unusual hero in the form of linerat Duck who ran in for 2-0.

After a lengthy half time break the teams returned to the pitch, and it was Wrexham ABC who started brighter, with some crunching blocks and passes being strung together before they pulled one back to make it 2-1.  This followed a mistake by The Rat, not for first time during the evening, falling flat on its face as the human blitzer ran home.  In the chaos of celebrating it wasn't discovered until afterwards that some of the humans crunching had caused a fatality among the skaven team, with their reserve thrower being killed!

Further injury would be inflicted later as Pepper Brooks suffered broken ribs from a 'fall' into the crowd, and he will miss the next game.  This didn't prevent Average Joes from sealing the win with a second touchdown through The Rat, who despite his falling over antics had been instrumental in the victory scoring twice and setting up the third.  The game ended 3-1, and gave Average Joes 6pts out of a possible 9pts.  Next months game will be against a new foe; the undead of Dave Mc, and a success against them will see 'Joes progress to the higher table in the next round.