It's Back!!!! Season XII kicked off with huge anticipation. Many expect a close tournament after seeing the Bograts fade into the distant horizon, whilst Hashutites were wage capped to an extremely difficult position.
The league format has changed to accommodate two Divisions for the first time in the Quiçama Era: MiddleLands and Quiçama. The reigning champions opened their defence with a tough encounter against a refreshed Delves side, whilst pre-season favourites, Golden Eternals, face off against the mighty Darklands Resurrected.
The week as a whole was low scoring, but the violence pulled in the spectators from the four corners of the Auld World. Indeed, the Season opener between debutantes Mersey Scythe and old campaigners EcuKhemrical Matters produced a game of pure mayhem with 11 (ELEVEN) players failing to regenerate!
1. Golden Eternals of Chaqua
Won 2-1 vs Darklands Resurrected
The Lustrians showed why they are the hot favourites after unwrapping their undead opponents with verve. Dictating space and time were hallmarks of the Chaquan gameplan and they looked wholly impressive in Week 1.
2. Mega Smashers
Won 2-0 vs LT's Metal Heads
The Mega Smashers recorded their first ever win in the QMLS in sensational fashion- and only 1 of 2 teams to win in Week 1! They carved up their opponents with a dominant blocking display that had the Metal Heads floundering. It was a thing of beauty to see the Ogres keep a disciplined formation to trundle to a famous win.
3. EcuKhemrical Matters
Drew 1-1 vs Mersey Scythe
The Ancient Ones of Misr were in the mood to bully debutantes, Mersey Scythe, and deserved more than the draw in this blood thirsty encounter. It took a great slice of misfortune on the last minute of the game to deny a fine win. There were a few scares along the way, however, as the usually reliable Tomb Guardians were shredded by claw wielding wolves.
4. Hashutites
Drew 1-1 vs Underearth Assassins
Fortune favours the brave! The Chorfs 11 game unbeaten streak was under threat with little time on the clock. However, a misplaced kick from the defenders allowed Bultar free reign of the pitch and score a last minute equaliser. Hashutites can only get better as the season progresses, and salvaging a draw will boost morale at Zharr-Naggund.
5. Underearth Assassins
Drew 1-1 vs Hashutites
A valiant effort from the Delves showed their play-off creditials with a well-earnt draw against reigning champions, Hashutites. Scant consolation, though, as victory was within their grasp. The squad looks near tip-top after a frightning opener, which certainly bucks the trend of recent seasons! The team have the foundations to build an excellent campaign.
6. Dwarverhampton Wanderers
Drew 1-1 vs Kouillus
A solid return to the QMLS from Quiçama veterans, Dwarverhampton, with a typical draw! Paulie Dahlberg, the first in the QMLS to score a hattrick in Season IX, looked hungry for TDs and his teammates certainly obliged.
7. Lochaotic Rotten Posse
Drew 0-0 vs The Warpstone-Union It was all square in the first ever Derby Della Mutante between Nurgle and Underworld. The game may have lacked goals, but it more than made that up with lots of death and destruction. The mutant Posse made short work of the Union with a masterclass in defence, but found it hard going in offense.
8. Kouillus
Drew 1-1 vs Dwarverhamton Wanderers
The muscular variant of the Skaven race found difficulty in getting traction again a solid dwarfen wall and it took a magnificent pass - half the length of the entire pitch - to score the tie-opener. Defensively, the lightly armoured ratmen suffered typical attrition and could not cope with the nasty blocking game from the Wanderers.
9. Mersey Scythe
Drew 1-1 vs EcuKhemrical Matters
A baptism of fire for the new, but promising, Necromantics. The Necromancer, former coach of the Bognor Bograts, was inept in healing his troops as regeneration failed again and again. The Sycthe lost 6 player to injury and the thick skulls could not prevent Flesh Golems from suffering KOs. The shining light, however, was the danger the pair of wolves possess. Deadly in defence.
10. The Warpstone-Union
Drew 0-0 vs Lochaotic Rotten Posse
Squad depth and intelligent blitzes from the ball sacking pair kept the Derby Della Mutante a tight affair. It looked like the Underworld were in for a long night after seeing key Claw Pomber, Nurgable Nager, out early in the first half. The hit was so hard that he'll miss the next game. A sacrificial rat meant that the WU are even more lightly-equipped for the rest of the season.
11. Darklands Resurrected
Lost 2-1 vs Golden Eternals of Chaqua
The Undead outfit had their opportunities in this match, but suffered at the worst moments to grant the GEC victory. The match was in jeopardy early on their offensive drive after seeing key a key Wight and Ghoul out of action to expose the ball deep in their half. On defence, another ghoul getting his laces in a mess suffered a self-inflicted wound when it was a near guaranteed sack. A painful game that will need to be forgotten as soon as possible.
12. LT's Metal Heads
Lost 0-2 vs Mega Smashers
The Metal Heads showed once more their disdain for ogres - and probably why they don't field one themselves - after yet another mauling at the hands of giganic brutes. It's consecutive defeats against the big guys and will need to rebuild after just 1 game into the new season. A tough, but recoverable, start for the resilient humans.
Results:
Ecukhemrical Matters 1 (Ptatshut Djahor)
Mersey Scythe 1 (Tim Cahill)
Mango's Valuable Player: Ptatshut Djahor the Blitz-Ra dominated every facet of the game. He rescued a failing drive to score and set up a running lane for a late winner, all the while maiming, injurying tackling and knocking out everyone in his path.
Kouillus 1 (Sneeangle Vif)
Dwarverhampton Wanderers (Paulie Dahlberg)
Mango's Valuable Player: Paulie Dahlberg was instrumental in both sides of the ball, scoring the equaliser as well as setting up passing plays and chipping into the skaven armour.
Mega Smashers 2 (Xob the Screamer, Rikkitikki Shoebrush)
LT's Metal Heads 0
Mango's Valuable Player: Xob the Screamer behaved himself after a stern warning from the referee for killing Zimmer Hole. The ref's blind eye inspired the titchy snotling as he ran in the shock winner after scooping the forced fumble.
Golden Eternals of Chaqua 2 (Tenqtilt, Oatluax du Lac)
Darklands Resurrected 1 (Corpsemuncher)
Mango's Valuable Player: Gorit-tlu had an action packed season opener, crushint through the muscular players of the Undead. His display opened channels for teammates and he even had a late chance to score a winner, but ran out of time.
The Warpstone-Union 0
Lochaotic Rotten Posse 0
Mango's Valuable Player: Whilst his teammates were dropping like flies, Rhicut single-handedly kept the Union in this game, without his sacking ability and his THREE injuries, the Nurgle would have won unopposed.
Underearth Assassins 1 (Roxana Nightfury)
Hashutites 1 (Bultar the Great)
Mango's Valuable Player: Bultar the Great is nigh on impossible to bring down. His break tackling prowess is the stuff of legends, and he brought it home when the team needed him most.
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