NationStates Jolt Archive

Solenial 14-10 Ariddia

As Solenial watched they're national team play one of the favourites of the world cup they were presently surprised as a match, at a stalemate commenced.

at 20 Minutes a Penalty from Ariddia put them ahead 3-0 a very well struck and dissapointedly conceded one.

at 23 Minutes though, Matthew Robinson scored his first try of the friendly and put solenial back in the lead, as Harold Williams successfully converted the ball... 7-3

At 60 Minutes Solenial started to shape up and a second try from Matthew Robinson put Solenial ahead 14-3

in the 74th Minute Ariddia bit back with a conseltion try and followed by a successful conversion the final score was at 14-10.

It was a very close game and we managed to come out on top, this is experience against the harder teams, meaning that we may go far in the cup
Matthew Robinson

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.pngSolenial 14-10 Ariddiahttp://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png

"Great job Phillip! Next stop, World Cup finals!" Coach Wisely shouted from the sideline. Phillip Lawson has just successfully sidestepped Brown and Watson, and giving the ball a good banana dropkick. It had bounced off the far post, and glided inbetween.

"Shame we're only doing practice here, otherwise that would be broadcast on every sports station in the world!" Wisely carried on.
"Yeah, well when are we gonna get a bluddy friendly eh?" Robb shouted at his coach.
"Patience young man! I'm still waiting for a reply to my request. It ain't easy this whole coaching lark y'know!"
"Yeah well the sooner we get a match the better. My boys are tearing themselves apart out here!"
"Right I'm on it! Now get those rucks sorted!"

Rouge Rogues put up solid fight in friendly

The Rogues were looking eager and energetic as they went into their first international game, a friendly against Cup hosts Solenial. Ariddians, West Ariddians and North-West Ariddians stood together, clad in black, arms round one another’s shoulders while the PDSRA’s anthem was played. West Ariddians Vivien Chanon and U Ele both sang the Ariddian anthem, whereas the other non-PDSRA players opted not to.

Then came the ulek (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ulek). The fifteen Rogues walked to the centre of the field, and faced Solenial’s Mustangs. The latter stood on a loose line while the Ariddian Islanders faced them in a slightly curved line, seeming to close in on Solenial’s players like pincers. The Rogues leaned forward, balancing themselves almost on the tips of their toes, and began chanting in a powerful voice.

Llseh! Llseh!
Swehashi llosh e lueal o!
Wo’el yeual o!

As they sang, the Ariddians leapt in place powerfully, performing perfectly choreographed moves, swinging their arms.

Al llseh! Al llseh!
Wul ellul sel ei! Wul!

Finally, they half-knelt down–

Silew wa oleh!
Sah wa weheshisi!
Sah wa weheshisi!

–then leapt forward, rushing at their opponents, their expressions fierce and challenging. They broke up just before reaching them, and returned to their side of the field. The crowd cheered and applauded to show its appreciation.

The match itself was relatively low-scoring, but the two sides were evenly enough matched to make the full eighty minutes tense and interesting.

Solenial conceded a penalty in the twentieth minute, giving Ariddian fly-half Anthony Alders an opportunity to score the first points of the match. This he did flawlessly, putting the Rogues in the lead.

Three minutes later, however, that lead evaporated as Matthew Robinson battled his way through the Ariddian defence for an impressive try, converted by Harold Williams.

Close to the end of the first half, Evan Naysmith inadvertently elbowed Ariddia’s Se Uli in the face, leaving him on the ground stunned for well over three minutes, receiving medical care. He finally got to his feet, and the mostly Solen crowd applauded supportingly – and sportingly.

In the fifty-fourth minute, Ue Isi almost scored a try on a good pass from Nkosazana Ntobo, but Petr Gibbs and Andrew Caterson together pushed him outside the field, his feet touching the grass outside before he could bring the ball down.

After seventy minutes, Ariddia was 3-14 down. Théophile Okoronkwo narrowed the gap in the seventy-fourth minute with his side’s first try, and the Rogues took a moment to celebrate as though they had just won the match. A successful conversion kick by Alders made the final score 10-14.

“It was a good match,” Okoronkwo said afterwards. “I think it gave us a good taste of what’s to come. We didn’t arrive today with high expectations; we knew the Solens would be strong opponents, and we came, respecting them, and determined to do our best. If there are a few things we need to work on, we’ll have done that before the Cup starts. And we’re grateful to Solenial for this friendly.”

He added: “Performing the ulek at an international match for the first time was exhilirating. I think we all felt really... fired up. It’s a war song, and it made us all want to get going and battle our way into doing our very best. I don’t know whether the ulek frightens our opponents, but I really do think it’s an asset for us.”

The revelation of the match was, quite possibly, Nkosazana Ntobo (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Nkosazana_Ntobo). The n°8 proved to be highly skilled and very versatile, complementing her team mates in a number of positions, making perfect passes and weaving or pushing her way through opponent ranks – generally proving herself to be a formidable opponent.

Ariddia will play Kelssek in its opening match for the Cup proper. The two countries know each other well, and have gone face to face in other sports, but this will of course be their first rugby encounter. Kelssek would be advised to watch our in particular for Ntobo, but the Rouge Rogues all together have received a boost of energy and enthusiasm from their first game.

“We’re ready,” Okoronkwo said with a laugh. “Bring on the world.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.png Solenial 14-10 Ariddia http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png

Pa’atuans play first international match, discover Solenial

The Pa’atuan team (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Pa%27atua_National_Rugby_Union_Team) have settled in their hotel in Solenial, and have spent most of their time training. However, players have been given a short amount of time off the explore their surroundings, enabling them to wander into town and experience Solen city life. Of the twenty-two players, only one –Jonathan Sailor– speaks English (or indeed any language fluently other than Pa’atuan), but the language barrier did not prevent the “Blue Crabs” from enjoying the experience.

“We weren’t able to buy much in town,” Sailor said, “since back home (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Pa%27atua) most of us have no money. But we pooled our ressources to buy something called a ‘snow globe’ to take home.”

Passers-by were, he says, intrigued by this group of athletic Polynesians walking around, experiencing everything as new and strange, perplexing or amusing. The “Blue Crabs” soon found themselves signing a number of autographs, once Sailor had explained who they were.

The Pa’atuans were looking forward to facing Sorthern Northland in their inaugural friendly. The players all had a quick word with mascot Mike (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Pa%27atua_National_Rugby_Union_Team#Team_mascot) before the game, and watched proudly as a large Pa’atuan flag was carried out onto the field.

“Seeing the flag of our nation was important and quite moving,” Sailor said later. “We recently had to leave our country and relocate due to rising sea levels (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=538868), so the flag, reminding us that we’re still a nation, was heartwarming.”

The Pa’atuans then performed the fierce cihivau, vowing to stand firm and looking as though they were ready to pound the Sorthern Northlanders into the ground.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8408/paatuarugby2ro2.jpg
the cihivau

What they lacked in experience, the Pa’atuans made up for in courage, dedication, determination, and sheer enjoyment of the game. Their tackles were often very rough, but they played by the rules, careful not to cause serious injury.

The Pacific Islanders conceded a total of 22 points and scored no try, but defended well on the whole, and were able to score nine points in return. Fly-half Tama Molesi grabbed an early opportunity for a drop-kick, after a struggle for a try had been repelled by the Sorthern Northland team, giving his side three points. Later, Ieti Vakatau (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ieti_Vakatau) snatched a similar opportunity, giving Pa’atua another three points.

As expected, Vakatau “the Yeti” was the Sorthern Northlanders’ most dangerous opponent, often shrugging off their players, weaving between them, outrunning them or ploughing through them in a tireless attempt to move the ball deeper into their territory. Despite the Yeti’s best efforts and those of his team mates, however, the Pa’atuans finished the game without having succeeded in scoring a try.

Their final three points came on a penalty kick, shot by Tama Molesi.

“Yes, we lost, but we had a great time,” Vakatau said after the game, when reporters pressed in to interview him. He spoke in Pa’atuan, and Sailor translated. “It was exhilirating. We’re in for a very tough challenge, and if we hadn’t realised that yet, Sorthern Northland gave us a reality check today. But I think we can win some matches. We know we have a lot of support back home.”

There is no television in Pa’atua, and no national radio station able to broadcast the match. However, Alfegan military personnel present on Los’vi island –where most Pa’atuans now live– provided the population with temporary access to a room containing a TV set. A large part of the country’s tiny population were crammed into the room, many standing or sitting on the floor, to watch their team’s first foray into the world of international rugby. And Vakatau had a simple message for them:

“Keep watching us, if you can. Your support will help us win.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/paatua.png Pa’atua 9-22 Sorthern Northland http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern_northland.png

As the First game of the new Rugby World Cup commenced as Solenial take on Milchama at the Palithios Stadé.

The Exciting match started with a penalty toook from the Solen Scrum Half and then followed by a try by, yes you guessed it, Matthew Robinson. The First Try scorer of the Eighth Rugby World Cup.

After the Conversion was took, very well, Solenial had entered double figues. Both in score and in minutes.

in the 21st Minute Milchama bounced back with a solid try followed by another in the 34th Minute. By Half Time it was Milchama 14-10 Solenial.

But not for one moment did Solenial look the lesser of Milchama and 2 Tries and 2 Penalties took them half way through the second half. Solenial 30-14 Milchama.

By the 64th Minute Milchama had conceded a penalty and was put away by Williams (who now prefers to be called Harry not Harold)

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.png Solenial 33-14 Milchama http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/milchama.png

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The Government has handed out VIP Tickets to all staff and squad members of the RWC Participants. This is to help everyone enjoy their travel around Solenial. You can access all sorts of Castles, Shops and other interesting things.

Ariddia defeats Kelssek in first World Cup match

The players of the two teams shook hands warmly, in a friendly atmosphere… before the Ariddians put their energy into intimidating their Kelssekian opponents with their fearsome ulek. It was an encounter between nations that are on close, friendly terms, and that share a same bilingual heritage… but it was also a rugby match, and both teams were keen to win.

The Kelssekians opened the scoreline with a dropkick in the ninth minute, going for points at the earliest opportunity. The Ariddians battled back metre by metre for their first try, which they achieved through Jean-François Durail in the nineteenth minute. Anthony Alders converted, and the Rogues were up 7-3.

These were early stages yet, of course, and Kelssek soon retaliated with a try of its own, but failed the conversion, establishing only a narrow 8-7 lead. Shortly before half-time, after several long minutes of scrambling tantalisingly close to the Kelssekian line, Vivien Chanon was able to hurl himself over right between the posts. It was another try, and an easy conversion for Alders. 14-8 at half-time.

A six point difference was obviously small enough to spur the Kelssekian side back into action, and they monopolised the early stages of the second half, battling their way back up with two more tries (one of them converted). Ariddia benefited from a successful penalty (taken by Alders) shortly thereafter, narrowing the gap (17-20). A penalty the other way increased it once more in Kelssek’s favour, and the minutes were tumbling away from the clock.

A superb pass from Nkosazana Ntobo (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Nkosazana_Ntobo) found Melissa Brooks in a perfect position to race the final few metres to the line, outpacing Kelssek’s Thomas Pyatt and slipping past Matthieu Duclos, flinging herself down with the ball for Ariddia’s third try. It was a tricky angle for a conversion shot, but Anthony Alders pulled it off, receiving applause from the crowd. 24-23. With eleven minutes left to go, Kelssek needed on a dropkick or a penalty to regain the advantage. The Ariddian defence closed ranks, pushing back with all their might, as the ball remained on the Ariddian side of the field for most of the final minutes. Kelssek’s Joel Danforth tried for a dropkick, but U Ele rushed him, forcing the Kelssekian fly-half to send the ball wide. Four minutes from the end, it had finally found its way back into the Kelssekian half of the field. Ntobo took a gamble, seizing the first opportunity for a successful dropkick rather than building towards a try. Ariddia had a four point lead, and now needed only to prevent a Kelssekian try in the closing minutes.

They did, and the scoreboard remained narrowly in their favour. The Rogues congratulated one another, grinning. The Kelssekians could console themselves with the knowledge that they had played well, in an evenly-balanced encounter.

“It’s almost the best start we could have imagined,” was Notobo’s view after the match. “The Kelssekians pushed us hard, put a lot of pressure on us, and really put us to the test. That will have helped us prepare for the next matches. At the same time, we now know we can beat a good team, and that’s important for our self-confidence. We’ll know now we’re fighting for something we can actually achieve.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png Ariddia 27-23 Kelssek http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/kelssek.png

Pa’atuans pull off comfortable win

They lacked experience and came from a country with a population of less than 1,000. All they had going for them, it seemed, was boundless enthusiasm – and untested skill.

Apparently, it was enough. The “Blue Crabs” played their first ever World Cup match today, took on Sessenia, and fought their way into a stunning twenty-point lead.

“We don’t do dropkicks,” Pa’atua’s only anglophone player, Jon Sailor, had said before the competition. “We take the ball and run with it.”

Against Sessenia, the Pa’atuans did exactly that, much to the delight of the mostly Solen crowd. There were no Pa’atuan spectators in the stadium: the journey would have been too costly, and the tiny country could not afford to lose more people even temporarily. In a country living from a subsistence economy, there is always work to be done, and the absence of twenty-two able-bodied young men is bad enough already. Nonetheless, some Solen spectators were flying the Pa’atuan flag in the stadium, earning grins and waves of gratitude from the players.

The Polynesian team dominated most of the match, overcoming their opponents in terms of speed, pugnacity and sheer physical presence.

In the eleventh minute, Pa’atua obtained a penalty kick. Instead of trying for three points, Tama Molesi passed the ball across the field to Ito Atuelevau, who ran forward. Faced with strong defence, he passed back to Miitamariki Pareanga, who evaded a lone defender and scored the opening try of the match. Molesi converted it for a 7-0 lead.

In the eighteenth minute, “the Yeti” (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ieti_Vakatau) ran for the line and ploughed on even after a Sessenian defender had grabbed him by the ankle. He barreled straight into two other Sessenian players, bring them down and pressing the ball past the line. It was another try, and the crowd cheered.

Sessenia finally struck back with a try of its own in the thirty-fifth minute, but failed to convert, giving Pa’atua a 14-5 lead by half-time.

Teariki Tisam gave his side another try early in the second half, but this time Tama Molesi narrowly failed to convert. Perhaps sensing that the Blue Crabs were not invulnerable after all, Sessenia intensified their attacks, and achieved a second try, without converting, which evened up the game a little. Minutes later, a penalty for Sessenia made up for the failed conversion, and narrowed the gap further. 19-13 for Pa’atua.

Seeing their opponents beginning the catch up, the Crabs went into overdrive. Miitamariki Pareanga scored his country’s fourth try, and Molesi converted.

The Sessenians appeared to fade as the game wore on, but the Pa’atuans never tired. The formidable Ieti Vakatau made a unstoppable rush for the line after a perfectly-aimed pass from Fereti Fuimaono, and hurled himself down onto the ball for Pa’atua’s fifth try. Molesi’s shot found the mark yet again for a successful conversion – an 80% success rate for the fly-half.

“It’s all thanks to Mike (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Pa%27atua_National_Rugby_Union_Team#Team_mascot), of course,” Jon Sailor said later, with a smile. “The little guy’s an inspiration.”

Asked how his team mates understand the referee’s instructions when they don’t speak English, Sailor explained: “They’ve all learnt a few words specially for the World Cup. They can count to 22, and they know the names of the basic colours in English. So if the referee calls for Blue Five, for example, Teariki knows that’s him. Then I go and translate what the referee says. They understand ‘hands off’ and ‘stay back’ and ‘advantage’, and things like that.”

For now, the team are celebrating their first victory, in their very first World Cup match. Back on Los’vi (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Los%27vi), those who can will have followed the match live, and probably phoned relatives back on the original, now almosted deserted Pa’atuan atoll, where there is no other way to receive news from the outside world. The rugby team’s exploit will undoubtedly remain a favourite topic for conversation for a long time.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/paatua.png Pa’atua 33-13 Sessenia http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sessenia.png

Press Release
From: Ministry Of Propaganda
To: Mallatarsland National Press Association


Mallatarsland suffer setback

In their first ever international, the Mallatarsland Mods were unlucky to be on the losing end of a 13-10 scoreline. Having dominated the first half of the game and gone into a 10-0 lead, the team returned for the second half far too confident and were defeated by some poor handling rather than by the skill of their opponents. A much better performance is expected in the remaining games.

The Albrecht Herald/Sport/Rugby/World Cup Updates
Huge Blues storm to debut victory

Krishna Crow’s unfancied outfit snared the highest points total of the opening day to race to the top of Pool C. In the second match against a Taeshan side in the space of a fortnight – after the soccer youngsters emerged victorious in the Justantina Cup – the team marshalled by captain and Number 8 Franklin Vdevenko looked in fine fettle in their demolition of the side in purple. The Huge Blues emerged to win 47-12, and take the bonus point.

Prop Mike Rufer was ultimately the star man with two tries either side of the break and the Albrecht Zpinh veteran was also responsible for getting the scoring underway for C&M, when he carved the midfield early to set Svadilfari Rendle on his way. He then provided a delicate chip from a Taeshan line-out into the Taeshan twenty-two, which dropped at the feet of Vdevenko. Warren Ubiña’s conversion and subsequent penalty kick game C&M a healthy cushion which Taeshan never looked likely to threaten despite a late fight-back sparked by their impressive flanking duo.

Crow was overflowing with praise for his boys on their first international outing, but admitted that Sorthern Northland, despite their meagre degree of opening day victory against Lovisa, would start as strong group favourites.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Candelaria And Marquez.png Candelaria And Marquez 47
Tries: Rendle 6, Vdevenko 16, Rufer 37 and 51, Hoare 72
Conversions: Ubiña (2), Bardi (2)
Penalties: Ubiña (2), Bardi (1)

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/taeshan.png Taeshan 12
Tries: Unknown 60, Unknown 74
Conversions: Unknown (1)

Alba Scotland,

I didn't know where to put the roster, so could we please roleplay it. I'll spot you some points for going through all that trouble.

STUPIDLY LARGE HEADLINE GRABS ATTENTION AND MAKES READER WANT TO READ ARTICLE.

Well we hope it did anyway and if your reading this then we're guessing it did, so now your probably wondering what this article is about. It's about the Sorthern Northland versus Lovisa in the rugby World Cup.

Following the teams 9-22 victory over Pa'atua in which the team were forced to play naked due to lack of kit, rugby in Sorthern Northland gained a large following among the gay community. Spokesman for the Union of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Workers, Kodwo Salawu said after that game "A large number of our community saw rugby as a game for fat drunken upper-class people with no time for us, however what we saw on that field today was 30 attractive men at the peak of fitness, a large number of gay people have since joined local rugby clubs and ninety-nine percent of them have had a great time and become fans of the game."

The gay community then will have been disappointed to see their national team run out in a red kit donated to them by the rugby association of Solenial. Todays game against Lovisa was the first of the World Cup and the first ever competative game for the Sorthern Northland team, and they will be delighted to have also got their first competitive win.

The win though was only by a narrow three point margin. It was Lovisa who started better with three points from a penalty after nine minutes. In the thirtieth minuted they then doubled their lead with another penalty.

The Sortherners though got back into the game in the second half with a drop-goal from Brennen Griffiths just two minutes after the restart. Although Sorthern Northland continually dominated play they failed to gain any further point for a long period of the game. They seemed to have scored a try in the sixty-fifth minute after a burst of speed from Padorin Guznishcheva following a scrum on Lovisa's five metre line. A Lovisa defender though forced Guznishcheva to lose grip of the ball as he dived to the score and with the referee unable to determine whether Guznishcheva grounded the ball, the decision was handed to the television referee who after a long stoppage decided the scrum half had failed to ground the ball. The Sortherners then had to wait till the seventy-ninth minute before taking the lead. They won the ball from a Lovisa line-out and passed the ball along the entire back line. A clever switch by Paul Long and Donal O'Bearga saw O'Beargra burst into the try-arae and the sub succfressully grounded the ball before a Lovisa player pushed him out off the pitch. This decision was also given to the Television Referee who gave the try. Aedan Bennett successfully converted to put the scoreline to 10-7.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern_northland.png Sorthern Northland 10
Tries: Donal O'Bearga 79
Conversions: Aedan Bennett (1)

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/lovisa.png Lovisa 7
Penalties:Unknown (2)

Alba Scotland,

I didn't know where to put the roster, so could we please roleplay it. I'll spot you some points for going through all that trouble.

No problem, you can start =)

ooc- (correct me if i'm wrong, but i know nothing about rugby ^^...:( Only played it once at school. sorry if I godmod; your turn!)

"And now, Miroxia RC!!!" yelled the announcer of the game. Solenial was watching this entire game. It didn't help that all of Miroxia was watching either. The Solen crowd cheered. In a couple minutes, Miroxia recieved the ball. The full back passed it back, but sadly was intercepted by an opposing player, who ran it for a score. Then the did a drop goal and made it. Miroxia 0- Alba Scotland 8. "@#$%!!!" yelled the coach of the team. There was a scrum, Alba recieved the ball, and a repeat of the last play happened. "Double @#$%!!!" yelled the coach. It was 16-0. Another scrum took place, Miroxia got the ball, but No. 8 was tacked a few feet later. Alba Scotland got it, but it was intercepted by the lock and scored! They missed the kick, though. 16-5.

Kalaa debuts at Rugby World Cup

The National Rugby Team of Kalaa assembled this morning in the nation of Solenial to take on Mallatarsland for the nations first international sporting event. Made up of the countrys best rugby players, the team, dubbed the "Elephants" after the nations national animal, is hoping to turn heads and gain recognition for the once isolated country in the eighth installment of the cup.

The Elephants won their first match up against the very foreign Mallatarsland, which most Kaliyans have never heard of, with a score of score of 13-10. The first halve was a tough one, with both teams going back and forth without a score on the board. Mallatarsland managed to score a try at the hands of Dirk Bondart, who managed to slip passed Nolan Nooryani to bring them up 5-0. Kalaa quickly retaliated as Sanjay Patel managed a try to tie the game 5-5. Before the end of the half however, Mallatarsland scored once again with a try and the halve score was 10-5. At the start of the next halve, the Elephants managed to gain possession, handling and defending the ball well enough to score on a try by Anilo Karthik, tieing the match 10-10. However, shortly after Mallatarsland managed to comeback, however fortunately enough they were unable to make anything of some great opportunities. With ten minutes left, flanker Arjuna Mayapragular kicked the ball to score an easy 3 points, putting them in the lead. After the closing whistle, Kalaa had come from behind to win, 13-10.

Tomorrow, the Elephants will take on Milchama, who lost their first match-up against Solenial 33-14. Although they are playing well and they are in a good position to qualify, the team needs to step-up their game if they hope to beat Milchama and Mallatarsland once more and also if they hope to compete with rugby giant Solenial, which in a friendly earlier this week beat sporting powerhouse Ariddia 14-10.

Solenial vs Mallatarsland

Today Solenial took out to their Second Match of the Competition as they faced Mallatarsland, who had been beat by Kalaa 13-10 the match before.

By the 5th Minute Solenial's Reece Opel opened the score with a penalty which was very successfully hit.

A chance came in the 7th Minute by the mighty Robinson as he stormed through three of the backs but finally got brought down, unfairly. A Scrabble soon followed but robinson stated calm and made sure Solenial won the Penalty, which led to a line-out.

From the Line out Robinson managed to get the ball and perform an up and under, he then dummied the pass and ran straight for the line. At the last minute he turned and passed to his team-mate Jones who placed it on the line for a try which was well converted by Jones again. 8 Minutes 10-0 Solenial.

By the 11th Minute Solenial were passing the ball well and managed to grab 7 Points from another Try. In the 38th Minute Solenial decided to go back on the offensive and Delap managed to get a beautiful try, which was in an arkward position which the scrum-half was unable to convert.

Half Time: Solenial 22-0 Mallatarsland

As the second half kicked off the Mallatarsland started their first attacking form of the day but was broken down byr a rook just several yards from the Solenial line. from this Robinson smashed down the pitch weaving between the players but a fawlty pass left the Opposing Openside Flanker to scoop up the ball and pass it to the Centre who cleared it away.

As the ball dropped to Mallatarsland hands the player turned to find Gumphrey smashing into him. From the harsh tackle Mallatarsland managed to score a penalty. 22-3 Solenial.

From the conceded Penalty Solenial started t play to their world-class potential as a beuatiful run by robinson led to a pass to Opel who returnd the pass and as Robinson span round, he attempted a drop-kick. Unluckily it hit on the outside of the post but as it dropped down, Jones slammed down on the ball, but the conversion missed. 27-3 Solenial

by the 73rd Minute, both teams had scored another try, both successfully converted. 34-19. As the last 8 Minutes roled on, Solenial continued to play excellently and grabbed 5 points to add to the 4 they had recieved the previous match.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.png Solenial 34-10 Mallatarsland http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/mallatarsland.png

Solenial Strip Used: http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc196/Palithii/sol_away.jpg

Rogues fall three points short of a win

Emboldened by a victory in their first match, the Rouge Rogues were all set to take on a fresh opponent: the dark-clad Alba Scotland. The same starting fifteen took to the field and performed a fiery ulek, contributing to the excited atmosphere in the stadium.

Théophile Okoronkwo scored the first try of the match, in the sixteenth minute, boosting the Rogues’ confidence further… although Anthony Alders’ failure to convert provided a reminder not to let their guard down. Nine minutes later, the formidable Nkosazana Ntobo (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Nkosazana_Ntobo) scored a second try, and this time Alders pushed the lead to 12 points. The men and women in red were looking in top shape.

By half-time, the Alba Scots had narrowed the gap significantly, with two penalties successfully capitalised on, and a late try. 12-11. Everything remained to play for.

Two more Alba Scottish penalties, resulting from careless Ariddian fouls in the danger zone, resulted in the blue team taking the lead. Ntobo put down another try, but again Alders failed to convert and give his side the advantage: the Rogues were at seventeen all with the Scots.

An illicit tackle from Richard Taylor on Thomas Dalton resulted in one more penalty kick for the Alba Scots, who regained the advantage. Taylor was sent off, looking profoundly displeased, and with one man down the Rogues’ defence fell before their opponents’ attack. A second Alba Scottish try, and Ariddia was trailing 17-25.

A few minutes later, Alders was down with what appeared to be an injured ankle. Medical staff hurried to help, and the Ariddian fly-half was soon back on his feet.

In the sixty-sixth minute, Se Uli scored Ariddia’s fourth try, guaranteeing the Rogues a bonus point, and spectators applauded. Alders positioned himself for the conversion, but his shot went completely wide. He grimaced, apparently in pain.

The Scots strengthened their defences, hoping to keep the Ariddians from scoring a final try that would switch the game’s outcome round. With three minutes left to go, Alders opted for a dropkick, in the hopes of securing an equaliser and prolonging the match. Again, the ball went ridiculously wide, and this time the fly-half moved away limping, his face taunt and pained. He was called off the field, Ios We sent in to replace him. But the match was no longer salvageable. Despite their four tries, the Ariddians fell by 22 points to the Scots’ 25.

“It’s a match we should have won, and we lost by our own fault,” coach Carl Lahutte said afterwards. “We scored four tries and they scored only two. At this level, we should be able to get at least twenty-six points out of four tries, and with that we’d have won the match. Alba Scotland scored fifteen points on penalties, and that’s outrageous. That means we were sloppy, we didn’t stick to the rules, and sometimes we even forgot the rules of fair play. What I saw today isn’t the kind of rugby I want our lads and lasses to be playing. This has been a costly lesson, and I hope it’s been drummed in: commit fouls, make mistakes and you’re handing victory right over to your opponents. We played well, but we should have played better. If we hadn’t messed up in such an unacceptable way, the scoreline would have been 26 or 28 to 10. We were the better team, and we handed victory to the other side.”

Mr. Lahutte said that he himself had to shoulder part of the blame.
“Tony’s injury cost us the match. He’s a good lad, but I should have pulled him out much earlier than I did. We all hope he’ll be ok. I’ll let you know what the doctors say.”

“Ultimately,” he said, “with the way we played, Alba Scotland deserved to beat us.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png Ariddia 22-25 Alba Scotland http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/alba_scotland.png

OOC: No, Alversia, it's started; sorry.

Tries galore and disastrous kicking for incredible match

A training injury for Tama Molesi had sparked serious concern for the Pa’atuan side prior to their encounter with St Samuel.

“Tama’s our best kicking man,” anglophone Pa’atuan Jon Sailor explained. “I have a nasty feeling we’re going to miss him when it comes to trying to rake in points.”

His words proved prophetic. The encounter with St Samuel yielded mix results, as the “Blue Crabs” dazzled spectators with a spectaculor eight tries… then, amazingly, failed to convert a single one.

Ieti Vakatau (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ieti_Vakatau) was once more the man of the match, scoring five tries and appearing virtually unstoppable once he had the ball. In that sense, the match served at least to prove that the tiny Pa’atuan nation has produced a great rugbyman. But even his efforts –and tries by Pita Solofa and Teariki Tisam– did not prove quite enough to snatch victory from an equally impressive St Samuel side.

The two teams remained evenly matched throughout the game, and the scoreline see-sawed between them, although St Samuel had a 27-15 lead at half-time.

Alongside displays of dazzling skill in carrying the ball into the opposite side, spectators were treated to an abysmal display of poor kicking, as the two teams failed fifteen out of sixteen conversion shots between them. Drop-kicks and penalties were also complete and systematic failures, to the point of absurdity. In the end, it was –ironically– St Samuel’s single successful conversion which won them the match.

“I think we’ve established what our strengths and weaknesses are,” Vakatau said after the game, with teammate Jon Sailor translating for him. “We’ve shown we’re able to get the ball, keep it, carry it forward, break down our opponents’ defences and score a lot of tries. That’s good. Eight tries in one match is something we can be proud of – all of us; it was a team effort, and a team result. And we got the bonus points for both attack and defence, and that’s good too. But obviously there are things we need to work on. We need to work on defence, and we need to get our kicking sorted out. I think that if Tama had been on the field today, there’s no way he’d have missed eight shots, or even four, and we’d have won. But this shows that we have to be able to cope without him. We lost because St Samuel were better than we were, at least at one crucial moment. Now we have to work hard, very hard on our weak spots.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/st_samuel.png St Samuel 42-40 Pa’atua http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/paatua.png

Solenial 65-3 Kalaa

Solenial carried on with their amazing form and playing in their own impressive ground today with the match against Kalaa.

By the Third Minute it was 3-3 with Penalty's going either ways. And by the 11th Minute the Superstrong Opel broke down two Centre's and passed it to Robinson, who had started in his favoured position Fly-Half. He then performed a beuatiful up and under followed by a drop kick sailing through the goal posts. 6-3 Solenial.

Opel started on the offensive then to Delap and back to Gumphrey who cleared it upfield to a Kalaa Back who got took down, fairly, by Jones he then scooped up the ball and tossed it to Robinson who dummied the pass ran and then passed to the other side.

A Beatiful run on by Delap ensured he would take through the 2 centre's, and he did smashing to the ground and getting a try. Which was successfully converted by Robinson. 13-3

Second Half

By the 60th Minute Solenial had got another 4 Penalty's 5 Tries and 5 more conversions lifting the score to 60-3. And Solenial carried on with their tremendous pressure wuth a Gumphrey Try and an unsuccessful conversion meaning the final score was...

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.png Solenial 65-3 Kalaa http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/kalaa.png

Solenial Strip Used: http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc196/Palithii/Sol_home.jpg

Rogues roar into the lead

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5820/ulekrugbygr5.jpg

…Wul ellul sel ei! Wul!
Silew wa oleh!
Sah wa weheshisi!
Sah wa weheshisi!

Well might the Miroxians be impressed as the Ariddian Rogues chanted a thunderous ulek at them. This was a must-win match for Miroxia, who had struggled through its earlier games. And with fly-half Anthony Alders back on his feet among the starting fifteen, the Ariddians were looking in much better form than against Alba Scotland.

Two Ariddian tries within the first twenty minutes (Chanon 13’, O’Donovan 20’) rang alarm bells in the Miroxian side, all the more so when Alders –now perfectly fit– converted both of them. Seemingly abandoning early strategies, Miroxia began to fumble and commit mistakes, which the Ariddian side systematically capitalised on. Four penalties conceded by Miroxia within the rest of the first half were all turned into precious points by the Rogues, via the sure-footed Tony Alders. By half-time, Ariddia was up 24-0, and Miroxia’s prospects were looking bleak.

The indomitable Nkosazana Ntobo provided her team’s third try early in the second half, followed by a crucial pass which enabled Jean-François Durail to score the fourth. Factor in two more penalty kicks, and an Anthony Alders in truly superb form, to get an Ariddia with a 46-0 lead by the sixty-fifth minute.

Gray Smith saved Miroxian honour and prevented what would have been a perfect Ariddian win by finally inscribing a try, which, however, John Bee failed to convert.

Not content to finish the match with fewer than fifty points, the Rogues threw in a last ditch effort, forcing their way through the exhausted Miroxian defences for a final try by Jean-François Durail. Alders converted it, a grin on his face. He had shot eleven kicks in the match, and scored a phenomenal eleven times – a 100% success rate, and a far cry from his injury-hampered performance against Alba Scotland.

“The team can be proud of what they’ve done today,” coach Carl Lahutte praised. “This is what we all wanted to see. Rugby has never attracted that much public attention back home in Ariddia, but if people were watching today… who knows, maybe the Rogues will become almost as popular as the Rouge-et-Noirs! Or more!”

Having completed the first half of the group stages, Ariddia will now face Kelssek again for its next match.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png Ariddia 53-5 Miroxia http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/miroxia.png

Pa’atua narrowly outdoes Starblaydia

It was the encounter of two leading teams in Pool D. The Starblaydi side had yet to lose a match, and defeating Pa’atua would give them a significant advantage, cementing their lead in this group. The “Blue Crabs” were, of course, determined to spoil Starblaydia’s hopes and expectations.

The good news for the Crabs was that Tama Molesi had been declared fit to play, following an earlier training injury.

The difference his presence made became apparent early on. Starblaydia scored the first two tries, both converted, but Pa’atua struck back just as swiftly –through Miitamariki Pareanga and Kitiona Molesi– and Tama Molesi converted both tries. A successful penalty kick, also scored by Tama Molesi, gave the Crabs a 15-12 lead.

The game was, for the most part, remarkably well-balanced, with both teams struggling to establish a clear advantage, while successfully holding their opponents back. In the end, the tireless Pa’atuans scored five tries to Starblaydia’s four, but also committed a greater number of fouls, undermining their own lead. Molesi was instrumental in what was, ultimately, a Pa’atuan victory, converting all of his team’s tries – just as a brilliant Magnus Khanasan converted all of Starblaydia’s.

The game remained exciting until the very end, when Ieti “the Yeti” Vakatau (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ieti_Vakatau) made a last-ditch race for the line, and Starblaydi players piled atop him, forcefully holding him back about eighty centimetres from the Starblaydi try line. Maximillian Raffiki eventually took the ball, and cleared it, but it went straight to Pa’atua’s Jonathan Sailor, who moved it forward once more, aiming for a drop kick. Sinnikar jumped up to physically divert the ball in the air by colliding with it, and O’Brady cleared it off the field. The referee blew his whistle. The Pa’atuans embraced one another with hearty claps on the back.

The tiny Polynesian country has attracted a fair amount of support from part of the Solen public, keen to cheer for a succesful underdog.

“There’s not even a thousand people in their country, and the whole country recently had to relocate,” one Solen supporter said. “And then they come out with some great rugby! You can be sure it won’t get boring when they play. They concede quite a lot, but they always score a lot too. You feel they’re struggling for points and wham – they end up winning. Unless they play against Solenial, I’m supporting Pa’atua.”

Jon Sailor is cautioning his team mates against early euphoria.
“We’re doing well, but it’s a long way still to the next round. Every match is crucial, and we mustn’t be over-confident.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/starblaydia.png Starblaydia 43-47 Pa’atua http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/paatua.png

The Albrecht Herald/Sport/Rugby/World Cup Updates
Crow’s Blues fly to second thumping win

If the final scoreline flattered the Huge Blues, it none the less gave them a second victory. The strengths and weaknesses of Krishna Crow’s inexperienced squad were clearly shown from the off, as C&M’s pack disintegrated in the face of Lovisan pressure. Ultimately it was the greater penetration from the scrum that helped them over the line, alongside the utter failure of the Lovisan kickers to put anything between the sticks. Amid dark mutterings about the inflation of the balls provided; Lovisan could convert not one of their six tries.

Warren Ubiña on the other hand was in fine fettle; hitting a penalty a minute in after Darian O’Reilly had received an arm in the face by an opposing centre. The early lead would not last; C&M’s handling breaking down in the crucial area, allowing a Lovisan flanker to run all of sixty yards to score. O’Reilly would soon make amends however, the youngster powering of the line on eleven with a Lovisan back on each leg. A rolling maul then saw Vinny Mabbs escape from a pile of bodies to score with ease.

Ubiña’s successful conversions to both C&M tries and two more penalties gave the Huge Blues a comfortable half-time lead, and another Lovisan try shortly after the re-start was accounted for moments later when Mabbs scored the try of the game, both he and Harcourt Philpot timing their respectful runs and offloads to perfection.

But if the Lovisan back-line was more fragile than C&M’s; their attack was no less potent and by sixty minutes their comeback seemed well and truly on. Thankfully, young hooker Howard Hoare took it upon himself to settle things in C&M’s favour, showing impressive strength and balance to hold off several tackles and touch down. As the game faded away, O’Reilly made it safe – and gave C&M the highest points total of the day for the second time in a row – finishing off some excellent work by Hoare. Ubiña converted once more to take his team to the half-century.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Candelaria And Marquez.png Candelaria And Marquez 50
Tries: O’Reilly 11 and 71, Mabbs 30 and 44, Hoare 66
Conversions: Ubiña (4), Bardi (1)
Penalties: Ubiña (4), Bardi (1)

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/lovisa.png Lovisa 33
Tries: Unknown 4, Unknown 42, Unknown 50 and 70, Unknown 55, Unknown 61
Conversions: None
Penalties: Unknown (1)


The Albrecht Herald/Sport/Rugby/World Cup Updates
Bennett the difference as Huge Blues fall to first loss

Krishna Crow’s C&M team sit comfortably second in the group after the first half of the group stage after a game in which they were frequently out-played and out-muscled by a promising Sorthern Northland outfit.

The young Sorthern side were very nearly left to rue their failure to turn their overwhelming possession into points, with C&M in the game until the very end. More than a couple of woefully missed penalties didn’t help their cause either, though Aedan Bennett would ultimately emerge their top points scorer.

Crow’s C&M are hardly made for a stifling game, as shown in the previous round against Lovisa, but could be pleased with their first-half effort. They even managed to get a try of their own; Ian Bovman mopping up some sloppy play by Brennen Griffiths to sweep through the middle and feed Mike Rufer. Ubiña put the conversion away to level the score 13-13.

The second period however belonged to the Sorthern Northland team who, at the end of the day, were fitter, stronger and better drilled. C&M’s failure to capitalise on the sin-binning of Padorin Guznishcheva for a head-high challenge on Darian O’Reilly became the defining moment, Sorthern Northland going on to dominate, with Bennett always at the centre of the action. He score the team’s second try himself Adrian Akhatova grabbed a loose ball and sent the nippy fly-half through. The side in red had finished their try scoring by seventy minutes, and though sterling work by sub Adi Kinsella – whose father Mick was born in Rothsbere – gave C&M two more tries and some respectability; it was a fully deserved win for the Sortherners.

Crow admitted as much after the match, while confirming that Kinsella, flanker Alessandro Ria, and outside centre Enilson Beattie would all come into the starting line-up against Taeshan.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Candelaria And Marquez.png Candelaria And Marquez 33
Tries: Rufer 32, O’Reilly 73, Kinsella 78
Conversions: Ubiña (2), Bardi (1)
Penalties: Ubiña (4)

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern northland.png Sorthern Northland 40
Tries: Marika 11 and 70, Bennett 47, Chong 64
Conversions: Bennett (3), O’Donovan (1)
Penalties: Bennett (4)

Milchama 15-17 Mallatarsland


News just in.

On the day our beloved Government banned all sports from being played, the Mallatarsland Mods finally won a game in the Rugby World Cup. In an unprecedented move, President for life Mallatar has amended the new laws to allow Rugby to continue, after our magnificent win over the Tournament Favourites (source: Ministry of Propaganda). Now that our team have finally found their feet, many good things are expected and further progression in the tournament is inevitable.

Sortherners get four point win over team full of players called we suck.

The Sortherners breathed a huge sigh of relief last night after coming off the field as 40-36 winners against Taeshan. The Taeshan nation will have been cursing the kicking skills of fly-half We Suck after just two of six possible conversions were taken successfully by the team.

Both teams, got two tries in an evenly matched first half, left winger We Suck scoring twice for Taeshan and Padraig O’DONOVAN got both tries for the Sortherners with Aeden Bennett converting both of them. Both team attacks came out strong in the second half with both of them scoring a try within five minutes of the restart. We Suck scoring again for Taeshan, but Fly-Half We Suck missed the first of four conversions while O'Donovan again scored for SN with Bennett converting. Taeshan then raced into the leaded with another three tries all of which went unconverted.

The Sortherners however crawled they're way back into the game with another try from O'Donovon which he converted. Taehan then seemed to lose all their discipline giving away four penalties in the last ten minutes all of which were successfully scored by substitute fly-half Robie O'Cathain.

Bennett sends C&M to first defeat.

Sorthern Northland sent Candelaria And Marquez to a first defeat thanks to an excellent performance from Aeden Bennett. The young man of Irish descent rose as a leader just as the team was crying out for one.

An even first half saw the score at 13 all at half-time thanks to Mike Rufer for C&M and Paulaui Marika who burst out from the scrum to score for SN. Both tries were converted. Two penalties from each side gave the two teams 13 points each.

However even the first half was the second was dominated by Sorthern Northland despite the sin-binning of Padorin Guznishcheva for a tackle which the ref unfairly decided was too high. Seven minutes after the restart Bennett put SN into the lead following a clever ball from Adrian Akhatova. Chong Gil-Hyung and Paulaui Marika then both got scrappy tries in between four Bennett penaltie to take the Sortherners score to 40. Darian O’Reilly and Adi Kinsella gave C&M hope with tries in the final ten minutes but their spirited fightback was ultimately fruitless.

The game was a special one for Adi Kensella who qualifies for Sorthen Northland through his father Mick who was born in Rothsbere and spent a small part of his childhood there. he turned down the chance to play for SN to represent C&M in this World Cup and drew high praise from the Sorthern Northland coach who said "Adi played well today and I think he showed exactly why I wanted him to represent us, obviously I'm disappointed he didn't but I respect his decision, i would do the same thing if I was him and wish him all the best for the future."

Solenial 27-13 Milchama

It was today that Solenial secured there place in the Quater-Final after a tanse game against the brilliant Milchama.

By th 11th Minute Solenial had conceded a try, converted, and a penalty but by the 22nd Minute Solenial had bit back 2 Tries, both converted and two penaltys. The score remained the same until half time... 20-10.

By the second half a penalty from Milchama and a Brilliant Try and Conversion from Robinson made sure that Solenial won the game.

Solenial 27-13 Milchama

The Albrecht Herald/Sport/Rugby/World Cup Updates
We don’t suck

But Taeshan, it would appear, do. If C&M’s first meeting with the purple-clad Pacific Island nation ended in a comfortable win; the second was a massacre of almost laughable proportions. The crushing victory, coupled with Sorthern Northland’s comfortable beating of Lovisa, sends the clearly best two teams in the group sailing into the knock-out stages; with the two sides meeting at the end of the week in a game expected to decide the right to avoid the hosts and warm competition favourites Solenial.

If it was training ground stuff at times for the Huge Blues; the annihilation of Taeshan at least provided a boost to C&M’s back row, who have been unwilling to get forward as much as they should thus far in the competition. The unique, topsy-turvy style of play traditionally used in Candelarias Code Rugby had threatened to damage the country’s chances at the World Cup. Particularly pleasing was Freddie Bardi, who had thus far in Solenial shown his kicking abilities from odder angles but none of the strength and pace that has seen him become the Capital City Panthers’ player of the season three terms running and helped them lift the league and play-off titles last year.

Bardi well and truly got off the mark this morning however; helping himself to a hat-trick. His hard-hitting Panthers team-mate Ian Bovman provided him with a lovely one-handed pass, taking out three defenders with ease and allowing Bardi to run on for an opening try that was almost a carbon copy of that which won the Panther’s the play-off title against the King Sharks. Bardi’s relationship with his club and international team-mate locks would provide C&M with more than a few chances; though it was the skill on the offload of Andrew Arlott that allowed Bardi to complete his trio of tries, after Arlott had helped himself to a rare try after captain Franklin Vdevenko had won a Taeshan line-out. Young hooker Howard Hoare barged his way through and passed to Arlott who had clear air in which to score.

C&M were four tries to the good at half-time, thanks to a gorgeous move started against by Arlott. This time he sent a remarkable inside pass out of a tackle to send his central partner Enilson Beattie free to chip for the dangerous Vinny Mabbs to drag the ball past the Taeshan defence. And if there was any doubt about the direction of the final points; Mabbs got another shortly after half-time, picking up the ball from the ruck after young Dougie Lassissi, one of the game’s few disappointments for C&M, was easily hacked down by one of the endless supply of W. Sucks.

The single blemish occurred shortly after when Svadilfari Rendle was deemed to have crushed a Suck unfairly. C&M’s own kicking was no less impressive than their try scoring; Warren Ubiña looking simply unstoppable and his co-workers and replacements no less notable.

Coach Krishna Crow was keen to play down expectations following the victory, pointing out the many and varied limitations of the Taeshan side; and was similarly eager to encourage players and press alike not to focus on the key forthcoming clash with the Sortherns, with a re-match against Lovisa still to come. The Lovisans were easily dealt with by SN in the group’s other game this morning, but out-scored the Huge Blues on the try front at the last meeting; only their dire conversion rate letting them down.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Candelaria And Marquez.png Candelaria And Marquez 57
Tries: Bardi 7 and 30 and 65, Mabbs 34 and 48, Arlott 20
Conversions: Ubiña (5), Philpot (1)
Penalties: Ubiña (3), Beattie (1), Rimand (1)

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/taeshan.png Taeshan 3
Tries: None
Conversions: None
Penalties: W. Suck (1)

Ariddia demolishes Kelssek for place in next round

The excitement was almost tangible in pubs and community centres throughout Ariddia as the Rogues took on Kelssek, and delivered a spectacular thrashing. The Ariddian defence performed flawlessly, denying the Kelssek side any points, and enabling their team-mates to focus on aggressive attack. The Rogues scored an impressive five tries, boosted by a perfect conversion rate, and increased the overall score by snatching up opportunities for dropkicks. The few Ariddian Islander spectators who had made it to the stadium in Solenial were wild with enthusiasm.

To crown a perfect encounter, the victory was enough to propell the Rogues on to the next round, even with two pool matches still to go. Players will now have all the time they need to test new strategies in two games that they can actually afford to lose.

Not that anyone, tonight, is expecting them to lose. The Ariddians seem to have left their mark on world rugby.

“I’m happy, because coming here we didn’t know quite how well we were going to hold up to world competition,” Nkosazana Ntobo (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Nkosazana_Ntobo) said. “I think we’ve already done better than what many people would have expected, and now we can feel confident to prepare ourselves for the next stage.”

As the Rogues’ team contains players from West and North-West Ariddia, people were watching the match throughout the isles.

“I’m glad they’re doing well,” supporters said in a pub in Aqeyr, West Ariddia. “It’s good to have a mixed team, for better relations and reconciliation and all that. We’re all Ariddian Islanders. I’m not talking politics, y’know. I just mean, they’re Ariddian, and we have a shared history, a lot in common. It’s good to recognise that.”

In the other Pool A match, Miroxia almost kept its World Cup hopes alive, but was narrowly defeated (30-33) by Alba Scotland, who are now also through to the next stage.

Ariddian coach Carl Lahutte has said that he will be changing the starting fifteen for the final two pool stage matches, which will be of little consequence in terms of result. “I want as many players as possible to gain World Cup experience by playing from the beginning of a match,” Lahutte said.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png Ariddia 56-0 Kelssek http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/kelssek.png

Proud Polynesians pack powerful punch

Pa’atua are well on their way towards qualifying for the next round after a majestic display of rugby, routing a valiant but seeming outclassed Sessessia. The Pa’atuan team, who had expressed a predilection for playing for tries, scored seven of those, but also scored forty-one points on foot play, with conversions, penalties and dropkicks.

“We’re. . . Well, I don’t think we were expecting to do this well, to be honest,” Jon Sailor said afterwards. “It’s still sinking in. We’re having a great time, and we’re proud to be representing Pa’atua.”

And has the Rugby World Cup craze reached Pa’atua yet? There are fewer than a hundred people still living in Pa’atua itself, an atoll which will become uninhabitable within three decades. There is some vague awareness that a Pa’atuan team is participating in some event to do with sport overseas, but little knowledge of how well they’re doing. One old lady, reached by telephone, said it was “very nice” that they seemed to be doing well, then asked: “But what is rugby?”

On Los’vi island, where most Pa’atuans now live, the matches are followed on a television supplied by the Alfegans – the first time Pa’atuans have had a television. There is a definite sense of excitement and pride, but no all-consuming craze. After a match, people return to work, and sometimes discuss the team’s performance.

“They’ll have a lot to say when they come back,” one middle-aged man said. “A lot of stories to tell. After they win the rugby. We are doing all their work for them now here at home, but they are doing a lot over there, wherever they are, with this rugby. It’s very good, I think.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/paatua.png Pa’atua 76-10 Sessenia http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sessenia.png

In a short pre-training interview with Captain Scott Robb, he stated that his team and nation were ecstatic to make it through to the quarter finals.
'A lot of people seemed to think we wouldn't make it, which is a shame. I personally have little doubt that we will struggle to make it to the finals.'

He also mentioned the host country of the RUWC.
'The people here are fantastic' he said, 'everyone is so polite, and they have congratulated us on making it through. A young group of lads even approached us asking for a game. We had to decline of course, they looked a bit too good for us!' He joked.

When asked who would be making it to the final with them, he wasn't sure.
'Hmm... I think both Solenial and Arridia have been playing exceptionally well, so I think it may be one of them. I wish all the teams good luck though. It's not the winning that counts, it's the extra bonus on your paycheck for qualifying!'

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r56/kelchek/media/burnabypost.png

Soul-searching in store after RWC collapse
JUST PAST THE POST by Jeremy Gauthier, feature columnist

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r56/kelchek/babcock-2.jpg
Manager Gordon Canvey's expression says it all at a press conference yesterday


It was a result that pretty much summed up the disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign; a 56-0 hammering from the Ariddians, halfway through which it seemed Kelssek had just given up trying, and a result which eliminated Kelssek from further contention.

If you can appreciate how bad a pun that just was you can appreciate the horrible feeling in the guts as the powers that be in Kelssekian rugby contemplate the team's terrible collapse at the World Cup - not just in that match but in general.

So far an anemic draw with a team of unknowns from Miroxia is the high point of the campaign, aside from 12 (unfortunately fruitless) minutes of pressure in the first match against Ariddia, unless you want to use that to comment on the seeming futility of it all.

There's an old joke that makes the rounds at every World Cup and most fans would have heard of it by now. A team (which one exactly can vary), turning up for training, discover a mysterious white substance on the pitch and the anti-terrorism squad is called in. Chemical experts determine that the substance is something called "the opposite try line" and reassure the public that the team is unlikely to encounter it again.

And unless we want Kelssek to be the team permanently the subject of that joke some serious introspection will need to take place at Rugby Kelssek to find out just what went so horribly wrong.

Solenial 43-35 Mallatarsland

Another Victory for Solenial today meant they were on fire as they are the only team in Pool A who know whether they have a place in the Quater Final.

A Hat-Trick of tries from Robinson and 3 Penalties accompanied by 2 Conversions for Delap meant that Solenial had earned 43 points.

Mallatarsland had the first laugh though as they went up 10-0 before half time. As Solenial went on the counter they went and got a brilliant 17-10 lead.

But by the 70th Minute the match had reached 35-35 to Solenial. and a brilliant last try from Solenial with the successful conversion left the final score 43-35 to the deserving hosts.

I Think the Progress of the Solenial team is magnificent, they have shown capability to win this world cup and this being their world cup that would be all the better! we have one match left in the group stages and i will play some of my replacements, after all were all ready through and we don't want any of our best players getting injured.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.png Solenial 43-35 Mallatarsland http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/mallatarsland.png

"Hey look"

"What? that the Warriors suck"

"No the Scrummers, the Milchamian are in international competition"

"What? When did this start?"

"Apparently over a month ago"

"Where were we?"

"I'm going with dead"

"That sucks"

"Yeh I know but at least reencarnation exists"

"Very true, anywhoo how are they doing?"

"Actually pretty well, we're in second place with I think 3 wins and 2 losses though I don't know the standings specifically"

"That's not too bad actually"

"Yeh I know especially for a team without a roster and all amateur."

"Do we even have professional rugby in Milchama?"

"Nope thus the all amateur label."

"Got ya."

"Come on ya scrummers!"

OOC: Is there a roster thread somewhere and if there is could somebody please link me to it? Thanks a million.

From an unsecure line

So, how do we qualify? We are last

Easy, we just need to defeat Milchama.

Are they any good?

Well, we beat them last time.

We did? Hell, are they THAT bad?

Seem to be. Lets face it, they are the only team we have ever beaten.

Blimey, we do have a chance then?

Well, last time may have been a fluke.

I have a plan just in case, we tell the squad that they will be executed if they fail to qualify.

Will that work?

Probably not, but at least we will have some fun from this.

OK..............................

The Albrecht Herald/Sport/Rugby/World Cup Updates
Hard-fought win sets up final game challenge

Krishna Crow’s Huge Blues came out on top after a strong but ultimately fruitless challenge by the Lovisans to keep the challenge for first place in the group alive.

If C&M weren’t on the same offensive form as they showed against Lovisa last time around; the lock pairing of Svadilfari Rendle and Ian Bovman assured that the Lovisans would have no chance of matching their previous six-try performance. C&M were in control and unhurried from the off, preferring to conserve their energies and wait to utilize the Lovisan’s naivety against them. The Candelariasian presence in the crowd even had time to get a wee bit antsy over their team’s failure to rove forwards unconditionately, but they soon had great reason to cheer. Warren Ubiña, always in the action these days and proving himself much more than just a kicker, drew the Lovisan defence and provided a perfect pass to Vinny Mabbs; who found a searing finish to sweep past a series of lunges and turn the ball over with ease.

The Lovisans provided a shock not long after when they finally got their passing in gear. The combination of their centres made a mug of inexperienced flanker Darian O’Reilly and forced their way through Mike Rufer and Howie Hoare to score. The conversion brought things dramatically level.

By the time the end of the first period had been sounded however; C&M looked done and dusted. First, Freddie Bardi arrived from the far right to take a pass from Andrew Arlott. He had seemed in no-mans-land, but stormed past a couple of props to pass inside to Rendle in the clear. Moments after the backs combined again with some sweet passing that allowed Mabbs to kick one over two defenders and into the path of Zachary Mickey.

Early second-half penalties by Lovisa made things look less secure; but Rendle jumped highest at a C&M line-out and provided the killer pass to O’Reilly. The Arrigo Eagles star was quickly jumped on, but Bardi was on hand to finish it.

And so to Sorthern Northland; and after a tournament spent chopping and changing the starting XV, Crow had returned to a side showing only one change from that which took on Taeshan in the opener. Prop Mike Rufer is allowed to rest after the nasty head injury picked up late on against Lovisa; with hard-working Albrecht Zpinh man Adrian Kinsella coming in. The native of Irish Street, central Albrecht, who is of one-half Sorthern descent; told TV1’s Keenan Bailey of his delight as being selected to start against his second home. “It’s just a fantastic feeling, y’know? Plus, knowing I’m definitely starting means I’ve got a couple’a days t’try and convince m’Granda over in Rothsbere to actually watch the game. He insists he was too nervous last time, particularly with it not looking like I’d actually get on the pitch, but I reckon he was just worried about his mates down the boozer giving him clog.”

Kinsella won’t be the only one with foreign support. Young Douglas Lassissi is also returned to the starting line-up; the African-born fullback counting on a few cheers coming his way from his several dozen cousins in Ariddia.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Candelaria And Marquez.png Candelaria And Marquez 37
Tries: Mabbs 12, Rendle 30, Mickey 33, Bardi 65
Conversions: Ubiña (4)
Penalties: Philpot (2), Ubiña (1)

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Lovisa.png Lovisa 20
Tries: Unknown 20, Unknown 70
Conversions: Unknown (2)
Penalties: The Great Unknown (2)

Solenial finished the group stages against a rather optimistic Kalaa side who had recieved news before the game that even if Kalaa lose, if they get the 2 Bonus Points they go into a Play-in Triple Threat kinda situation.

Solenial's completely changed squad, made up of nearly all reserves were eager to show they were worthy of playing in the Quater Final.

By 12 Minutes Opel, the only unchanged player, had opened the scoring with an amazing drop kick from 3/4 of the way down the pitch.

But with an all reserve back line it wasn't long until Kalaa got a try, and another. both successfully converted. 14-3 Kalaa.

As the reserves had now woke up they fought on scoring a penalty and a try and as conversion, 14-13, by 30 Minutes The Mustangs had another penalty, where Opel put it away for a 16-14 Lead.

After the break, Solenial had suddenly had a birst of life and a Gumphries Try made it 23-14, with an Opel Conversion of course.

After a try from both sides, both converted, and 2 Penaltys from Kalaa made the score 30-27 by 60 Minutes.

The Kalaa Team were very happy with the score but with another Gumphries Try and a great Conversion from an arkward position for Opel meant Kalaa were 10 Points behind and needed to be a minimum of 7.

As Kalaa piled on the pressure to the Youngsters they started to commit Dangerous Tackles and coming into the rook from the side. By the 75th Minute, Solenial had conceded 2 Penaltys, both were scored finishing the match.

Solenial 37-33 Kalaa

Ariddia top Pool B

Most of the reserve players were fielded today in Ariddia’s final pool match, against a Miroxian side who seem to have pulled themselves together with belated efficiency. The pressure was on the Rouge Rogues’ backup players throughout most of the match, the outcome of which was ultimately decided on the number of successful penalty kicks.

The match counted for little, since Ariddia was already qualified, but Robbie McAdam, who scored one of Ariddia’s four tries, says it was anything but useless.

“It was extra practice, it kept up our momentum, and it gave us all an opportunity to take part, work out our strengths and weaknesses, improve ourselves. We’re more ready than ever for the next stage now.”

And the next stage is a quarter-final match against Pa’atua, a minuscule Polynesian nation which have exhibited some stunningly good rubgy. They were playing for the top spot in their group tonight, and fell just one point short, drawing against Starblaydia. The outcome of the match determined which of the two countries would face Ariddia.

“We have a lot of respect for Pa’atua, and this is going to be a big challenge,” Ariddian coach Carl Lahutte said. “We’ve already proved ourselves by getting into the top eight. To get into the top four would be fantastic.”

The encounter is set to be a clash in a number of ways. Both teams have excellent fly-halfs, with amost perfect success rates in conversion and penalty kicks: Ariddia’s Anthony Alders and Pa’atua’s Tama Molesi. But whereas Alders is just one of Ariddia’s good kickers, Pa’atua relies heavily on Molesi; any injury to the Polynesian fly-half is potentially crippling to the team.

The match will also be an encounter between each side’s best and most versatile player: Ariddia’s Nkosazana Ntobo (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Nkosazana_Ntobo) and Pa’atua’s formidable Ieti Vakatau (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ieti_Vakatau). The latter is Pa’atua’s main try-scorer, and is often refered to as “the Yeti”, “the Bulldozer” or the “Ploughman”, for his ability to plough his way straight through defensive lines.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1497/ntobosmzy6.jpghttp://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6788/vakatausmsu1.jpg
Ntobo and Vakatau, two of the world’s best rugby players, will be going head to head.

But most of all, perhaps, spectators will be waiting to see the face-off between the ulek and the cihivau.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5820/ulekrugbygr5.jpg http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8408/paatuarugby2ro2.jpg
The ulek and the cihivau

One Ariddian supporter had this to say: “I think the big question on everyone’s mind now is: Will they do the ulek and the cihivau one after the other, or at the same time? I’d really like to be in the stadium when that happens!”

The clash of the war chants, in a battle for the semi-finals.

Spectators should be in for one heck of a show.

The Albrecht Herald/Sport/Rugby/World Cup Updates
Adi’s kin codemn Huge Blues to huge host challenge

It was always going to be a cagey affair, with so much at stake. Yes, both Candelaria And Marquez and Sorthern Northland had long since confirmed their debut presence in the Rugby World Cup’s knock-out stages. But a win yesterday led to a path with the unknown, unfancied team of Kalaa blocking the way to the semi-finals. Defeat would see the loosing side face up against the undefeated competition hosts; Solenial. There was everything to play for, and neither C&M nor SN were prepared to surrender early ground. It was horribly fitting then, that the man on the pitch with the most to prove would ultimately cost his side victory.

Sorthern Northland had opened with the greater ambition; Chong Gil-Hyung, Paulaui Marika and the incongruously capitalised Padraig O’DONOVAN running the show. Other players on the pitch were quicker, but the trio offered a veritable torrent of lightning-quick offloads to which the Huge Blues could find little early answer. It took a series of desperate tackles from Ian Bovman and Svadilfari Rendle to keep Krishna Crow’s men in the game, but by the time C&M defence had got their act together; the Sortherners seemed in danger of fizzling out. An angry stamp by Chong heralded the sin-bin and the temporary cessation of hostilities as both sides struggled to make in-roads.

C&M for their part looked in danger of gaining the upper hand as the game continued scoreless. They were presented with two penalty chances in quick succession, but for once Warren Ubiña’s left foot was letting him down.

Come the second half; it was clear that a piece of individual skill was required to break the deadlock, and Frederick Bardi almost provided it with a havoc-inducing run down the right wing. Padorin Guznishcheva eventually brought him down, but the ball came back to Ramiro Jérez who saw acres of space on the left and threw to Kevin Norman. The Bove Bats prop had plenty of time and space to provide Douglas Lassissi, but he somehow managed to utterly miss the onrushing young fullback.

Sorthern Northland breathed a collective sigh of relief and took the opportunity to drive forward again. Finally they ended the stalemate when Aeden Bennett delivered a perfect high diagonal to Chweh Soon-Teck lurking out right. He was left with almost more space than he knew what do to with, but stormed past Rendle and Howard Hoare to put it in the corner

It was hardly harsh on C&M, but the daunting seven to nothing scoreline helped only to put some fire back into the Candelariasian bellies. Certainly there was going to be no denying the superb Bardi, who took the ball from Arlott and ignored other opportunities presented to out-pace Chong and Connor Doyle and scramble the try home in the corner.

Ubiña converted and it was back to being as tight as a tight thing, and it would fall to C&M’s Adi Kinsella to blink first. Many miles away; old Granda Jimmy Kinsella in Rothsbere and a couple of million Candelariasians in the islands could only watch with horror as the Northandish-Candelariasian made a truly woeful challenge on SN sub Dougal Weisser. Aeden Bennett was on hand once more to ease over the Sortherners' first penalty of the game, and, as it would transpire, the winning points. In the dying moments, C&M subs Alessandro Ria and Zachary Mickey very nearly combined to give the Huge Blues and winning try, but SN’s defensive game paid off.

And so C&M were left knowing a clash with the undefeated host nation awaits in the quarter-finals. Elsewhere, Alba Scotland will feel they have an outside shot against former champions Starblaydia; while in the most interesting tie of the round huge Ariddia face tiny Pa’atua.

Oh, and Sorthern Northland get Kalaa. The jammy buggers.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Candelaria And Marquez.png Candelaria And Marquez 7
Tries: Bardi 61
Conversions: Ubiña (1)
Penalties: None

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern northland.png Sorthern Northland 10
Tries: Chweh 52
Conversions: Bennett (1)
Penalties: Bennett (1)

Three games, three win, free beer offer inside (see page 34)

Firstly I have been instructed by my employers at The Morning Star to apologise to you all for failing to keep you up to date with Sorthern Northland's rather exciting exploits at the World Cup. This happened as I spent the best part of three days on a binge drinking session sampling Solenial's finest drink with a group of Candelaria And Marquez, a nation we seem to be playing in everything we compete in at the moment, I've even arranged to meet up with them at the Di Bradini Cup in a couple of weeks to sample drinks of Starblaydia. Anyway enough of my addiction to alcohol and onto the rugby, last time I wrote we had just beaten C&M and sat top of the group. The next game after this was against Lovisa.

The Lovisans had provided a stern test for us in the opening game of the tournament but in the second clash between the two sides, the Sortherners had a much easier task as they ran out 35-10 winners. All the points came in the first half, with SN opening the scoring after just a couple of minutes after a slip by the Lovisa full back allowed Padraig O’DONOVAN to run onto Aedan Bennett's kick and put the ball down for five points. With the try scored right next to the touchline Bennett failed to convert as the score stayed 5-0. Lovisa then brightened up as they scored a converted try and a penalty to go 10-5 up in the following ten minutes. The rest of the half however belonged to Sorthen Northland as Conner Doyle scored two tries both of which Bennett converted as well as Bennett himself scoring a converted try and two penalties, Padorin Guznishcheva also chipped in with a drop goal. With no points in the second half, the second half was nothing to write home about so I shan't.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern_northland.png Sorthern Northland 35
Tries: O'Donovan 2, Doyle 21 and 25, Bennett 30
Conversions: Bennett (3)
Penalties: Bennett (2)
Drop Goals: Guznishcheva (1)


http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/lovisa.png Lovisa 10
Tries:unknown 11
Conversions: unknown (1)
Penalties: unknown (1)

The second game I unfortunately was unable to see as security staff at the stadium failed to see the funny side in me dressing up as Osama Bin Laden and refused to let me into the ground, although I have found from a local newspaper that we beat Taeshan 35-23, however I unable to work out who scored any of the points from the report as the reporter seems to have just made up names for all the players.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern_northland.png Sorthern Northland 35-25 Taeshan http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/taeshan.png

With the scene from the Taeshan game still fresh in the mind of security staff at the venue for our clash with Candelaria And Marquez game I found that that I had been banned from attending all remaining group stage game so it's lucky this game was the last. With both teams already having qualified from the group it was only pride at stack (and a quarter final against either unfancied Kalaa or unbeaten hosts Solenial for the losers) and although I had prepared to watch the game on tv in my hotel I can actually bring you a report thanks to the kindness of a reporter from The Albrecht Herald who managed to smuggle me into the game in exchange for a crate of beer.

As I settled into one of the few spare seats it was heartening to see the Sorthern Northland team drunkenly slurring their way through our beloved national anthem as many a Sorthern Northlander has on a merry night out, and indeed the team had done the night before on a merry night out. Of course most of the time the person drunkenly singing it doesn't have to play rugby the next day but should it really matter if a nation in a region called The Pub sends national rugby teams out onto the pitch drunk? I think the players last night proved that it doesn't.

The Sortherners started with a greater enthusiasm which in all honestly could well be attributed to the alcohol consumed the previous night, standing out in particular were Chong Gil-Hyung, Paulaui Marika and Padraig O'Donnovon who foreign media strangely seemed to think his name is as it is on the official team sheet where his surname appears all in capitals, O'Donnovon has repeatedly said that this is due to the person writing the team list up leaving the caps lock bottom on. However well the trio were performing, a steller defensive performance from Ian Bovman and Svadilfari Rendle (who coincidently spent the previous night drinking with the SN team, alcohol obviously makes you play better) kept the C&M's in the game. As the C&M team continued to desperately hold on, tempers flared as Chong was sin binned for a stamp which would not have looked out of place in one of the many drunken fights he was involved in the previous night. Warren Ubiña then missed two glorious opportunity's to score as C&M looked like they might take advantage of the greater numbers and take the lead. They didn't though and although they had been a number of scoring opportunities the teams went into half time scoreless.

At the start of the second half C&M broke quickly from the blokes as they tried to open the scoring in the game between the two nations whose names are commonly shorten to just letters. A poor pass though from Douglas Lassissi saw the onrushing Kevin Norman fly into the try area with no sign of the ball. As SN breathed a sigh of relief they tried to get as much as they could from the opportunity and drove forward. An excellent kick from Aeden Bennett, who has been brilliant in this tournament, found the hands of Chweh Soon-Teck who had so much time and space he might have even ordered a Peking Duck with Sweet & Sour chicken before going past the defender for a try which Bennett duly converted.

The Huge Blues though wasted no time in getting back into the game and a selfish but excellent run from Bardi who ignored other options to leave Chong and Connor Doyle falling hopelessly to the grass. As Ubiña converted the try the game went back to being as tight as tight can be. And in situations like that it always seems to be players such as Adi Kinsella who make the difference. The young man who rejected the chance to play for Sorthern Northland in favour of Candelaria and Marquez had played well in the first game against the nation he spent part of his childhood in and still has relations living in. And as much as those Sorthern Northlander relations will have wanted him to do well, they may well have been quietly celebrating when he gave away a penalty by tackling sub Dougal Weisser too high. The Sortherners elected to go for three points and Aeden Bennett and his trusty right boot stepped up to give the Sortherners a slender, slender lead with just minutes remaining. C&M subs Alessandro Ria and Zachary Mickey were close to scoring what would have been a match winning try but the SN defence managed to hold on for a victory and top spot in pool C. Just.

The Candelariasians now have the tough job of overhauling hosts Solenial in the quest for the cup whilst the Sortherners have the easier on paper tie against Kalaa. In the other two quater finals Alba Scotland will play Starblaydia whilst Ariddia take on the tiny but hugely proud islands of Pa’atua in an intriguing tie.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/Candelaria And Marquez.png Candelaria And Marquez 7
Tries: Bardi 61
Conversions: Ubiña (1)
Penalties: None

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern northland.png Sorthern Northland 10
Tries: Chweh 52
Conversions: Bennett (1)
Penalties: Bennett (1)

A Successful start to the knockout rounds is all Solenial need to show the rest of the world they are contenders, and they are just that. Unbeaten in this World Cup the mighty Solenial, also Hosts, are dedicatied to one thing and that's the Rugby World Cup.

Yeah, it's unbelievable how hard we have trained. He, the Coach, has pushed us to our limits and we have not failed him. He has challenged us, and we have nor failed him. Now it is our turn for the World Cup and no-body will stop us

Matthew Robinson, winger for the mustangs said...

"So do you have respect for the C&M side?"

Oh, no doubt, we have not been picked against harder team. I do think that there lads have come together well and been rather unlucky in the group stages but Solenial have won 5 A.P.I.N Championships in a row against fully established rugby teams and i think that puts us in a great position as we have great experience in International Competitive Rugby. Yeah C&M will give us a hard game, but i still expect we'll win tonight.

As i left the interview room from which Matthew Robinson, possibly the best Rugby Player in the world, was seated i had to get ready for the match.

Getting changed a grabbed my Jotter to right what contents this match will have. As i entered the beautiful Palithios Stadé, once again, i felt one of a million who were eagering the Solens on, and i realised i was.

The First half was a resonably easy-watch half as Solenial took the ball and booted it out with some good play here and there and by 30 Minutes the score had crept upto 7-3 Solenial, the try by the one and only Matthew Robinson.

As the Second Half started there was a sudden boom of excitement as Solenial's Opel got a try, the C&M side got a try and a drop kick from Hughes meant solenial got an extra 3 Points. 23-10 Solenial.

After some very rough tackling both sides got awarded a series of penaltys 3 for Solenial, 5 for C&M. Within the space of 5 Minutes the score had increased to 29-22.

After two tries from C&M, only one converted, Solenial suddenly turned on with rook after rook and an inside pass to Robinson followed by an up-and-under with the winger storming for the tryline and getting his team back in front... of course with the conversion.

As the full time whistle blew i knew i had just watched an amazing, memeroable match.

Solenial 36-34 C&M

Nail-biter match sees Ariddia squeeze through

It was a match many were waiting for, if only for one reason: would the ulek and the cihivau be performed one after the other, or at the same time? Spectators in the Solen stadium waited excitedly while the anthems were played. The Ariddian anthem, Dream (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Dream), was played to the tune of the Communist Internationale, making it a hit among any and all communist sympathisers in the stadium. The Pa’atuan players remained silent during their own anthem, and were all wearing a black armband. It was an expression of protest and grief due to Intracircumcordei’s incomprehensible threat (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13134981&postcount=114) to bomb the Pa’atuan atoll and bombard its 93 remaining inhabitants –unarmed, mostly elderly civilians– with chemical and biological weapons.

“We’re extremely concerned,” Jon Sailor said. “The population of the atoll is tiny and helpless. Which is the only reason why these monsters want to attack. I’m hoping our participation in the Rugby World Cup can bring international attention to what’s going on.”

As a display of sympathy, the Ariddian players also wore black armbands, with permission from the Pa’atuans.

Then came the pre-match rituals. The two teams lined up facing each other across the centre line; the Ariddian Rogues formed a loose semi-circle, and began to chant the ulek, their voice booming out their challenge, and moving with fierce rhythm. They had barely reached the third verse, however, when the Pa’atuans began the cihivau, their voices as loud as the Ariddians’, their moves as fierce and well-coordinated. Without being distracted in the slightest, the two teams performed their war chants at the same time, glaring at one another. The crowd went wild, cheering. The Ariddians finished their ulek by rushing forward right up to the Pa’atuans with a fierce cry of defiance, while the Pa’atuans were still performing the cihivau. Spectator’s yells of approval and excitement intensified, culminating in loud applause when the Pa’atuans finished the cihivau in turn. The players had filled the stadium with an incredible atmosphere; the match could begin.

The Pa’atuans scored the first two tries, through Sakaria Faaisuaso then Ieti Vakatau, and converted both. Ariddia struck back through Melissa Brooks and Théophile Okoronkwo; the Blue Crabs’ Tama Molesi then slotted the ball between the posts in a penalty before Ue Isi inscribed a third penalty for Ariddia, duly converted by Anthony Alders. Half an hour into the match, the Rogues were up 21-17, and the Crabs a mere try away from regaining the lead.

This they did in the thirty-seventh minute, once more through “Ploughman” Vakatau: 24-21. By half-time, Pa’atua had built up a 30-24 lead, and the crowd waited eagerly to see how the Ariddians would respond in the second half.

The Pa’atuans appeared virtually tireless, but the Ariddians’ kicking and game construction seemed on the whole more accurate, more precise; the Rogues made fewer mistakes, and began to capitalise on Pa’atua’s. Nonetheless, the game remained incredibly close, with neither side able to pull ahead with a decisive lead.

In the seventieth minute, Vakatau outpaced his opponents and pushed U Ele aside to bring the ball down past the Ariddian line in the left-hand corner, taking Pa’atua into a crucial 63-57 lead. Spectators were ecstatic, many rising to their feet to cheer the amazing underdogs.

But there were ten minutes left on the clock, and Ariddia was determined to make a spectacular comeback. Snatching the ball after a Pa’atuan scrum a few metres from the Ariddian line, the Rogues’ n°9 Clément Michel tossed it to Patricia O’Donovan, who began to race back up the field. She hurled the ball backwards as she was tackled to the ground by Voa Torohia, and Se Uli caught it neatly. He darted forward until he was brought down by Jon Sailor, and just managed to pass back to Robert Adams. Adams sent the ball hurtling right across the width of the field to Ue Isi, who completed the final few metres and brought it down. 62-63.

Spectators watched intently as Anthony Alders went to convert, and. . . for the first time in the match, missed. Ariddian supporters back home held their head in their hands, stunned, more tense than ever. Pa’atua’s conversion success rate had been 100%; was Ariddia’s sole slip-up going to decide the issue of the match?

Four minutes left. The Pa’atuans poured all their efforts into defence to maintain their one point lead. Without success, as Nkosazana Ntobo snatched up the first opportunity for a difficult dropkick, and, with a superb shot, sent the ball sailing in between the posts. 65-63.

Now it was the Rogues’ turn to defend, putting all their energy into preventing the Blue Crabs from retaliating with a drop kick of their own. Vakatau and his team mates gave it all they had, but there was simply too little time left. The whistle was blown, and several Ariddians leapt with joy. After an incredibly close, hard-fought match, they had qualified for the semi-final.

The Rogues congratulated the Pa’atuans warmly, expressing their admiration, respect and sympathies despite the language barrier.

“It really could have gone either way,” Ariddian n°9 Clément Michel said afterwards. “The Pa’atuans were incredible. They kept us on our toes from first minute to last. I’m quite exhausted,” he added with a laugh.

Ariddia will now face Alba Scotland for the third time in the semi-final. So far, the two countries have one victory each.

“This will settle it,” Michel said. “We’ll be ready.”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png Ariddia 65-63 Pa’atua http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/paatua.png

The Daily News Editorial
Heroes? Hardly.

Can we possibly be surprised at the reaction to the C&M national rugger team’s progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Solenial? I would humbly suggest that the celebrations have been all too predictable. Bad enough that a C&M side is ludicrously seen as being good enough to make the last eight of a major sports tournament. But the way that these men have been elevated to the status of national superstars and role models has been absurd in the extreme.

Certainly, these men’s sterling efforts should be noted and rewarded. They are not professional sportsmen, in the way of the Solenial players who forced them out of the World Cup in the final moments of their game. But the attention which they have received in recent weeks is at best ridiculous, and at worst highly damaging.

For these men are not role models. We cannot turn a blind eye to the photographs we all saw in yesterday’s papers; featuring the locks Ian Bovman and Svadilfari Rendle cavorting with Sorthern Northland players prior to their final group game. How can seeing men in Candelariasian colours getting themselves blind drunk in public possibly provide an example to our young? After many years in the wilderness, rugby in now back in the national radar. Children are eager to pick up these giant eggs and run for their country. What is the future of this game – and of the Republic itself – when they have been taught that getting themselves half cut before a key match – or indeed any important occasion in life – represents the route to success? These men will be richly rewarded for their performances, make no mistake. They must very rapidly be made to understand their responsibilities as well.

Worse, is the continual description of these men as our “heroes”. They are sportsmen! Our heroes are our beleaguered police battling day after day for the safety of our streets! They are our brave men and women in the armed forces risking life and limb on the Timonium border!* How dare the liberal media coldly ignore our best and brightest children serving their country, in favour of these thick-necked thugs? How dare etcetera etcetera etcetera…

________________________

*Last C&M peacekeeper on the North/South Timonium border to be killed was Private Jack Harris, lost on the 3rd September 1999 at base camp after an incident involving a rogue tea cosy and a tub of marj.

Drink carries Sortherners to semi-final

Following a report in a C&M paper today which blasted C&M players Ian Bovman and Svadilfari Rendle for joining Sorthern Northland players for a few drinks the night before a game with SN, the Sortherners felt compelled to go out and prove that alcohol is in fact beneficial to sportsmen (indeed the superb performances by the two accused players against SN should tell us that). They went out today after another heavy night sampling the Solenial night-life and proved their point beating Kalaa a comprehensive 45-3.

Alcohol's critics did seem to have a point just three minutes into the game as the Sortherners dazzled by the combination of drink and floodlights stumbled around and gave Kalaa a penalty right in front of the posts. Flyhalf Jayantha Sarani tried his hardest to miss the penalty but tha ball struck the inside of the post and flopped over the bar. This was to be the highlight of the game for Kalaa as the Sortherners dominated from then one in. Brennen Griffiths, Paul Long and Conner Doyle all burst through the Kalaa defence to put 15 points past their opponents. Three conversions from Aeden Bennett made the total score 21-3 at half time.

Four penalties by Aeden Bennett in the first ten minutes of the second half saw Kalaa completely lose their composure and any chance of a semi-final place. With the game all but over the Sortherners played some superb exhibition rugby with Padraig O’DONOVAN first of all braking through to score a further try, this one though went unconverted. Padorin Guznishcheva also added a further try with five minutes to go and Bennett added the conversion to bring up the final score of 45-3.

This win takes the Sortherners into the semi-final in their début Rugby World Cup as they progress to face the hosts and only over unbeaten team left in the tournament, Solenial. The game being on Solenial soil is arguably the toughest the Sortherners will have in this tournament. "I think the winners of the tournament will come from this game, and being in Solenial we have to be awares at all times, I'm not saying they're unsporting and spiking drinks may well be against their laws but I'm pretty sure the rugby laws say nothing about drink spiking so our players are going to have to be extra careful going out the night before the game, some fan or something may try to do something to give his country a better chance of winning, but I'm confident and firmly belive that we can be in the final" said the teams coach in a press conference after his team heard who they were playing.

Solenial went out in there Proud Red tops to show the Sortherners just why we deserve to win the World Cup.

With a potential injury to the superstar Matthew Robinson, the coach decided to not play and hopefully save him for the final. If they got there.

By 3 Minutes a stupidly conceded Penalty by Solenial allowed the Sortherners off to a flying start at 3-0.

The Rest of the half remained nearly all kicking and line-outs and scrums resulting in no points which meant Half Time 3-0 Sortherners.

After another 20 Minutes of Desperosa for the Solen side who needed some points a break was made by Reece Opel in Robinson's Position, Wing. He Stormed through any passer-by and place ball down directly under the crossbar, an easy conversion for Humphries. 7-3 Solenial.

With a brilliant drop kick from Opel Solenial extended the lead to double figures but not for long after Opel went off with a head injury. The Sortherners got a try also converted. 7-10.

A Penalty for Solenial went well in their favour, evening the score again. but after fear settled in Sorthern Northland got another Penalty. The Fans were on the edge and destroyed as the brilliant penly sailed in.

As Solenial were behind, an eager Cosman, named Delap, pushed through the defence span round and ran for the corner. He Made it. The Crowd wen absolutely ecstatic as Solenial went back in the lead, a failed Conversion Nevertheless.

As the Full Time Whistle went the Solenial Team were cheering to find they'd earned a place in the World Cup Final

You don't know what this means to us. We've won many a Cups before but the World Cup would be great. We have to beat Ariddia tomorrow but hopefully with Robinson and Opel back it will be a breeze. We have beat them before and i believe that stands us in good stead. And not to mention this is our Ground and we should make sure it's our cup. Sure, the Sortherners are a good side, but nothing compared to Solenial and i have the same message to Ariddia. I have great respect for the Ariddians Side but when we get on the pitch, all the focus goes on the Win.

Reece Opel ^^^

When we askd the coach about how he though the injurys affected the game, he replied

Well, the loss of our two best players certainly put pressure on us but we come out nevertheless. With them two platers back tomorrow, this has been confirmed, we can beat Ariddia. But even if we do beat the Ariddians i have to say i admire their heart. I admire my Lads more, but the Ariddians have done magnificent to get here and we won't give them an easy game. I'd like to say that the Ariddians deserved to get into the Final but not to win, the amount of training my lads have put in. We Deserve to win.

Solenial 15-13 Sorthern Northland

Ariddia push out Scots, reach final

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The Rouge Rogues, training

It will have been the Rogues’ first ever participation in a Rugby World Cup, and, for Ariddians in general, the revelation that they have a world-class national rugby team. As their side progressed through the rounds, Ariddians took an increasing interest, and excitement has built up rapidly throughout the Ariddian Isles.

“I never used to watch rugby, but of course I’ll be watching the semi!” a 36-year old man said a few hours before the game. “There’s a big screen up in town, and I’ll be going there with friends.”

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The Rogues have fans and well-wishers back home

Seemingly eager for a strong start, the Rogues put pressure on their Alba Scottish opponents from the beginning of the match – immediately after the ulek. Early pressure resulted in the first try going to Ariddia, when the Rogues pushed a scrum over the line in the sixth minute, and Clément Michel brought the ball down. Anthony Alders converted, and Ariddia was in the lead.

The Ariddians no doubt had in mind their first encounter against Alba Scotland, which had resulted in the latter winning by 25-22. “We know they can put points past us,” Ariddian coach Carl Lahutte had said before the semi. “We’ll just have to score more.”

Spectators were hoping for exactly that: action and a high number of tries either side.

Alders edged his team up to ten points after the Scots conceded a penalty, but then the Albans came back into the game strongly, with two tries by the half-hour mark. Their inability to convert gave the Ariddians hope, and Alders re-established his team’s lead in the thirty-seventh minute, with a dropkick. 13-10 at half-time.

Proving that the game was anything but one-sided, Alba Scotland went on to score a third try to Ariddia’s one, but then failed to convert once more, and conceded a penalty which enabled Alders to bridge the gap. 16-15.

There were twenty-eight minutes left to play, and the Rouge Rogues were not going to be content with trying to defend a mere one point lead. The score remained agonisingly close throughout twenty minutes of tense, narrowly-missed opportunities on either side, until Vivien Chanon finally put the Ariddians in a more comfortable position, scoring a try in the seventy-first minute. Alders promptly converted, and the Rogues’ fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Ten minutes later, the whistle was blown – and Ariddia was in the final!

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Ariddian supporters (dressed in red, of course) express their joy

At home, most people have already begun partying, although the Rogues have pointed out that the final will be “perhaps our most difficult match yet.”

Though the team officially represents the PDSRA, it has received strong support from West Ariddia, as it contains West Ariddian players.

The team’s success has led major political leaders to express their support. President Banita Sho (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Banita_Sho), who favours West Ariddian unification with the PDSRA, said: “This goes to show what can be done when all Ariddian Islanders work together in harmony and constructive friendship. Of course, we’re all very proud of our West Ariddian players in particular, and the whole country supports them.”

Opposition leader Liang Jui-te (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Liang_Jui-te), a successful businessman, has expressed his congratulations and support for West Ariddia’s five players (Chanon, O’Donovan, Taylor, Ele and Highman). He has promised them a free life-long supply of his famous Yumbi bars (http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/7154/nutribarscj3.jpg) if they win the final.

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Qualifying for the World Cup final: the perfect excuse to party!

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png Ariddia 23-15 Alba Scotland http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/alba_scotland.png

Sorthern Northland cry wolf!

Following a below par performance from Sorthern Northland which saw them miss out on a place in the final to hosts Solenial, the teams coach claimed foul play may have been behind Solenial's win. "We weren't our usual selfs today, you could see it in our game, and a number of our players woke and said they didn't feel right this morning, quite a few also complained that the beer served with breakfast tasted strange as well, as if there was more than it said on the bottle in it."

Of course with the tournament being held in Solenial, a backlash and the sore loser tag are inevitable, in the opening minutes though there did seem little wrong with the Sortherners as they charged out full of enthusiasm in their change kit of no kit with Solenial playing red. The Sortherners started the game well forcing Solenial to concede a penalty just three minutes into the game and Aeden Bennett was duly on hand to convert to put SN into a 3-0 lead. The lead though was broken twenty minutes later when Reece Opel through the SN defence and scored a try right under the posts and an easy conversion made it 7-3 to Solenial. Not long after Reece Opel scored with an excellent long range drop-kick to take Solenial to double figures. Just as it looked like Solenial may rise and add more points though a brilliant interception by Conner Doyle off a sloppy pass from Mark Farrel with plenty of open space to run in and put a try right under the posts. Bennett duly converted to take the score to 10-7 to SN. Both teams scored a penalty before the half was over, Bennett for SN put the half time score at 13-10 in the Sortherners favour.

The scond half was tight for much of the 40 minutes, but with just two minutes remaining Lewi Grant Delap left Sorthern defenders flailing to the ground desperately as he broke their defences to score a try in the corner. Solenial dominated the last 15 minutes of play, a period in which the Sortherners all seemed to drop like flies with tiredness, maybe the coach is right. Whether or not he is now, is irrelevant as Sorthern Northland have to settle for a place in the third place playoff against Alba Scotland following a hard fought semi final against Solenial.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.png Solenial 15-13 Sorthern Northland http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/sorthern_northland.png

Solenial Disgusted at 'Foul Play' Claims

After the recent game against a rather drunk Sorthern Northland side led to Solenial getting into the final of the Rugby world cup, claims have been made that Solen Fans could have spiked players drinks before the game

I do believe it possible that this could have occured, but first of all before the competition Inspections were took out to make the Major Cities more Enjoyable for the RWC. There is not much chance any 'Extreme' fan getting their hands on drugs or anything like that. I do not believe Solenial has any kind of Unsportsmanship and hope that the Sortherners can enjoy their third-place game against the Albans

Words by Alfredo Hernándes Forward Coach.

Despite these Claims the Game was an enjoyable one and Sorthern Northland and Solen fans were happy with the excitement.

When we asked Matthew Robinson how he thought we'd do in the final he replied,

I definately think we'll win. Ariddia are a good side but they've just started, at least Solenial have been together for a long time and Rugby is the biggest sport in our nation with a lot of Rugby Acadamy's. I think they'll give us a hard game, but we've beat them before and we have Home Advantage.

On other news their is also controversy of who will host the next Rugby World Cup.

Yeah, well with the progress of Solenial in this World Cup it will be exciting how much we will have young lads showing interest for the next one. We here at the Solen Rugby Football Association would like to know of anyone who would like to host the next world cup.

SN cry wolf again

Following the rubbishing of allegations of drink spiking, SN rugby chiefs have decided to scrap the barrel in an attempt to get their team into the final, speaking at a press conference someone said "It is very blind sighted of the organisers to not admit this could be a possibility, so we've decided to take traces of our players urine and get them tested to prove our point."

A spokesmen for a SN supporters club had this to say following this absurd announcement from the SN rugby association, " To be honest this is all getting a bit tiring and is not doing anything to improve our reputation, Solenial were the better team and deserve to be in the final, we should just concentrate on our game against Alba Scotland and I would like to apologise on behalf of our fans for the associations unacceptable behaviour unfortunately we can't do much about it."

SRFU Reply:

The Solen TV Association has agreed to advertise the dangers or Spiking Drinks even if the Sortherners weren't drugged. We wat to have an enjoyable World Cup and hope we can all enjoy future challenges against each other.

As Alba Scottish Rugby fans finally awake from their several day drown-your-sorrows-in-drink binge, they have come to terms with the fact that they will have to keep on waiting to hold the cup high.

One fan, still proudly wearing the Alba Scotland flag, stated 'Fupp 'em! If Those fuppin' basfards wanna fup with me I'll fuppin' take 'em!'

Other fans seemed more understanding and supportive.
"I'm glad we made it this far. We haven't lost anything have we? And rugby has been greatly promoted, which is great. I wish the Ariddians the best of luck, and I think it would be a great achievement for the underdogs to make it! There's nothing wrong to losing to the champions, is there?"

On their way from a promoting photoshoot, I was able to catch the team heading towards their coach, before the parade down the main streets of the capital city.

"Disapointed? Yes. Heartbroken? Yes. Finished? Defentely not!" Scott Robb told me, with a warming grin breaking out on his face. "Look at us, we're a young squad, and we will all be returning next time."
"I feel bad about missing those crucial kicks throughout the game." Lawson said. "I've been really cheered up by the people though. I'm glad this game is full of great sportsmanship, with just a few fans taking things too seriously."

The team boarded the coach, and left me standing in the harsh wind. I wasn't done though. I was ready for next time. I was 100% sure Alba Scotland would be back. With a vengeance

Solenial Win Rugby World Cup!

In possibly the most tense match during this world cup Solenial had made it with a 43-40 Victory over Ariddia.

To be honest, at thought at the start of the competition that it would be us and Starblaydia, two experienced teams in the final, but the Rouge Rouge's fought on, And bravo to them.

In the first half there was lots of action with try upon try with Robinson, Opel, Delap and Farrel having a game of their life time. 40 Minutes in and it was 34-30 to Ariddia.

As the Second Half began, it never once seemed like Solenial would stay out of the game and a magnificent drop-goal from Robinson made the score 34-33.

With Solenial still behind they continued to drive on and by far looked to dominate the game with a 72nd Minute Try by Williams Converted by Robinson. 40-34.

In the last ten minutes Solenial had conceded two penalty's which were both put away by Alders levelling the score to 40-40.

And a last minute Drop Kick by Robinson put the Solens ahead and the full time whistle blew.

It was a surprisingly tough match, and Ariddia deserved to get this far. They have Played and Trained well and i think could be 2nd or 3rd best team in the world.

And how do you think Starblaydia will fare up?

Well, Starblaydia is a team to watch. They are a very experienced team who were unlucky against... Alba Scotland? Yeah. However, i wouldn't say they're any better than us taken that we have won many A.P.I.N Championships and have been together for a long time aswell.

The Players Stormed around the ground chuffed as they had the World Cup in their hands. The March of Liberty, Solenial's National Anthem, rang around the Palithios Stadé and around Cos.

Spiked drink test results back

The SNRA today has egg on its face after the results of tests to determine whether or not players drinks were spiked came back. The results proved as they had hoped that the players drinks had indeed been spiked but new CCTV footage shows that this crime was not committed by an outsider but by a Sorthern Northland national, who was at the tournament as part of an SNRA delegation. Poilice in Sorthern Northland, where the man has returned to, have arrested the man and are following a number of lines of enquiry. It is believed that betting patterns in Sorthern Northland are being investigated.

These new findings have meant that the SNRA has had to issue an apology to the SRFU, in a statement an SNRA spokesman said "On behalf of the SNRA I would like to apologise to the SRFU for the unfounded allegations that our association made and also for bringing any negative publicity to this competition that has been organised so efficiently."

Meanwhile on the pitch it was no better as a missed conversion proved costly in the third place play-off against Alba Scotland. The game was a tight one that was largely a non event with just one score in each half. It was Sorthern Northland who scored in the first with a lucky try from Padraig O’Donavon, the conversion was then missed by Aeden Bennett who had an unusaly poor game. Midway through the second half Matthew Wilson broke SN's defence to score, a conversion from Phillip Lawson put Alba Scotland ahead and gave them third place.

Rogues go home after close loss in final

The Rouge Rogues will be heading back to the Ariddian Isles in two days, following their narrow defeat in the semi-finals. They are sure to receive a warm and wild welcome, as the entire nation became gripped by rugby fever in the final stages of the competition. “Newbies” Ariddia were the underdog that almost upset the world, and their performance is not destined to be forgotten any time soon by home fans.

In most games, scoring six tries would be enough to ensure victory, but this was the World Cup final, a clash against the very best, and the smallest of errors, every missed opportunity could tilt the balance completely. Players provided what most spectators had wanted: a close, tense, fast-paced match, with a total of ten tries, and an outcome uncertain until the very end.

“It’s amazing,” one supporter said. “Ariddia are no longer ‘just’ football giants. Most people see us as a Third World Country, and we almost win the rugby World Cup!”

Another supporter suggested it might be due partly to the ulek. “Flash-freeze the blood of your opponents by terrifying them before you start, and it helps you to win,” the young man suggested humourously.

There will be no massive partying tonight, but some celebrations are going ahead all the same.

“We lost the final,” one woman said. “So what? Let’s celebrate being second!”

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/solenial.png Solenial 43-40 Ariddia http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/the_ariddian_isles.png