World Korfball Classic II Everything Thread

[Vaugania]

Welcome everyone to the 2nd World Korfball Classic! Vaugania is honored to host such an event as this. All OOC comments and questions belong here.

If you ever need to look up something about the way this tournament will be run, look here at the host bid. However, due to administrative error, there are 14 teams and not 12. This means that we will have to use a different format. There will only be 2 groups instead of 4. They will play in a single leg round robin in Vaugania for a total of 6 games per team in the group stage. Top 4 advance to the quarterfinals. From then on, the format described in the host bid is the one that will be used.

Here is what each venue will be hosting:

Sorochuk: Group A MD 1-4, QF 1
Agri: Group A MD 5-7, QF 2
Linsborough: Group B MD 1-4, QF 3
Buesk: Group B MD 5-7, QF 4
Yzerberg: Semifinals, 3rd place playoff, finals

Group draw was done using the Darmen system.

Group A
Grandterre
Kreigiersien
New Iskander
New Sideburn
Saintland
Schmiegelland
Shadowbourne

Group B
Slembana
Tanah Burung
The Babbage Islands
The Paradystopi Lymryk Isles
The Royal Kingdom of Quebec
The Serbian Empire
Vaugania

Schedule

Thu, March 7: MD1 2v7, 3v6, 4v5, bye 1
Fri, March 8: MD2 6v4, 3v7, 1v2, bye 5
Sat, March 9: MD3 3v1, 4v7, 5v6, bye 2
Sun, March 10: MD4 7v5, 1v4, 2v3, bye 6
Mon, March 11: Off Day
Tue, March 12: MD5 4v2, 5v1, 6v7, bye 3
Wed, March 13: MD6 1v6, 2v5, 3v4, bye 7
Thu, March 14: MD7 5v3, 6v2, 7v1, bye 4
Fri, March 15: Off Day
Sat, March 16: QF MD1
Sun, March 17: QF MD2
Mon, March 18: QF MD3*
Tue, March 19: Off Day
Wed, March 20: SF MD1
Thu, March 21: SF MD2
Fri, March 22: SF MD3*
Sat, March 23: Off Day
Sun, March 24: 3rd MD1/F MD1
Mon, March 24: 3rd MD2/F MD2
Tue, March 25: 3rd MD3*/F MD3
Wed, March 26: F MD4*
Thu, March 27: F MD5*

*-if needed

Notes:
1) There is a strong likelihood that there will be a late scorination on the 8th.
2) Because there are no actual korfball rankings and they are only 2 returning teams, Shadowbourne and The Babbage Islands have been given a slight advantage in the scorinator.

[Shadowbourne]

Roster
Starters

#27 - Zolt Andersen (M, Age 26)
#12 - Kev Samakrat (M, Age 23)
#6 - Kym Sutton (F, Age 19)
#9 - Christoph Spnulovic (M, Age 27)
#18 - Cymone Kay (F, Age 29)
#14 - Abby Clemente (F, Age 26)
#10 - Ani Irving (F, Age 20)
#1 - Tanju Stjepanovik (M, Age 22)

Bench

#2 - KL Nakpanich (M, Age 21)
#11 - Pager Archer (F, Age 27)
#23 - Enjang Vesovic (M, Age 30)
#34 - Jussi Medvedev (M, Age 32)
#20 - Lorri Victors (F, Age 31)
#19 - Liv Kroschenko (F, Age 17)
#8 - Marc Stevens (M, Age 17)
#3 - Kallie Krohmal (F, Age 27)

Manager: Volkan Dzugkaev
Asst. Manager: Columbine Emmett

---

Kits courtesy of Kirola Sportswear (Audioslavia)

Kits courtesy of Kirola Sportswear (Audioslavia)

---

Choose my Scorers? Yes
Injure Players? Yes, minor injuries only, unless you TG me and I give you permission.
Godmod Events? Within reason.

---

Shadowbourne's roster has been selected from the KAS (Korfball Association of Shadowbourne) and the CAAS (Collegiate Athletics Association of Shadowbourne). Shadowbourne hopes to improve on their third place finish in the 1st WKC by taking hope the championship this time around.

[New Sideburn]

NEW SIDEBURN KORFBALL ASSOCIATION

Style Rating +1
Established relatively recently and in much haste, the New Sideburn Korfball Association (NSKA) has found a new sport for its athletes to prove themselves in. While korfball is relatively unknown in southern Sideburn, the northern territories border Echidnation, where it is an extremely popular sport, and some of its appeal has slipped below the border. There is a Korfball league in Echidnation, and much like foreign football teams flock to the New Sideburn leagues, KC Treason and Laithland Terrorism both compete in the Echidnation league.

Mind you, it's a damn shame they won't let strength dominate the competition...

My opponent MAY
Choose my goalscorers
RP injuries to my players (maximum one)
Hand out cautions to my players

My opponent MAY NOT
Godmod scoring events
Godmod injuries
Godmod other events

Five players of each sex have made the cut.

1 - Mike GUNSTOCK - 29
A tall, lanky, stubbled figure, immaculately skilled with the ball in possession. He's been playing the game the longest of everyone, and he knows what to do and when to do it. A natural.

2 - Jess VIRTUE - 27
Rather short and somewhat plump, Virtue's physique defies her sheer quality with the ball in possession. Probably the second-best player in the ranks.

3 - Ash LANTERN - 23
Young, and picked up the game fairly late having switched from football due to a weak physique, Ash Lantern is pacy and skilful, and a worthy bearer of the indigo shirt.

4 - Miriam ASHORE - 25
Miriam Ashore lost an eye in a car crash at the age of 19, but that didn't stop her from fulfilling her ambitions. Now she plays for the national team, notable for having a glass eye with a bright orange iris.

5 - Kent DESTRIER - 26
A man who looks about ten years older than he is. Built like a brick outhouse, with a playing style to match. You want to get past him? Forget it.

6 - Joan GUILDER - 25
Prematurely grey, with a rather austere expression, Guilder is quick and intelligent in defence, and when it comes down to it almost competent on the attack.

7 - Bernhard PALISADE - 25
Tall, with an elegant mustachio and a noble bearing, Palisade is fearless in attack and tireless in defence. An unselfish player.

8 - Elisabeth TURNSCREW - 27
Elisabeth Turnscrew may have a more or less shattered nose from her last collision with a player, and a reputation for rough conduct, but she's still a more than capable defender.

9 - Paul RIFLING - 30
He may look unassuming, but back in the Laith he lives in a cabin and eats what he hunts. This is his only release from his hermit-like life. He was not happy to be put on the bench.

10 - Helga VIGNETTE - 31
An artist in her spare time, generally working with stained glass. When she's not making beautiful art, however, she doubles as New Sideburn's 6'1", broad-shouldered, athletic bulwark. Can stop anything dead in its tracks.

MANAGER
Bryan RIVERS - 39
Rivers has had a wealth of experience managing Echidnation sides before being called back home to do his duty. His response to the press? "Finally, the food over there was starting to actively depress me."

[Saintland]

Feministvs Sanctvsterra presents:

The Saintland National Korfball Team

Captain: Agrippina
Colors: Pink and White

Starting Lineup

F-ATT #1 Agrippina
F-ATT #2 Catharina
M-ATT #99 Matthaeus
M-ATT #98 Marcus
F-DEF #3 Maria
F-DEF #4 Martha
M-DEF #97 Lucas
M-DEF #96 Ioannes

Reserves

F-ATT #5 Elizabetha
M-ATT #95 Petrus
F-DEF #6 Iulietta
M-DEF #94 Paulus

Notes (OOC)

This is an unofficial team. Korfball is banned in the Kingdom of Saintland because it is a sport played by mixed-gender teams. The organization Feministvs Sanctvsterra is a banned organization in Saintland that seeks gender equality and separation of church and state. The players on the team will not be using their last names to protect their identities. These may or may not be their real first names. Feministvs Sanctvsterra was driven underground into a compound in a remote area of Saintland and they took up the sport of korfball because it is an egalitarian sport that reflects their ideals. These 12 players were the best players, so they were chosen to enter the World Korfball Classic. Feministvs Sanctvsterra is thought to be an all-female organization by most people in Saintland, including the authorities, but males actually make up around 10% of their membership (most of them sympathetic brothers of female members). There are multiple sibling combinations on the team, which will be revealed in RPs.

[The Serbian Empire]

The Serbian Empire's Korfball Roster

History:
The sport of Korfball is often seen as an offseason activity for basketball players within the Serbian Empire's borders. As a result, some basketball players in free agency and not signed to teams within the Empire have resorted to playing in Korfball tournaments as to keep their skills sharp due to some similarities in the game.

Coach: Gordan "Gordy" Andrejic

Starters
#13 Mihailo Kocevic (M)
#14 Nemanja Pavelovic (M)
#20 Milos Burekovic (M)
#21 Goran Nevinovic (M)
#30 Lidija Marecic (F)
#33 Kira Vrana (F)
#42 Mirela Kovacs (F)
#45 Milica Miranovic (F)

Backups
#4 Mirko Mitjanic (M)
#5 Rok Sasavic (M)
#51 Zana Turk (F)
#53 Brigita Mirkovic (F)

[Kriegiersien]

12 Players were rounded up to play for Kriegiersien. The coach was born and raised in Shadowbourne and so saw his fellow countrymen in his first game as opponents. A hard game for the start, one of the two seeded teams. The Kriegiersien League was a mess, he had seen it, there was much to develop. But thanks to the fascination of the President for all sorts of sports, there was at least a chance of progress.
He looked at the roster. Well, it was the best he could get. There were three Korfballplayers, but also huge Baskballplayers, two girls beeing over two meters. One of the girls had played Korbball, a regional version of Korfball. And the man also had a basketballplayer and a ... Breakdancer. At least the four others were Korfballplayers, one of them his son, who he had taken with him and was now officially a Kriegiersien countrymen.

Squad:

Coach:
Ivan Medved

Jane Miller
Antonia Rooster
Paula Pudding
Francine Jane
Hanna Hering
Sandra Schlafrock

Jack Mauer
Frank Tower
Timo Turner
Mike Medved
Stan Solo
Martin Washington

RP: Eveything goes if it is interesting.

[The Babbage Islands]

Korfbalo-Asocio de Babaĝaj Insuloj
World Korfball Classic II

Ludantoj
            
   Nomo                         Universitato     Klubo + Jaroj
3  Brenden Aaltink     31  M-A  Bloomfield       Cardston      10  2/1
4  Avril Aarens        32  F-A  Aquinas          Paris         11  6/6
5  Bas Größel          30  M-D  Dickinson        Uchtdorf      11  6/11
8  Abbi Holme          25  F-D  BAE              Brigham City  5   6/5
6  Sharalyn MacCallion 26  F-D  Gernsback        Baden         5   0/0
1  Cody Merrickson     28  M-A  Dickinson        Brigham City  10  6/19
7  Joachim Simons      25  M-D  Southern         Three Rivers  5   3/1
2  Patty Valdemar      20  F-A  Gernsback        Cardston      3   0/0

18 Héloïse Clifford    30  F-D  none             Paris         9   4/4
12 Bailee Elliston     23  F-A  Southern         Charleston    5   4/1
15 Jesse Garza         32  M-D  Southern         Paris         11  6/20
13 Sammie Goffe        27  M-A  Thatcher-Powell  Xianggang     8   0/0
11 Reinhard Paulson    33  M-A  none             Uchtdorf      14  6/19
17 Simon Ryers         22  M-D  none             Baden         5   0/0
14 Sable Spalding      23  F-A  none             Urbana        7   0/0
16 Pansy Sparrow       26  F-D  Windsor          Urbana        6   2/0

Kapitano: F-ino Avril Aarens.

Trejnisto: S-ino Britt Yoxall.

---

The KABI squad are primed to repeat the successes of their predecessors in world korfball. All 16 players are members of KABI's professional korfball league, with even the most junior being a third-year pro. Eleven athletes return from the squad that won the first WKC, and the Babbage heritage also includes placing top three in both the World Games and the Olympic Games (the latter as a demonstration event).

Please do not godmod or seriously injure one of my players unless you clear it with me in advance.

[Saintland]

Feminstvs Sanctvsterra Compound, Saintland

The players had just finished practicing and were preparing to leave Saintland.

Iulietta- Agrippina, did you get the tickets?

Agrippina - Yes I did. Our ship departs St. Paulus Harbor at noon today.

Iulietta - Its already 8. We need to leave soon.

Agrippina - I know that. We will travel to the local village on bicycle and take the first train to St. Paulus.

Agrippina rang a bell to get everybody's attention.

Agrippina - Listen up everybody. We are about to leave for the tournament. We will have to go out into Patriarchy-occupied territory. That means everybody needs to be dressed to blend in. The last thing we need to do is draw attention to ourselves. Everybody needs to pretend to be a good little Sanctii. They haven't forgotten what our sisterhood did in St. Paulus a few weeks ago, so expect the Patriarchy's thugs to be on high alert. If anybody asks, we are a few friends going on a vacation abroad. Meet me out back in a few minutes.

The ladies, including Agrippina, scrambled to put on more clothing. Soon, they all looked like ordinary Sanctii housewives. A few minutes later, they were all outside, waiting for Agrippina's instructions.

Agrippina - As you can see, we have 6 bicycles out here. We need to pair up male and female. If anybody asks, you and your partner are husband and wife. Males get to be in the front seat. This is necessary to avoid suspicion. We will travel as a group to the train station. Your partners have already been assigned. This was necessary to allow us to produce false IDs. I will pass out your IDs. Memorize everything on them in case you are asked.

Agrippina had partnered herself with Matthaeus. Marcus and Catharina, Maria and Lucas, Martha and Ioannes, Elizabetha and Petrus and Iulietta and Paulus were the other pairs. Everybody took some time to look over their ID and then Agrippina began to speak again.

Agrippina - We have different false IDs and different partners for the return trip. We need to leave now. We don't have much time.

They set out on bicycles and arrived in the nearest village around 10. They made their way into the train station and went to the counter to buy their tickets. They carried their bikes with them, as is customary in Saintland.

Ticket Seller - How may I help you?

Agrippina - We need 12 high-speed tickets to St. Paulus.

Ticket Seller - That'll be two Argentii.

Agrippina handed over 2 coins, each containing an ounce of silver and received 12 tickets for the next high-speed train. They went to board the train and found that it was already in the station. Seeing an empty car, they boarded it. Not many people take the train at this time of the morning.

The train made a few stops along the way, but they arrived in St. Paulus. A few more passengers got on the train at other villages, but none got in the car with the Korfball team. Still, they could not talk about their organization or their sport on the train. Instead, they spent the trip talking about their memories of the Saintland sports leagues and how great it was that they were finally getting to go on a vacation abroad.

After arriving in St. Paulus, they left the train and walked up the staircase out of the station. Once they were out of the station, they got on their bikes and began pedaling toward the harbor. They reached the harbor at around 11:30 and handed their tickets to the ticket taker.

Ticket Taker - Looks like we have 12 valid tickets for a voyage to Vaugania. Go ahead and enjoy your vacation.

The 12 Korfball players boarded their ship. They were travelling on a Sanctii ship, so they had to pretend to be going on vacation until they reached Vaugania. Eventually, the ship reached its destination and the team looked forward to bringing the actions of the Patriarchy and its Puppet King to international attention. They also hoped to perform well and play at the high level that the world had come to expect out of athletes from their country.

[Vaugania]

Vaugania Golden Eagles

Style Modifier: +2.5

Starting ATK

13 M Pavel Skala
21 M Siegfried Strand
24 F Katya Skala (C)
32 F Rayna Romanov

Starting DEF

33 M Jack Hansen
22 M Sten Frei (C)
11 F Sofia Arnesen
25 F Justine Sierzant

Reserves

27 M Markus Schoettmer
32 M Oskar Kunze
14 F Greta Buhr
19 F Jenna Steiber

If my opponent RPs first, they may:
Do whatever they want except injuring my players: Yes

[New Iskander]

New Iskander Steel Falcons

Style Modifier: +5

Starting ATK

19 M Capt Anders Ibsen (C)
20 M Cpl Brett Godwin
31 F LCpl Hanna Eriksen
22 F PFC Karine Nielsen

Starting DEF

10 M LCpl Hugo Bohmer
33 M PFC Blake Henderson
44 F 1stLt Susan Fitch (C)
27 F PFC Samantha Losnedahl

Reserves
12 M SSgt Henrik Eld
34 M PFC Lars Fjeld
56 F Cpl Karina Ekman
49 F Cpl Gilda Larson

If my opponent RPs first, they may:
Do whatever they want except injuring my players: Yes

OOC: New Iskander is a colony of Vaugania designed to be under military jurisdiction outside of Proxima. It also serves as a convenient place for the Vauganian military to train recruits in their own manner. All of the players are military personnel. In RPs with this nation there may be references to the "homeland". The "homeland" is Vaugania. Any references to "base" or "the colony" is referring to New Iskander. "HQ" is Proxima, the capital of the Colony of New Iskander. With all of this being said, there may be some interaction with people in Vaugania over the course of RPs.

[Grandterre]

Grandterre Sports: The Grandterre World Korfball Classic II Roster
Important: This is dated as of January 1, 2003.
Attacker: #1 Alexandre La Marche (born March 2, 1980)
Attacker: #2 Jacques Courier (born July 12, 1979)
Attacker: #3 Patricia Travis (born March 10, 1977)
Attacker: #4 Georgina Lewis (born October 20, 1984)
Defender: #5 Park Cheon-Seong (born October 22, 1981)
Defender: #6 John Troy (born January 2, 1980)
Defender: #7 Antoinette Lautrec (born May 21, 1980)
Defender: #8 Charlotte O'Leary (born April 22, 1983)
My opponent, if they RP first, may only choose my scorers.

[The Paradystopi Lymryk Isles]

PLI Korfball Roster

Of defense, here are our main four
Lucinda Helen Gumphor
Miriam Krank
Augustus Bank
Constantine Kettlepotlaw

Attack-wise, this is what we've got
Erika von Blundaschott
Sally Durant
Malcolm von Sant
Albechtsemann Forgetmenot

Our team has also four substitutes
In attack, we have Linda Prewt
Siblings Jen and Bob Black
Cover roles at the back
Of Boris Skob, there's no one role he does suit

Whatever you allow in your RP Permissions, I allow.

Roster - without the rhyming ...

#1 - Def/F - Lucinda Helen Gumphor
#2- Def/F - Miriam Krank
#3 - Def/M - Augustus Bank
#4 - Def/M - Constantine Kettlepotlaw
#5 - Att/F - Erika von Blundaschott
#6 - Att/F - Sally Durant
#7 - Att/M - Malcolm von Sant
#8 - Att/M - Albechtsemann Forgetmenot

#9 - RDef/F - Jen Black
#10 - RDef/M - Bob Black
#11 - RAtt/F - Linda Prewt
#12 - Utl/M - Boris Skob

[Vaugania]

3 weeks earlier

"Korfball?" Jack Hansen asked. He tossed a basketball out to Pavel Skala, who swished as hot through the basket Hansen kept at his home. Pavel collected his shot before speaking.

"That's what I said, Jack," Pavel replied. He dribbled the ball in between his legs as he was notorious for doing on the basketball court in the Vauganian domestic league. Skala was considered to be one of the greatest point guards the league had ever seen. and his right hand man was small forward, Jack Hansen. Together, they kept the Yzerberg Capitals afloat the top of the standings.

"What is it? And why are you asking me to join a team?"

"It's kind of like basketball. And I'm asking for my sister, Katya. She has a club out in Delvecchi."

"Let me get this straight. You are proposing that you and I leave basketball to play this korfball thing with your sister?"

"No no no. Just for about three weeks. It's for the 2nd World Korfball Classic. We don't have anything going on right now. This short season we had is over already."

"Pav," Jack said with mild irritation, "Where is this thing? You know I am finally finishing rehab after getting knee surgery. Do you expect me to go out to The Babbage Islands? Saintland?"

"I expect you to go to Lindsborough. Then Buesk. And back here to Yzerberg if we make it far enough."

"I suppose I could do this then."

"Good," Pavel replied as he nailed a fade away jump shot.

[Tanah Burung]

"Why, this is Dutch social engineering gone wild!" Virgilio Smith had never been a fan of anything too organized. He preferred to see sports evolve naturally. Like an eel.

"Dat's as may be," replied Mau Slurp, gambling maven and executive executive officer of the Sunny Tanah Burung Trade and Tourism Bureau. "But da point is, I have a thousand loonies riding on us fielding a team and doing good at korfball."

"But enforced gender quotas? Rules against using part of the court? Trying to get the ball into a korf? It's insane!" Smith insisted.

"Dat's as may be," Slurp repeated. "We're still going. And yer da coach, by da way."

Smith screamed.



The Tanah Burung Cockatoos

Coach: Virgilio Smith

On defence:
Idelta Maria Rodrigues
Maria Terezinha Viegas
Miguel Manetelo
Ilídio Ximenes da Costa

On attack:
Veneranda Martins
Maria do Céu da Costa
Dulce de Jesus Soares
Nélio Isaac Sarmento

On the bench:
Natália Araújo
Santina Cardoso
Ivo Jorge Valente
Coelho da Silva

[New Iskander]

"FALL IN!" sounded out Captain Anders Ibsen. The other 11 korfball players for New Iskander roused themselves and grabbed ahold of their personal belongings and started towards the troop transport helicopter in the airfield of Camp Redmond North. The helicopter was preparing to fly out to Sorochuk in the homeland.

One of these players was Private First Class Samantha Losnedahl. She had always been rather athletic and like sports. When she was younger, she and her older brother, Stian, played a lot of baseball together. But in her junior year of high school, one of her friends introduced her to korfball. She was hooked instantly and immediately joined a club in her hometown of Agri.

This was an exciting day for her. Not entirely because she was going to the World Korfball Classic, but because she got to leave. You probably couldn't find a person who said they enjoyed their time at Camp Redmond North, but it wasn't awful. There was adequate recreation and the housing situation wasn't too bad, but Sorchuk blew it out of the water. And here she was about to trade in the dress uniform she wore now for a korfball uniform. She could get out of this place for a whole week at least, maybe three if they played really well.

The team for New Iskander took off on their helicopter destined for Sorochuk. Accomodations were pretty good. The 12 of them occupied a space meant for 20. That gave each person a little bit of wiggle room. Though many of them didn't show it, all of them were rejoicing that they got to leave Camp Redmond North. And even better, they were still collecting pay.

After they had been in the sky for about 20 minutes, Samantha pulled a laptop from her personal bag. She had decided that she would pass the time by checking in on her brother. She typed in "www.vauganiasportsnet.com" to bring up the website for the major sports channel in the country, Vaugania SportsNet. She saw a breaking story from Vaugania Sports Today, the channel's major news show. "Vaugania Defeats Backyard Sports 7-5; Advances to Round of 20". Way to go, bro, she thought to herself. Her brother, Stain Losnedahl, was part of that team. He was one of the starting pitchers. Hopefully she would be able to match her brother's WBC success with her own in the WKC.

[Vaugania]

Group A
Kriegiersien 8–16 Shadowbourne
New Iskander 15–12 Schmiegelland
New Sideburn 6–18 Saintland

  Group A                         Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Saintland                         1   1  0   18   6 +12    3
2 Shadowbourne                      1   1  0   16   8  +8    3
3 New Iskander                      1   1  0   15  12  +3    3
4 Schmiegelland                     1   0  1   12  15  −3    0
5 Kriegiersien                      1   0  1    8  16  −8    0
6 New Sideburn                      1   0  1    6  18 −12    0

Group B
Tanah Burung 9–19 Vaugania
The Babbage Islands 14–15 The Serbian Empire
The Paradystopi Lymryk Isles 9–15 The Royal Kingdom of Quebec

  Group B                         Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Vaugania                          1   1  0   19   9 +10    3
2 The Royal Kingdom of Quebec       1   1  0   15   9  +6    3
3 The Serbian Empire                1   1  0   15  14  +1    3
4 The Babbage Islands               1   0  1   14  15  −1    0
5 The Paradystopi Lymryk Isles      1   0  1    9  15  −6    0
6 Tanah Burung                      1   0  1    9  19 −10    0

If you are not listed on these tables, that means you had a bye today.

HOST NOTE: Tomorrow night I will be particpating in a trivia contest, so cutoff may be delayed. I am unsure at what time this will end.

[The Serbian Empire]

A good game for the Serbian Empire squad. Of course, winning 15-14 against the Babbage Islands team is good day in the Serbian Empire especially with the Lacrosse team having won against Cosumar 9-6 earlier in the day. Beating one of the returning teams to this tournament in our opening game is a great start to this tournament as most of the others are as unknown as we are. The team started it's rally cry of Serbia Strong before shaking the hands of the players from the Babbage Islands team.

[New Sideburn]

Miriam Ashore flew at the ball violently but ineffectively as it flew past her and into the net. Korf. Thing. Whatever. Bernhard Palisade, looking far more weary than he'd seemed in all the short time Miriam had known him, offered a hand which she took, gratefully.

"Can't believe we're being beaten by a PINK team of all things," she gasped as she was hauled up.
"Don't underestimate them. That's likely why we're losing," said Bernhard, blandly. He was, once again, all poise and posture.
"Yeah... 11-2. It's humiliating." Miriam rubbed her mouth. "Whatever, best get ready for the restart."
New Sideburn launched a fightback, but ultimately they were crushed by twelve goals.

As the players sat in their hotel rooms, the main emotion was bitterness. "We're up here in the middle of nowhere," began Kent Destrier after a few drinks too many, "running our arses off in a competition nobody watches! Every eye back home is on those bloody bastards playing football."
"Don't fret," said Mike Gunstock, though he inwardly sympathised with Kent's irritation. "We're renowned enough to be invited here. We're one of the best Korfball teams in the world, you know!"
"Yeah, twelfth-best..."
"Which is a damn sight better than most can say, aye? Come on... we'd best get an early rest for tomorrow. It's just one loss. We can overcome this."

[Kriegiersien]

The Kriegiersien team stood in the hall, ready for training.
Ivan Medved slapped a few players in the face, also his son.
"I awaited more from you. You know how to play."

He turned to the Basketballplayers.
"No Dribbling any more, no high passes."
He didn't slap the woman, but looked angry.
"Dunking is great, but don't dribble."
"Francine, just defend women."
He turned to Stan, the Breakdancer. "Dance with your opponent, not when you are alone. You can throw, so do it. And else...this is for everyone! More! Passing! On the ground!"

That would be hard weeks. But Shadowbourne were excellent opponents, it was ok...it was acceptable to lose against his fellow countrymen, but not in this way.
He looked at his notes for the next opponent. Grandterre, some Pseudohippie Bureaucrats.
"We are training now the attackformation against them. Fast running, use the corridors, Antonia announces the tactic, she is the creative one, the rest focus, Hanna, Stan, Martin, score for once! Mike, you show them the defense play. And as a start, stretching and some sprints to get warm."

[The Babbage Islands]

Babbage Korfball

The Serbian Empire 15, The Babbage Islands 14
At World Korfball Classic II, Vaugania
Group Stage, Match 1 of 6

Player                                L  M  N  P  F  R    K
Avril Aarens                    F A   0  0  0  0  0  0    0
Patty Valdemar                  F A   0  2  0  0  0  0    2
Abbi Holme                      F D   0  1  0  0  0  0    1
Sharalyn MacCallion             F D   0  3  0  1  0  0    4
Cody Merrickson                 M A   0  1  0  0  0  0    1
Brenden Aaltink                 M A   0  2  0  0  0  0    2
Bas Größel                      M D   0  2  0  1  0  0    3
Joachim Simons                  M D   0  1  0  0  0  0    1
Pansy Sparrow                   F R   0  0  0  0  0  0    0
Bailee Elliston                 F R   0  0  0  0  0  0    0
Sammie Goffe                    M R   0  0  0  0  0  0    0
Jesse Garza                     M R   0  0  0  0  0  0    0

Legend: L=long, M=medium, N=near, P=penalty shot, F=free pass, R=running in shot.

The noteworthy takeaway from this close loss was the superb marking by the Serbian men as they held experienced attackers like Merrickson and Aaltink to a combined three korfs. International debutantes Sharalyn MacCallion and Patty Valdemar both had promising matches with MacCallion on four korfs and Valdemar on two. But the attack that led the Bumblebees to victory last time on the world stage has yet to make an appearance here in Vaugania.

[Vaugania]

Group A
Schmiegelland 10–15 New Sideburn
Shadowbourne 9–30 New Iskander
Grandterre 14–9 Kriegiersien

  Group A                         Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 New Iskander                      2   2  0   45  21 +24    6
2 Saintland                         1   1  0   18   6 +12    3
3 Grandterre                        1   1  0   14   9  +5    3
4 New Sideburn                      2   1  1   21  28  −7    3
5 Shadowbourne                      2   1  1   25  38 −13    3
6 Schmiegelland                     2   0  2   22  30  −8    0
7 Kriegiersien                      2   0  2   17  30 −13    0

Group B
The Serbian Empire 18–15 The Paradystopi Lymryk Isles
Vaugania 11–15 The Babbage Islands
Slembana 6–7 Tanah Burung

  Group B                         Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 The Serbian Empire                2   2  0   33  29  +4    6
2 Vaugania                          2   1  1   30  24  +6    3
3 The Royal Kingdom of Quebec       1   1  0   15   9  +6    3
4 The Babbage Islands               2   1  1   29  26  +3    3
5 Tanah Burung                      2   1  1   16  25  −9    3
6 Slembana                          1   0  1    6   7  −1    0
7 The Paradystopi Lymryk Isles      2   0  2   24  33  −9    0

[The Paradystopi Lymryk Isles]

ooc: completely forget that this had started ... whoops

Bottom, after two consecutive losses
Results that were not pleasing the bosses
They had been given some flack
Regarding otters, or the lack
Though otters heights don't make for accurate tosses

A commitee member by the name of Jim
Said of the current situation 'it's grim'
'Our lads and lasses
play like they're stuck in molasses
We need to get them working hard in the gym'

[Kriegiersien]

Jane passed to Stan who threw and missed, Mike rebounded and....missed. He looked to the side, where his father Ivan Medved clenched the hands around his notices, while his head was dark red. The timeout wasn't to get pleasant.

A clear loss against Grandterre, even though they didn't seem to take much effort to win the game. Seemed as not getting the ball into the korf often enough was a real problem, if you wanted to win. So, Throwtraining. Again and again.

"At least we won't lose the game tomorrow", said Mike, hitting the korf. Why hadn't that worked in the game?
"Why are you so sure, son?"
"Because we have a day off."
"Oh, in that case....more time for training."
"And, if that doesn't work?"
"Then we are just doing seeightseeing of the country."
Mike looked surprised.
"Of course we are training even harder!", Ivan cried.

[New Sideburn]

Short, plump Jess Virtue had been establishing a certain theme to the night so far. First, get underestimated, then score quickly and cleanly. This had been her fourth of the night so far, and she was looking increasingly smug. To her, it was fitting that Sideburn's physical dominance was reasserting itself, and she felt a strong sense of certainty with her side ahead... New Sideburn was loathe to lose.

They never gave up that lead, and the game ended 15-10. The lads celebrated with a long, heavy drinking session down at the nearest pub, and decided that a fitting team-building exercise would be to collectively nurse hangovers the following morning.
----------------------
"Twist or stick?"
"Twist," said Mike Gunstock firmly. The card was a 2, and he pursed his lips. "... Twist again."
As the next card was dealt to him, Miriam Ashore burst into the common room of the hotel, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, hey guys!" squeaked Miriam. "We're on the bloody news! C'mon!"
Hurriedly, everyone ran to cluster around Miriam's laptop, streaming the news from back home.
"-fball team triumphed against Schmiegelland 15-10," said the sports commentator, blandly. "Jess Virtue lead the scoring with seven goals, and was voted man of the match. And that's the sports for today... back to you, Gregor?"
Miriam's grin faded.
"That's... that's it? That's it. Yeah." Kent sighed. "Ah, well, I expected it from the start. Twist or stick, Mike?"
Mike looked surprised for a second, then remembered his new cards. He glanced down at them and cursed. "Bust."

[The Serbian Empire]

The Serbian Empire won again 18-15, and that was an expected result after beating the Babbage Islands team by 1. Every game's going to be a nail biter with results like these and that will mean the fans will be watching the games as the Lacrosse team won their match and only needs one more win to secure a 3rd place finish in their tournament. Hopefully, we can do better than. Yes, Zana. We will do better than that even if it means you have to sit on the bench for the entire tournament and are little more than a coach who can play the game only in emergency considering your leg isn't quite healed from the surgery in the fourth basketball game of the season for Dinamo Zagreb's Female Basketball Association team.

"Alright, alright," the team responds back as Zana sighs in relief and then gives the team orders on who is open to take a shot with the korf in practice. We have to practice just to keep pace with New Iskander in both record and offensive production. You can't win if you can't score more than the opponent.