Seventh Handball World Cup Rosters/RP/Scores Thread

[Sarzonia]

Matchday 5 Scores

NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Portland Division
Sarzonia 27, Mount Kip 21
Swartaz 20, Taeshan 15

Wilmington Division
Delaclava 22, Majeristan 19
Pacitalia 21, Cafundéu 19

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Woodstock Division
Docky 21, Newmanistan 16
Quintessence of Dust 27, Licentia pro rus ruis 15

Nicksia Division
The Babbage Islands 23, Shivat 19
Schiavonia 22, Kulverint 21

NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Portland Division

          W L GF GA  GD
Sarzonia  4 1 120 100 +20
Taeshan	  3 2 107 110  -3
Swartaz   2 3 105 103  +2
Mount Kip 1 4 102 121 -19

Wilmington Division

           W L GF GA  GD
Pacitalia  4 1 114 97 +17
Delaclava  3 2 98 103  -5
Majeristan 2 3 95 98   -3
Cafundéu   1 4 101 110  -9

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Woodstock Division

                      W L GF GA  GD
Docky                 4 1 107 93  +14
Quintessence of Dust  2 3 112 99  +13*
Newmanistan           2 3 102 112  -10 *
Licentia pro rus ruis 2 3 98 115  -17 *

* Three way tie sorted by goal differential

Nicksia Division

                    W L GF GA  GD
Schiavonia          4 1 111 97 +14
The Babbage Islands 4 1 107 99  +8
Shivat              2 3 105 103  +2
Kulverint           0 5 91 115 -24

As a reminder, division winners clinch the top four slots automatically. The next FIVE slots will be filled by the teams with the next best records among non division winners. It's entirely possible for a third place side to qualify.

[Docky]

Docky go top of group
Docky won two on the bounce in Handball, and are now top of the Woodstock Division. Docky beat Licentia pro rus ruis 27-16, putting them top of the group. It was a very high scoring match, with Emile Husk on fire as he had a lot more creative freedom. Docky extended their lead at the top of the group with another victory, this time a good all round performance ending 20-16. Leader Oliver and his party have now departed for World Cup 49, where Docky are also playing above expectations with a draw against Carpathians FC. Despite no longer having their leader in the stands, Docky are top of the group and look to be cruising through to the next round. Can they keep it up? We will soon find out, as the Tiger Cranes are excelling in numerous sports now

[The Babbage Islands]

SARZONIA (BPA) -- Ingrid Kellerman had a career night with nine goals, and The Babbage Islands national handball team improved to 4-1 in the handball World Cup by defeating Shivat 23-19.

With the win, the Babbage side secured a spot in the knockout rounds. Seeding will not be determined until after the sixth qualifying match, but if the cutoff were now the Bumblebees would be seeded fifth.

Head coach Stefani Williams emphasized the need to stay focused. "After the first night, we've played well. The next match against Kulverint is an opportunity not to relax, but to prepare for the stretch run. Entering knockouts with a five-match win streak would be great for confidence."

Captain Carmela Vizcaino agreed. "Losing Þóra to injury was a tough blow. And Deedee [pivot Dierdre Ajax] got rattled and took one swing too many. But Brynn [Kendrick] has been huge as a backup, Meredith Young is playing the best she's ever played in the net. And you can't give Ingrid enough credit ever. I mean, NINE goals? In a World Cup match? Awesome. We need to stay locked in, but right now we're in a happy place."

[Sarzonia]

HOST ANNOUNCEMENT

Just a note that Matchday 6 will probably be delayed by a couple of hours, as I'm supposed to officiate flag football games today.

However, since it's snowing, that might not happen. if it doesn't, the cutoff will be at the normal time.

[Sarzonia]

And RP cutoff is NOW.

[Sarzonia]

Matchday 6 Scores

NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Portland Division
Taeshan 24, Sarzonia 21
Mount Kip 23, Swartaz 22

Wilmington Division
Majeristan 21, Pacitalia 17
Cafundéu 20, Delaclava 15

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Woodstock Division
Licentia pro rus ruis 24, Newmanistan 21
Docky 20, Quintessence of Dust 19

Nicksia Division
The Babbage Islands 21, Kulverint 20 (OT)
Schiavonia 21, Shivat 18

NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Portland Division

          W L GF GA  GD
y-Taeshan	4 2 131 131  0
x-Sarzonia  4 2 141 124 +17
Swartaz   2 4 127 126  +1
Mount Kip 2 4 125 143 -18
NOTE: Taeshan win the division based on 2-0 head-to-head record v. Sarzonia.

Wilmington Division

           W L GF GA  GD
y-Pacitalia  4 2 131 118 +13
x-Delaclava  3 3 113 123  -10
x-Majeristan 3 3 116 115   +1
Cafundéu   2 4 121 125  -4
NOTE: Delaclava ahead of Majeristan on 2-0 head to head

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Woodstock Division

                      W L GF GA  GD
y-Docky                 5 1 127 112  +15
x-Licentia pro rus ruis 3 3 122 136  -14
Quintessence of Dust  2 4 131 119  +12
Newmanistan           2 4 123 136  -13  
Quintessence of Dust ahead of Newmanistan on goal differential and on goal differential  in head-to-head as head to head is level at 1-1. 

Nicksia Division

                    W L GF GA  GD
y- Schiavonia          5 1 132 115 +17
x-The Babbage Islands 5 1 128  119 +9
Shivat              2 4 123 124  -1
Kulverint           0 6 111 136 -25

Schiavonia win the division based on goal differential and on goal differential in head-to-head as head to head is level at 1-1.

The Playoff Matchups shall go as follows:

Play-in Match (scorinated tomorrow):
(8) Majeristan v. (9) Licentia pro rus ruis

QUARTERFINALS (scorinated 7 Dec.)
(1) Schiavonia v. 8 v. 9 winner at Richie Petitbon Arena, Nicksia
(2) Docky v. (7) Delaclava at The Dockyard, Portland
(3) Pacitalia v. (6) Sarzonia, Estrella Motor Cars Arena, Wilmington
(4) Taeshan v. (5) The Babbage Islands, The Palestra, Woodstock

[The Babbage Islands]

Nicksia Division
The Babbage Islands 21, Kulverint 10 (OT)
Schiavonia 21, Shivat 18

Nicksia Division

W L GF GA GD
y- Schiavonia 5 1 132 115 +17
x-The Babbage Islands 5 1 128 119 +9
Shivat 2 4 123 124 -1
Kulverint 0 6 111 136 -25[/pre]
Schiavonia win the division based on goal differential and on goal differential in head-to-head as head to head is level at 1-1.

I assume the correct score was 21-20? 21-10 seems a rather dramatic collapse for an overtime match.

[Docky]

Docky scrape victory in final group match
Docky defeated Quintessence of Dust by a single point in today's final group match, which ended in Docky beating them 20-19. This result has Docky top of the table, going through to the Quarter-Finals, with second place Licentia pro rus ruis going into a play-off match against Majeristan. Michael Oweson limped throughout the hole game, and appears to have a thigh injury. We managed to catch up with him. "I had a tough match against the Quintessence of Dust defence, as they are very strong robust defenders. One aerial battle ended in me falling in a strange fashion, and my thigh felt terrible throughout the rest of the game. I'm having analysis in a couple of hours to see the extent of the damage, and whether I can play in the Quarter-Finals."
Docky will face Delaclava in the quarter's at the Dockyard in Portland, and the fans and a few pundits are predicting a Dockian victory. Delaclava were very inconsistent in their group, winning 3 and losing 3, and were only ahead of Majeristan on head to heads. However, Delaclava's inconsistency could actually be a threat, as we do not know whether they good team or the bad team will come out to face us on the 7th Dec. Whatever the outcome, Docky should still fight for victory to take them to the Quarter-Finals.

[Sarzonia]

I assume the correct score was 21-20? 21-10 seems a rather dramatic collapse for an overtime match.

Um, you're right. Corrected.

[The Babbage Islands]

SARZONIA (BPA) -- The Babbage Islands concluded their qualifying run in the World Cup of handball with a thrilling 21-20 win in overtime against a determined Kulverint team. Brynn Kendrick scored what proved to be the final goal on a fast break engineered by Carmela Vizcaino to break a 20-20 tie and hold on for the win. Effi Vogel and Ingrid Kellerman each scored six goals for the winners.

Despite their 5-1 record, the Bumblebees will only be seeded fifth in the elimination rounds, as they lost the group title on tiebreak and all group champions are seeded ahead of all other teams. The Babbage side will play 4-2 Taeshan in the quarterfinals.

[Sarzonia]

PLAY-IN MATCH
(8) Majeristan 20, (9) Licentia pro rus ruis 15

QUARTERFINALS
(1) Schiavonia v. (8) Majeristan
(2) Docky v. (7) Delaclava
(3) Pacitalia v. (6) Sarzonia
(4) Taeshan v. (5) The Babbage Islands

[Sarzonia]

Subplots abounded for Sarzonia and Pacitalia even before the two teams were set to face each other in the quarterfinals of the seventh Handball World Cup at Estrella Motor Cars Arena in Wilmington.

First of all, Sarzonia's and Pacitalia's relationship could best be described as complex. In the days before Sarzonia won its independence from the United States, then-Pacitalian prime minister Timothy Ell made a speech in Woodstock imploring the United States to grant Sarzonia its independence.

There were moments when the two nations stood side by side in world affairs. Pacitalia named three Sarzonians to its highest civilian honour, the Capostication. However, there were also moments when the two governments tore asunder a close relationship, leaving both nations persona non grata in each other's eyes.

Now, the two nations were at least cordial, if not outright friendly. Pacitalia sent a team to compete in the Handball World Cup being held in Sarzonia. They were assigned to Wilmington, a city that hoped to become more than just "a fourth city" compared to Sarzonia's "big three" of Woodstock (its nation's capital), Portland (its financial capital) and Nicksia (its largest city and cultural capital). The city hoped to provide some sense that it wasn't just a random Sarzonian city unlucky to not be one of the three most important cities in the country.

Those backdrops would fuel what would otherwise be a drab 3 v. 6 match in the quarterfinals of a niche sport's world championship. The Babbage Islands were level with top seeded Schiavonia for the best overall record in the Handball World Cup's group stage at 5-1, but were seeded fifth after losing the Nicksia Division title. They would face a Taeshan side that had a 4-2 mark, but won the Portland Division courtesy of a two-match sweep of host nation Sarzonia.

A Majeristan side that dismissed Sarzonia as a "nation of faggots" would face top seeded Schiavonia after surviving a battle with ninth seed Licentia pro rus ruis. After earning the seventh seed as the best of the three 3-3 teams, Delaclava would face second seeded Docky, also 5-1.

There were enough subplots to go around, but let the games begin.

[Sarzonia]

QUARTERFINAL FIXTURES
(1) Schiavonia 21, (8) Majeristan 19
(2) Docky 23, (7) Delaclava 17
(3) Pacitalia 15, (6) Sarzonia 19
(4) Taeshan 20, (5) The Babbage Islands 27

Semifinal Fixtures
(1) Schiavonia v. (6) Sarzonia
(2) Docky v. (5) The Babbage Islands

[The Babbage Islands]

SARZONIA (BPA) -- The Babbage Islands handball team leaped to a 15-7 halftime lead, and had no difficulty eliminating Taeshan 27-20 in the quarterfinals of the handball World Cup.

Bryndís Óskarsdóttir saw her first significant action of the tournament, as Tanja Zahn sat with apparent stomach flu. She scored six goals on the right wing to lead all scorers. Effi Vogel and Brynn Kendrick added five each for the victors.

Assistant coach Diana Sepúlveda was jubilant. "Tonight we finally performed at the level we're capable of playing. We've been pretty good all tournament long, sometimes great. But this time all the pieces were in place even with both starting wings on the bench. If we play twice more like this we can win this thing."

A semifinal with #2 seed Docky, also holding a 6-1 record, is next for the Bumblebees.

[Sarzonia]

SEMIFINAL FIXTURES
(1) Schiavonia 24, (6) Sarzonia 19
(2) Docky 22, (5) The Babbage Islands 25 (OT)

THIRD PLACE FIXTURE (at The Dockyard), played 9 Dec.
(2) Docky v. (6) Sarzonia

FINAL, played 10 Dec.
(1) Schiavonia v. (5) The Babbage Islands

[The Babbage Islands]

SARZONIA (BPA) -- It's on to the finals for The Babbage Islands in the seventh handball World Cup.

The Bumblebees will take a seven-game winning streak into the final against top seeds Schiavonia, after defeating #2 seeds Docky in a 25-22 overtime match. Docky started with a strategy of disrupting Babbage playmaker Carmela Vizcaino with physical play. It worked for the first half, as Docky took a lead of 11-7.

But the Babbagians made a radical shift in the second half, playing both Vizcaino and pivot Dierdre Ajax out of position. Vizcaino at pivot drew three shots from the seven-meter line, converting them all, and Ajax hit several shooters with well-timed passes including Effi Vogel's tying goal at 20 in the final minute of regulation.

The overtime was all Babbage, with Ingrid Kellerman scoring three of her seven goals in extra time and Vizcaino, back to her normal post, controlling the flow of play.

[Docky]

Docky not in the final
Docky crashed out against The Babbage Islands today, which means we won't be seeing World Cup glory for the Tiger Cranes in Handball. The result coincides with 2 loses in a row for Docky's football team, which puts out the hopes of the tiny minority of absurd dreamers thinking Docky could too grab glory in WC 49. Docky had an 11-7 lead at half time, but then encountered some tactical gambles from TBI. Sadly, these were effective, and took the match into overtime. It was obvious the Dockians did not have the stamina or experience to retake the lead, with Ingrid Kellerman snatching 3 chances to defeat the Dockians.
However, the Handball World Cup isn't over for Docky. A third place playoff against hosts Sarzonia awaits them. Can Docky get bronze?

[Sarzonia]

Will Sarzonia finish third or will Docky take the bronze?

Find out ... NEXT!

[Sarzonia]

THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF

(2) Docky 23, (6) Sarzonia 24

Sarzonia capture bronze in the seventh Handball World Cup.

Thank you to Docky for your participation!

[Docky]

No problems, you will see us at the 8th edition

[Sarzonia]

It wasn't the prize Sarzonian handball players wanted, but they'll take what they can get.

A crowd of 15,898 in The Dockyard in Portland saw Sarzonia rally from a five-goal second half deficit to stun Docky to capture the bronze medals in the seventh Handball World Cup.

For Mark Dandridge, finishing the tournament with a 6-3 record in his first stint as national team coach gave him and the team something to build on.

"We saw once again that there's handball talent in this country," he said. "We also saw that we have a few things to sort through."

For starters, they have to learn to beat Taeshan. The Stars went 0-2 against their Portland Division rivals, a fact that cost them the division title. Taeshan fell in the first round to finalists The Babbage Islands, who go into tonight's final against Schiavonia with an identical 7-1 record to their Nicksia Division rivals.

"That's the nature of the format," said Stars pivot Johan Gorski. "The Babbage Islands may end up being the best team in this tournament. Yet since they lost a tiebreaker to Schiavonia, they earned a wild card entry and faced a division winner with a worse record."

Meanwhile, Sarzonia and Pacitalia faced off with Pacitalia the nominal favourite in spite of both teams going in with a 4-2 record. Sarzonia rallied to defeat the Blue Foxes 19-15, while The Babbage Islands easily dispatched Taeshan 27-20.

Gorski said he wasn't in the business of predicting who would win the Schiavonia-Babbage Islands final, the third meeting between the teams.

"All I know is [The Palestra] is going to be packed," he said. "Bar the doors and leave the bongs at home."

[The Babbage Islands]

SARZONIA (BPA) -- "Anyone at this level wants to play. But this isn't the way you want to go in."

That was the response of Tinna Bergsdóttir, backup goalkeeper for The Babbage Islands in the 7th handball World Cup, to a reporter on hearing the news that starter Meredith Young is in hospital after a taxicab accident.

Reserve player Rhonda Beedle was also in the taxicab with Young. Beedle was treated for minor injuries and released, as was the driver. The extent of Young's injuries is unknown.

Tinna will make her first World Cup appearance for the 7-1 Bumblebees with everything on the line. The Babbage side will face Schiavonia, also 7-1, for the third time in the tournament in the gold medal match. A capacity crowd is expected.

[Sarzonia]

And ... the champions of the Seventh Handball World Cup are...


THE BABBAGE ISLANDS

They defeated Schiavonia in front of a packed house at The Palestra in Woodstock by the score of 21-16.

It's the third meeting between the two teams.

Congratulations to The Babbage Islands for winning the title, congratulations to Schiavonia for finishing second, and thanks to everyone who participated!

[The Babbage Islands]

(OOC: Thank you for hosting the tournament!)

WOODSTOCK, Sarzonia (BPA) -- It was intense until the final signal, then pandemonium, as The Babbage Islands won the handball World Cup 21-16 over Schiavonia.

The Bumblebees never trailed and never let up, playing suffocating defence in front of backup goalkeeper Tinna Bergsdóttir for the entire match. Frequent substitutions for fresh players meant that four players shared top scoring honours for the champions with three goals each: Ingrid Kellerman, Brynn Kendrick, Carmela Vizcaino, and Effi Vogel. All twelve uninjured players on the roster played.

Just like the first two meetings between the finalists, Schiavonia also played a strong match start-to-finish. It was 10-9 at the half, and still within two goals at 18-16 until the final two minutes of play.

Several thousand Babbage fans in the traditional yellow-and-black were in the capacity crowd at the Palestra, and they flooded the court when the match ended. Arena security had to open a way for the teams to return to their locker rooms, but the jubilant fans were easily managed without incident.

A number of top figures in The Babbage Islands sport community were present, including Myfanwy Evans of the Babbage Games Coordinating Committee, T. Allan Woods of Woods Motorsport, and blogger and national team footballer Tegan Nash. Both Evans and Woods met with head coach Stefani Williams and her staff, and reliable sources suggest that more than congratulations were on the agenda.