CE 31 & EspoT20 II & Sporting Festival - Everything Thread

by **Nova Anglican Admin Zone of Esportiva** » Wed Dec 01, 2021 8:31 am

How will joining EU institutions change our national life?

Marian Bailey, Rutupiae Free Beacon

With the ratification of the Treaty of Montfort by both houses of Parliament, Nova Anglicana is officially a part of the Esportivan Union. The Clark government announced yesterday that Nova Anglicana would be joining nearly all EU institutions, with only the Esportivan Defense Bloc being rejected and the Esportivan Central Bank being subject to a referendum. Here we'll break down what institutions the nation is joining or not, the advantages and disadvantages of doing so, and who might the Clark government select to represent Nova Anglicana on the international stage.

EU Institution: Esportivan Council
Joining: Yes, mandatory
Advantages: Nova Anglicana will have a seat at the table in determining the direction the EU goes, especially in foreign policy. Despite the size of Nova Anglicana paling in comparison to other nations in the EU, its voice will be equal.
Disadvantages: The disadvantages of joining the EU, since this is mandatory. Picking the right person for the job is essential, as a weak or ineffective Councillor would hurt our reputation.
Potential Picks: Talia Sherwood is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as the representative for the NAAZE, would be well placed. Stewardship Party leader and longtime ally Marian Greenfield is term-limited soon, and might be looking to move up. Nestor Kearney is a former Defense Minister with experience working with Esportiva, or somebody like Mary Baldwin, chief negotiator for the Treaty, could be good choices.

EU Institution: Assembly of Esportiva
Joining: Yes, mandatory
Advantages: By joining the Assembly, Nova Anglicana has a voice in legislation passed by the Union, by which it would have to abide. Our politicians will have a chance to shape EU policy in positive directions.
Disadvantages: The disadvantages of joining the EU, since this is mandatory. Our influence is less than on the Council, since Nova Anglicana will only have 10 seats among the hundreds in the Assembly.
Potential Picks: The real choice is who to lead the PJP election campaign for the Assembly. A government minister probably makes the most sense, so again Talia Sherwood could be an option, though this would be a lower profile move for her. Tim McKenzie, Minister of Defense, has campaign experience as the former Premier of New Brunswick, though there isn't an obvious replacement for him at Defense. It's possible that a non-minister could be selected; for example, Graham Hatton is young, but he was a leadership rival and doesn't have a post yet.

EU Institution: Esportivan Courts of Justice
Joining: Yes
Advantages: By joining, Nova Anglicana secures to itself representation in these courts to both bring suits and defend against them with the weight of the EU behind them. It gives a legal way to settle disputes between members, and for Nova Anglican citizens to settle claims against EU members or organisations from other EU members. It helps when you and your allies can settle disputes peacefully. There is also a rumor that Rutupiae is being considered for ECJ headquarters.
Disadvantages: Nova Anglicana does leave itself vulnerable to being sued or to having a legal body that can enforce claims against it. There is some concern about overlapping EU law or in which cases would EU law supersede national law.
Potential Picks: The ECJ is not intended to be a political institution, and as such will hire candidates based on merit. But the government might encourage noted jurists like Sara Dean or Robert Francis to apply, and prominent civil rights lawyer Miriam Blair might be interested in a non-judicial position.

EU Institution: Esportivan Central Bank
Joining: Undetermined, subject to a referendum
Advantages: With economies like Grearia, Hannasea, Cyborg Holland, and Damukuni either using the Espo or pegged to it, the Espo is certain to be a stable and strong currency. It would increase Nova Anglicana's purchasing power and likely decrease the cost of buying goods abroad. It would make it easier to trade with EU allies or pursue tourism in other EU countries and vice versa.
Disadvantages: Loss of control over the money supply and the potential rising of prices at home. A strong currency is also one that makes it a little more difficult to export.
Potential Picks: Choosing the current governor of the Bank of Nova Anglicana, Teresa Wade, would likely make sense as a Governor of the ECB. Though there are always more heterodox picks such as Ross Murphy if Nova Anglicana wants a more expansive money supply from the ECB.

EU Institution: Esportivan Free Trade Association
Joining: Yes
Advantages: The calculus is pretty straightforward here: does Nova Anglicana benefit more from cheap exports than it is hurt by cheap imports? We export a lot of agricultural products, as well as energy, which would definitely benefit from the dropping or relaxing of trade barriers. Cheap imports can also be beneficial, as it would allow Nova Anglicans access to more goods at cheaper prices. EFTA combined with the ECB could make imported goods much cheaper (free trade and a stronger currency).
Disadvantages: If Nova Anglicana's EU partners take advantage of this to flood our country with cheap products that put Nova Anglican firms out of business and cause people to lose their jobs, then that would be dangerous. But most economists assure us that trade has a mostly marginal effect on employment.
Potential Picks: There are no political appointees, but if Nova Anglicana wanted a strong voice within the institution, Sub-Minister for Trade Alton Wolfe would seem to be a perfect candidate to apply.

EU Institution: Esportivan Economic Development Association
Joining: Yes
Advantages: The EEDA intends to harmonise internal rules among member nations and promote the free flow of services and capital across national borders. It's the counterpart to the EFTA, which provides for free movement of goods. This would allow for Nova Anglicana to invest in and be invested in by foreign countries, as well as provide services across borders. It's another step towards international co-operation and the strengthening of regional economies.
Disadvantages: This does mean it would be easier for foreign companies to buy Nova Anglican ones, and foreign financial services could hurt domestic companies, but Nova Anglicana has never been a huge banking or stockbroking hub. Nova Anglicana would also have to abide by EU legislation on competition and safety, etc, which might be more stringent or too loose for our liking, though of course we'd have a voice.
Potential Picks: Like the EFTA, there are no political appointees. But again, Wolfe would make sense, or perhaps prominent economist Jennifer Black, whose specialty is international trade.

EU Institution: Esportivan Defense Bloc
Joining: No
Advantages: Not joining allows Nova Anglicana to preserve more of an independent course in foreign policy. The nation is dearly attached to the fact that it has never deployed troops outside our borders except to protect our own citizens. It prevents Nova Anglicana from being dragged into a war or potential military action abroad. It also prevents Nova Anglicana from being required to spend more money on the Defense Ministry, as required by the EDB.
Disadvantages: Nova Anglicana loses potential allies if it were ever attacked, but that is unlikely. They also miss out on joint training exercises intended to strengthen the armed forces.
Potential Picks: Nova Anglicana isn't joining, but Nestor Kearney would be a strong choice if available and if the Nova Anglican government changes its mind in a few years.

EU Institution: Esportivan Union Foreign Aid Commission
Joining: Yes
Advantages: By joining EUFAC, Nova Anglicana will be able to make its donations go farther. It will also bring more heft to conditions Nova Anglicana might attach to foreign aid. EUFAC also does not prevent Nova Anglicana from giving its own foreign aid.
Disadvantages: Opponents of the EU and foreign aid will attack this as a boondoggle. It's true that it will require more aid from Nova Anglicana, since the EU does not currently have its own funding mechanism beyond member contributions.
Potential Picks: Considering that he oversees the Sub-Ministry of International Co-operation & Assistance, which deals with foreign aid, Nicholas Jensen would be able to make a smooth transition.

EU Institution: Esportivan Energy Commission
Joining: Yes
Advantages: The EEC is about building a shared energy grid and strengthening production and transmission infrastructure of the respective countries. This could unlock funds for the Nova Anglican grid and would promote the increased use of renewable energy. As for a shared grid, the NAAZE would be the primary beneficiary, though metropolitan Nova Anglican companies could make money by selling energy on it.
Disadvantages: If EU grids fail, then NAAZE grids would fail. But the shared grid intends to prevent that problem. One could make a case that sharing energy might lead to shortages at home, but the NAAZE is well situated for energy production and shouldn't run into that problem.
Potential Picks: If Marilyn Greenfield doesn't end up on the Council, she would be a strong pick here. She's got plenty of renewable-energy bona fides and would no doubt bring zeal to her job. If not, Bernice Beaulieu, the civil engineer who's the head of the Sub-Ministry of Water, Power & Waste Management would have a lot of technical expertise she could put to use.

CE 31 and Esportivan Sporting Festival Updates

Football

Record: 1-2-0, 5 pts
Standing: 2nd
Games to play: 1 (East Murbley)
Most recent match/statistics: 2-0 Hinodejin Empire (Fuller 18', Burke 84')

Baseball

Record: 3-1, +11 RD
Standing: 3rd
Games to play: 1 (Hannasea)
Most recent match/statistics: 6-2 A Random Place (WP: Nick Mason, 7.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, Key player: Bryan Yates, 2-5, 4 RBI)

Basketball

Record: 3-1, +117 PD
Standing: 1st
Games to play: 3 (United, Ha'Yarok, Sangti)
Most recent match/statistics: 95-62 Fhulghamous Peninsula (Darren Goodman 22 pts, Team 8 steals)

Ice Hockey

Record: 3-0-0-0, 9 pts
Standing: 1st
Games to play: 1 (Zeta Reka & Hugaltaldom)
Most recent match/statistics: 4-0 Esportivan Darmen (Manning 8:26 1st, Messier 13:51 2nd, Manning 18:12 2nd, Cole 1:34 3rd)

Gridiron

Record: 4-0, +58 PD
Standing: 1st
Games to play: 1 (Hannasea)
Most recent match/statistics: 26-13 A Random Place (QB Dixon: 26-44, 257 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, K Hart 4/4 FG, 2/2 XP)

by **Har Yarok** » Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:26 pm

Selection of articles from Ha’Yaroki news media.

Prime Minister: Ha’Yarok must have independent space program

Abdul Kader Nafiz Salah killed in missile strike

Silver Stars sunk by former World Champions

In Brief:

Ancient Veridian temple unearthed with remarkably intact mosaic.
Papal delegation visits Yamera.
Tomek Reinharz header cancels out Bjorn Cohen strike to secure valuable draw that leaves Green & Blues needing last day miracle.
Melchior Mankowitz (20pts/5rbds/4blks) and Alonso Little (18pts/6rbds) lead Raptors one win closer to playoffs.

by **Sylestone** » Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:53 pm

SYLESTONE QUALIFY FOR KNOCKOUTS WITH RANDOM RUN CHASE

Round Three:
Sylestone vs A Random Place @ Black Dolphin Arena, New Colk, South Newlandia

NEW COLK, SOUTH NEWLANDIA - It was yet another random day in South Newlandia, with a third successful run chase in three matches kicking off an optimal start to the second EspoT20, despite only playing with a lineup that was effectively second-string. After restricting Natanians & Nosts and Tumbra to below-par totals in the opening two rounds before chasing them down with ease, with overs to spare. Now, up against the Randoms of A Random Place, things went down a similar trajectory for the third time in a row, with luck and umpiring calls often going against the Hawthorns as the random people off the side of the street put up a dogged fight. But in the end, it was simply not enough to defeat this determined Sylestone side, who eventually won with five wickets and sixteen balls remaining in the sheds.

Now, for the random Sylestonean not exactly interested in random matters outside of their own nation, I think a bit of background about A Random Place may be helpful. Unlike Natanians & Nosts and Tumbra, nations most citizens will have at least heard of once in their lifetime, A Random Place is simply an irrelevant, random nation that only one in every ten or so random people would have heard of. I mean, how can you randomly be informed of a nation when it’s own people barely even know? Anyway, back to the point. As the name they have randomly given themselves suggests, everything in A Random Place is completely random. The clothes the citizens wear, the houses that they live in and even the amount of money they earn, it’s all down to pure luck. Hell, even their president is randomly elected, which comes with obvious upsides and downsides, especially when the person randomly selected is exactly seven years old.

So, as you might have guessed, this cricket team was made up of random dudes selected from the side of the street - people who you would think would have no idea what they were doing. But no, in a rather major miracle, it turned out that the people randomly selected actually seemed rather competent at the sport, somehow beating a relatively experienced Tumbran side by eighteen runs to send all viewers spiralling out of their seats in shock, disbelieving the fact that these random, classy players all happened to be “randomly chosen”. But the Hawthorns were another class altogether, and to defeat them would essentially signal the beginning of a random fucking apocalypse.

Things began the right way for Liam Afosha, randomly calling the correct side of the coin for the third time in a row and sending the Randoms in, knowing how good his side was at restricting their opposition to a below-par first innings total before chasing it down with ease. They’d done it before, so why not again?

After Random opener Aariz Buckner managed to hit Nathan Norwell’s opening delivery for two, the seamer got the third ball of the innings to randomly keep low, making its way through Buckner’s defence and splattering the stumps, sending him on his way for just two from three balls - a massive wicket to begin with and making Afosha’s decision at the toss worth it. However, despite barely knowing how to play cricket, Imani Ryan and Priya Barrera settled in, playing rather aggressively as they saw Norwell and Leo Codrington off, the score racing along at over eight an over.

But despite both players looking crash hot at the crease, it simply would not last. A random bowling change saw Ross Amitt take over from Norwell for the fifth over and despite being pumped for four by Barrera on his first ball, quickly nailed his line and length to have both players playing and missing at balls outside the off stump and easily looking the most dangerous out of all the bowlers thus far. On the fifth ball of the over, the nippy right-armer reaped his reward, dismissing Ryan for a randomly-made 13 to have the Randoms 2-40 inside the powerplay.

Despite not really knowing what they were doing, Vlad Coleman was the random player who walked out of the Random dressing room to face the music and immediately looked to go big, right from ball one. It was a brave move with Barrera appearing ominous at the other end, but it paid off. Norwell’s third over, the final of the powerplay, was hit for ten and while Afosha and Kate Sonnel tied it down a bit, the score was still 2-83 at the ten-over mark, with Coleman in the high 20s and Barrera on around 40.

But just as the Randoms seemed to be taking the game away from the Hawthorns, Afosha reintroduced himself into the attack and got the second ball of his over to hit a random crack in the pitch, bouncing more than Coleman expected as he launched himself into a straight drive back over the bowlers’ head. However, upon noticing this, Coleman could not follow through with his shot and could only get an outside edge on it, allowing Stealom to grab the ball just before it hit him in the stomach. Coleman was out for a well-made, 19-ball 30, and the game was once again in the balance, the score 3-84 with just under ten overs remaining.

Coleman’s wicket brought debutant Danyaal Cote out to the crease, who immediately looked completely out of his depth at the crease - a bit like someone who, y’know, hadn’t played cricket before (surprise surprise). While Barrera passed a superb fifty at one end, Cote struggled at the other before Kate Sonnel got him for an eight-ball four, her sixth wicket in what was shaping up to be a brilliant tournament for the teenager. Now, with the score 4-101 with only six-and-a-bit overs remaining, Barrera’s innings seemed to be the one that would make or break the Randoms’ innings.

But with the middle to lower order coming to the crease, the Random number three began to lose their touch, surviving a couple of leg-before appeals before being caught at cover-point by Brock Westleford on the fourth ball of the sixteenth over, the score 5-121. This brought Carmen Bloggs to the crease, joining a struggling Kevin Cooke, to help try and finish the innings off on the right foot, with momentum swinging their way.

In the end, it would be roughly even. Samuel Cross, Amitt and Codrington all bowled well to restrict the Randoms at the end, but some lusty blows from Bloggs saw the Randoms randomly make it past 150, a below-par but competitive score, although they would have their work cut out for them against an in-form batting lineup. Yet, it certainly isn’t a walk in the park, no matter the form of Lachlan Cocrine and co.

Things started out on a positive note for the Randoms, with skipper Joni Floyd having Yash Ubuni caught for nought on the second ball of the innings, going for a chip over mid-on but not getting it far enough. This brought Cocrine to the crease, fresh off a 38-ball 82 against Tumbra. If the Randoms even wanted to stay in the game, they had to get him. And quickly.

Off the first ball of the second over, the 25-year-old launched into a lofted off-drive off the bowling of Joshua Rubio and deposited it over the boundary rope for six, signalling his intent to carry on with the way he was playing at the Southground just a couple of days ago. However, following this, Cocrine was interestingly bogged down, with the in-form Brianna Eastwood taking over the reins at the other end to get her innings off to a good start with a boundary or two mixed in with some quick running between wickets.

On 12 from 10 balls, Cocrine was delivered a short-pitched ball from Kevin Cooke and immediately rocked back, looking to swat it through mid-wicket for his first boundary of the innings. The right-hander hit it crisply, too, and for a moment it appeared to have made its way past Priya Barrera, but no. Despite multiple camera angles showing inconclusive evidence about whether the catch was taken or not, the umpires decided to send the star Sylestonean on his way, the score now 2-28 from 4.3 overs, the required run-rate beginning to climb above eight an over.

Brock Westleford, promoted from number five in the batting order following a switch with the out-of-form Samuel Cross, joined Eastwood at the crease and began to rebuild the innings from its shaky start, clocking up runs at a decent clip thanks to regular assistance from the “extras” column on the scorecard. The “slow pace” of the bowling (aka like 90-100 kilometres per hour, or a pretty comfortable pace for a competent teenage batter, although every now and again it was mixed up by a random quicker or even slower ball) was surprisingly tough for the Sylestonean batters to get away, but as they became more and more used to it, the runs began to flow faster and faster.

But with the score 2-82 one ball into the eleventh over, with only 70 runs now required from 59 balls, Westleford was caught and bowled by Carmen Bloggs for 21, unnecessarily trying to up the ante despite the target being well within sight at the current run-rate. Then, on the first ball of the following over, Eastwood was run out for 41going for a quick single by Kevin Cooke to put the Randoms back in the game, the score 4-87 with two new batters at the crease. Somehow, this team of random people from the side of the street were actually keeping a professional team at bay….

But not if Samuel Cross or Liam Afosha had anything to do with it. The two all-rounders went about rebuilding the innings again, scoring at a good rate to have the required run-rate always decreasing. Afosha’s wicket in the fifteenth over ensured that the Randoms remained in with a chance, but Ashton Stealom and Cross removed any hopes the Randoms had at taking out a shock win, the former sealing the deal with a six and a four from the bowling of Joni Floyd to wrap up the match with five wickets and sixteen balls remaining.

Stealom finished with a quickfire, 13-ball 24, while Cross batted with far more calmness for an unbeaten, 18-ball 25, the second highest score after Eastwood’s 41 in the team. However, it was not one of the batters who would be awarded with player of the match, with Ross Amitt’s tidy 1-21 from four overs, including a maiden, being a pivotal performance in the win. A sublime effort from the man who was a shock selection in the squad, let alone a member of the XI for two of the first three matches.

Thanks to the Randoms’ win over the Sherpa Empire and Tumbra's win over Natanians & Nosts, the Hawthorns have officially secured a top two position with one game over the winless Sherpas to go. Them and Damukuni are, for now, the only two sides to have assured this, although the hosts, South Newlandia, also boast a perfect record. It means that the Sylestonean selectors now have the luxury to call upon a second-second-string lineup for the final match in order to give those that have not played a game yet some experience, and to rest a couple of mainstays in preparation for the knockout stage.

It will be a risk, but if it pays off, it will be worth it. Can the Hawthorns make it four from four?

A Random Place Batting
Batter                                        R   B  4s  6s   SR
A Buckner        b Norwell                    2   3   0   0   66.67
I Ryan           c Ubuni b Amitt             13  11   2   0  118.18
P Barrera        c Westleford b Cross        61  49   6   2  124.49
V Coleman        c Stealom b Afosha          30  19   3   2  157.89
D Cote           c Codrington b Sonnel        4   8   0   0   50
K Cooke          not out                     12  15   0   0   80
C Bloggs         not out                     21  15   2   1  140
      EXTRAS     (3 b, 1 lb, 4 wd)            8
      TOTAL      for 5 wickets              151   (20 ov; 7.55 RPO)
Did not bat:   C Bull (+), J Floyd (c), J Rubio, A Wiggins

FOW: 1-2 (A Buckner, 0.3 overs); 2-40 (I Ryan, 4.5 overs); 3-84 (V Coleman, 10.2 overs); 
     4-101 (D Cote, 13.4 overs); 5-121 (P Barrera, 15.5 overs)

Sylestone Bowling
Bowler              Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
N Norwell            3   0  27  1      9  
L Codrington         3   0  26  0   8.67  
L Afosha (c)         3   0  22  1   7.33  
R Amitt              4   1  21  1   5.25  
K Sonnel             4   0  31  1   7.75  
S Cross              3   0  20  1   6.67  

Sylestone Batting   (Target: 152)
Batter                                        R   B  4s  6s   SR
Y Ubuni          c Bull b Floyd               0   2   0   0    
B Eastwood       run out (Cooke)             41  34   5   0  120.59
L Cocrine        c Barrera b Cooke           12  11   0   1  109.09
B Westleford     c&b Bloggs                  21  17   2   0  123.53
S Cross          not out                     25  18   3   0  138.89
L Afosha (c)     lbw b Bloggs                16  11   1   1  145.45
A Stealom (+)    not out                     24  13   1   2  184.62
      EXTRAS     (7 b, 3 lb, 2 wd, 2 nb)     14
      TOTAL      for 5 wickets              153   (17.2 ov; 8.83 RPO)
Did not bat:   N Norwell, R Amitt, L Codrington, K Sonnel

FOW: 1-0 (Y Ubuni, 0.2 overs); 44255 (L Cocrine, 4.3 overs); 3-82 (B Eastwood, 10.2 overs); 
     4-87 (B Westleford, 11.1 overs); 5-118 (L Afosha (c), 14.3 overs)

A Random Place Bowling
Bowler              Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
J Floyd (c)        2.5   0  24  1   8.47  
J Rubio              4   0  32  0      8  
V Coleman            2   0  18  0      9  
K Cooke              4   0  27  1   6.75  
A Wiggins            2   0  21  0   10.5  
C Bloggs             3   0  21  2      7  

Venue: Black Dolphin Arena, New Colk, South Newlandia
Match number: 
Toss: Sylestone won the toss and elected to bowl
Season/Tournament: EspoT20 II
Matchdays: Matchday 3
Player of the Match: Ross Amitt (SYL)
Series result: 
Debut: D Cote (ARP)
Umpires: Unknown
TV Umpire: Unknown
Reserve Umpire: Unknown
Match Referee: Unknown
Match Result: Sylestone win by five wickets with 16 balls remaining

Playing XI vs The Sherpa Empire @ Harrier Stadium, New Colk

1. Brianna Eastwood
2. Edward Cunningham
3. Samuel Cross
4. Brock Westleford
5. Liam Afosha (c)
6. Peter Lenton
7. Ashton Stealom (+)
8. Caitlyn Freehill
9. Nathan Norwell
10. Ross Amitt
11. Milan Poci

by **Fhulghamous Peninsula** » Wed Dec 01, 2021 11:26 pm

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS ONCE AGAIN, LADS

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, well then, I think that that's it for the Fhulghamous Peninsula. It's game over for them! Done, ended, finito! And to think that almost everyone thought that they might actually have a chance of making it out of the “group of death” after they beat the Hinodejin Empire. Talk about wishful thinking! But after this defeat to Tumbra, there’s nothing else that Antonis Papadimitriou or his men can do other than pray that results go their way at the end of the Campionato Esportiva group stage because that day is their bye day. You know, personally, I’ve never really been a fan of bye days, but I do understand that they just have to be done when the numbers don’t add up otherwise. I just hate it when the team you’re following is the team that happens to have the bye on the final day of any given tournament, meaning that that team’s fate is essentially out of their hands.

Oh, well. Let’s just get this recap over and done with. Tumbra versus the Fhulghamous Peninsula. Personally, I don’t think these two sides have ever met before in any competition, although I do know for a fact that Abanhfleft and Tumbra have encountered each other a fair few times before, but that was before I was hired by Gaelic Gamers But now they have met, and it was Tumbra who have emerged the victors. Now, was this result a surprise? Probably not, pots-wise. Tumbra is, after all, the 11th best side in Esportiva according to the region’s official rankings, and the Fhulghamous are just ranked 23rd despite making that miracle run to the bronze in Hannasea two Campionatos ago. But the Fhulghamous definitely had a bit of momentum going for them coming into this game, even if it was losing steam. This was the bloody team that beat the Hinodejin Empire, after all! Never mind that they had a scoreless draw against East Murbley; they were still able to peg defending champs Nova Anglicana back on level terms before this game! So a win against Tumbra wasn’t really outside the realm of possibility.

Except it actually was. Antonis Papadimitriou didn’t seem to have learned his lesson and went back to playing route one football against Tumbra even though it had been proven in all three matches that short passing football was objectively better than just lumping the ball up to your strikers, especially when Antonis decided that Anselmo Iñiguez and Julian Elvira were going to start up top once again. I really hate to repeat myself, but if you’re going to go route one then why not start a striker who actually thrives in such a system? You know, someone like Eulalio Acosta? I’m pretty sure that Acosta would have definitely converted a few more of those chances at the very least than either one of Iñiguez or Elvira, I’ll tell you that much!

And you know what else is going on here? Valerie Wells. That Valerie Wells was the textbook definition of a tricky winger! She may have been just the same age as Bruno Bravo and not even Tumbra’s starting left winger but she was running circles around the poor lad! Yet another example of why the Quebecois league is better than the FPL, but don’t let anybody from Abanhfleft hear me say that! Or else the next time you see me, I’m being force-fed dog food by my fellow Forester fans. But really now. There’s a reason why Wells was named man of the match. When she wasn’t busy running in circles around Bravo and making him chase shadows, Wells was spearheading counterattacks, basically allowing the other Tumbrans to run at the Fhulghamousian defense at speed and basically make them crap their pants. And maybe it was because of that that nobody could do anything while Tumbra put themselves one and then two goals up. It is kind of hard to move around a lot when you’ve let loose a mudslide in your underwear, after all, although I am most definitely not speaking from experience! Am totally not, swear on me Nan’s grave!

Needless to say, there was wide dissatisfaction from the Fhulghamousian camp. “Same old Antonis” rang out loud and clear throughout this South Newlandian stadium once again. All this could have been avoided if he had just decided to stick to what worked best this tournament and build up from the back, but no, he had to play it very, very safe and go back to route one football once he was facing another “big” team. And look where that got them! If it weren’t for Mutlaq el-Aboud scoring that header from Hossem Issa’s corner kick then this would have been an even bigger embarrassment for the Fhulghamous because everyone knew that Tumbra was good to score at least one more goal in this game, and when it came, it was no surprise that it came from that woman once again, Valerie Wells. If I’m being honest though, that third Tumbran goal was actually needed. It was pretty much a coup de grace, a way to end the Fhulghamousian supporters’ suffering. Now all they have to do now is wait and hope that other results in the group go their way somehow, but then again, do they really want to go through all of this once again? What if somehow, they make it through to the next round, and Antonis cocks up the strategy once again? What then?

Well, that’s all that there is for me now. If you’ve got any comments or thoughts of your own about the match against Tumbra or predictions about Fhulghamous Peninsula making it out of the group or not then feel free to leave them down below. Until then, I’ve been the Man from Markovsky, thoroughly disappointed by my country’s colony once again. Christ above…

       TUMBRA 3 - 1 FHULGHAMOUS PENINSULA
ERSKINE (14')       MUTLAQ (68')
 VAUGHN (49')
  WELLS (81')

by **Copper Cuprum** » Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:51 am

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

WAKE ME UP WHEN THE CAMPIONATO ENDS

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, just as the Fhulghamous Peninsula’s goose is cooked when it comes to the Campionato Esportiva, the same could literally be said for Copper Cuprum. The only thing that the Miners have going for them is the fact that they’ve still got a game left to play as opposed to the Fhulghamous, who have a bye day on the final day of the CE 31 group stage and will have to rely on other results to see if they can even make it out. At least the Copperites still have their fate in their own hands, even if it does seem like a long shot at the very least.

And it just became a much longer shot after Copper Cuprum were defeated by Le Choix. Now how in the world do you say that? Is it going to be something pretentious like Le Chwah or is it going to be Le Choyks? I don’t even know. But what I do know is that these guys managed to beat the Copperites by a goal to nil, and this means that the Chiefdom will have to beat Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom if they want even the tiniest sliver of hope of making it out of the group stage. But really, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen at all, is it? Come on, let’s be honest with ourselves. Do you guys really think that Copper Cuprum will have what it takes to beat Zeta Reka and whatever? I don’t mean to be a Debbie downer here but come on, let’s be real with ourselves.

I wouldn’t recommend watching this game on repeat though, unless you’re looking to fall asleep real quick. The only real action of note in this game happened within 14 minutes, and everything else that happened after that was superfluous to the result itself. In fact, I’m actually surprised somebody actually managed to find the back of the net in this particular game because everyone was literally sitting inside their own half, unwilling to commit even just a single player across the line for an attack. In fact, the singular goal in this game was a direct result of Copper Cuprum deciding to come out of their shell and trying to actually mount an attack instead of sitting on their arses waiting for a literal miracle to happen. Hamora Adupu lost the ball to a tackle by Hervé Kaplan, who passed the ball on to Aurélie Dior, who punted the ball as far as she could down to the other end of the pitch, and for some reason, Gwenaël Cazenave was on hand to smash the bugger into the roof of the net.

And that’s all the action that happened in this game. Sure, I can say that Copper Cuprum continued mounting attacks against Le Choix, but could you really call all of those pathetic attempts “attacks”? All that happens is that Copperite players would get the ball into the Le Choix half only for a Le Choix player to stick out a leg and catch the ball before it could become an actual danger to their one-goal lead. Then the Le Choix players would pass the ball around a little bit between themselves before they make a half-hearted attempt at penetrating the Copperite half which inevitably leads to the ball ending up back in Copper Cuprum’s possession, and the repeat ad nauseam or ad infinitum or whatever Latin phrase is actually appropriate for this. We didn’t have to study Latin anymore when I was in Catholic school, and even if there was, I probably wouldn’t have paid attention to any of it anyway! And don’t even bother reading the stats for this game. It’ll just make you weep.

Well, that’s all that there is for me now. If you’ve got any comments or thoughts of your own about the match against Le Choix or predictions against Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom then feel free to leave them down below. Until then, I’ve been the Man from Markovsky, too sleepy to even feel disappointed about another country’s football team.

COPPER CUPRUM 0 - 1 LE CHOIX
                    CAZENAVE (14')

by **The Licentian Isles** » Thu Dec 02, 2021 11:13 am

The Montfort Times

The Third Ballot Paper

With elections coming up in the Licentian Isles for the first time since this nation returned from its supernatural absence from Esportiva, it’s probably about time that the complex electoral system of these islands is explained to any outsiders who might have taken an interest in our politics. Designed to ensure equality between the four parishes, it’s a system of federalism taken to an extreme. It confuses Licentians just as much as it does outsiders. Let’s try and make things a little bit more clear.

[size=120]The Esportivan Elections[/size=120]

Alongside the list and constituency ballots that voters will be filling out in this election, there’s a separate election to think about. For the first time, Licentians will be electing representatives to the Esportivan Assembly. While some have complained about an influential nation like the Isles getting only 14 seats, it seems like a fair reflection in reality. This entirely proportional system is likely to throw up some surprises, but let’s see what our political analysts predict.

Montfort Parish

Seats – 6
Predicted members – LGP (3), LLP (2), LNP (1)

The largest parish in the nation will take up nearly half of the seats allocated to the Isles at the Esportivan Assembly. That’s not entirely surprising given just over 6 million people live in Montfort and the surrounding areas, but it does mean that they will have overwhelming representation in a way that just isn’t possible in the Licentian system. The amount of representatives may well depend on how much the Greens fall after holding a majority in Montfort’s Assembly last time out. We’re expecting three Greens to go to the Esportivan Assembly, but the Liberals will be following close behind them in votes. Some have suggested that this election will be more polarised in terms of pro- and anti-Esportivan integration views from each party: if it is, then perhaps the Liberals will do better than expected. The Nationals and Socialists are probably both hoping for at most one seat, with the Socialists seeming most likely to miss out in the capital.

Abingdon Parish

Seats – 4
Predicted members – LGP (2), LSP (1), LNP (1)

Abingdon is the only other parish with more than two representatives, but what that mostly means in this context is that the large parties are likely to bag themselves at least two seats each between Montfort and Abingdon. Around 3.5 million people, or a quarter of the nation, live in Abingdon, and they will also benefit from a slight over-representation compared to the national scene. Here, the Socialists can probably be more confident of gaining a seat than they are in Montfort, as the definite second party in the parish. Depending on the way things fall in terms of Abingdon’s views on the Union, they may well do better than that as well, having positioned themselves as a mildly Esposceptic party. The Greens will hope for two, but would settle for one, while it’s the Liberals and Nationals fighting it out for the final seat here: again, it’s the Nationals who are more likely to come away with it.

St Bart’s Parish

Seats – 2
Predicted members – LLP (1), PDL (1)

In the two smaller parishes, each making up around 15% of the nation’s population, they are only electing two members to the Esportivan Assembly. In St Bart’s, that means that we’re likely to see the two largest parties in the parish each taking a member, and all the polling suggests that that will be the Liberals and the PDL. The big question then is which party will be higher when residents of the outer isles have cast their ballots. The Liberals and PDL somewhat split here despite presenting similar, centrist platforms. The PDL, while in favour of the Esportivan Union, have always said it cannot come at the cost of a focus on local issues, whether that be within the party or at a federal level. As such, they’ll be hoping to take the top spot: if they do, expect them to tout the “largest party in St Bart’s” label at the next elections.

Colesham Parish

Seats – 2
Predicted members – LNP (2)

Anyone who knows the politics of the Isles will know that Colesham is only going to be voting in Esposceptic parties this time around. They only have two members to elect, and with the way the Nationals dominate the polls in Colesham, there’s every chance that they’ll take both seats. It’s the Conservative People’s Party who have the best chance of stopping them from taking both seats, but their chances in this election will depend just how far the dislike of the Esportivan Union goes in this parish. The CPP have made noises about following a policy of abstentionism, where William Blair, atop their list in Colesham, would refuse to take a seat in the Esportivan Assembly. While it’s not been confirmed, the voters will decide whether they like the sound of that or not, and that will decide whether the Nationals get one or two seats.

by **Kaldtfjell** » Thu Dec 02, 2021 11:47 am

Dear diary,

Today is the day.

It’s our final match of the group stage. Things have been mixed on the pitch, so it’s distinctly possible that this is our last game in South Newlandia. That means it’s our last chance to go.

Asbjorn wanted it to be this match anyway. The referees had been announced a while out, and he’d spent some time looking into all of them. The guy today is a Tumbran, Christian Krupa. Asbjorn says he’s a bit of a talker, who would rather chat to a player than card them. That means it’s the perfect opportunity for me to talk to him and try and get out.

The plan is, surprisingly, quite simple. I’m starting, as I have been throughout, so my job is to just be a little bit more aggressive on the pitch than I usually would. If any of the Racing players ever get to know about this then I apologise, it’s nothing personal. Hopefully, one of my tackles will get Krupa’s attention and he’ll call me over for a chat.

I’m hoping that when he does, no one else will be around, because that’s when I have to try and get the message across that we need him to help us get out of here. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to say. I do share a language with him, but I don’t exactly speak it very well. It’ll have to be something simple. That’ll have to be done during the first half, and I’ll have to make it clear that there will be three of us in his dressing room at the final whistle who need to be hidden from our team and minders.

From there, it’s simple. Tell Viggo and Asbjorn that Krupa knows about the plan. They’ll sneak away at half time and try to get into the referee’s dressing room. After that, I have to get off the pitch somehow for the end of the game. I might fake an injury and sneak away from the physio in the dressing room, but it might well be easier to get myself sent off (I reiterate my apology to the Racing players). After that, I go to join Viggo and Asbjorn, and we wait. We’ll either get away, or we’ll get caught. This nightmare will be over one way or another.

It's scary. I’m scared. I know that this could be the start of the rest of my life, or it could be the end of it. I’m not certain I’m ready for either outcome to be honest. At this point though, I have no other choice. I have to go, I have to leave.

Mamma, if you ever get this and read it, I’m sorry. I hope you know that I had no other choice, and I will do everything I can to make it so that you can join me, wherever I end up. I promise.

A. F.

by **South Newlandia** » Thu Dec 02, 2021 1:48 pm

Cutoff for MD5 of the Campionato Esportiva 31, Espo T20 II and Esportivan Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Gridiron Trophies!
If you notice any mistakes, please alert me ASAP!
advancing - blue for next full round, green for play-in.
Huh, this took a while.

Campionato Esportiva 31

Group A
Robostania 0–3 Ethane
Bongo Johnson 2–0 The Licentian Isles

P Group A                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ethane                           4   3  1  0    8   2  +6   10
2 Bongo Johnson                    4   2  1  1    8   7  +1    7
3 The Licentian Isles              4   2  1  1    2   2   0    7 (2nd/3rd on H2H result)
4 Cheetahs and reptiles Coalison   4   0  2  2    4   6  −2    2
5 Robostania                       4   0  1  3    1   6  −5    1

Group B
Racing 1–0 Kaldtfjell
Castlelobruxo 0–3 Gergary

P Group B                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gergary                          4   4  0  0   16   2 +14   12
2 Racing                           4   3  0  1    8   8   0    9
3 Castlelobruxo                    4   1  1  2    5   7  −2    4
4 Kaldtfjell                       4   0  2  2    3   7  −4    2
5 Oduduwa Repulblic                4   0  1  3    2  10  −8    1

Group C
Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom 1–0 Copper Cuprum
Damukuni 0–1 Ceyne Isles

P Group C                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ceyne Isles                      4   4  0  0    7   3  +4   12
2 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom        4   2  1  1    2   1  +1    7
3 Le Choix                         4   1  2  1    2   2   0    5
4 Copper Cuprum                    4   1  0  3    4   6  −2    3
5 Damukuni                         4   0  1  3    1   4  −3    1

Group D
Montego 1–1 A Random Place
Brenecia 1–3 The Hannasean Federation

P Group D                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Brenecia                         4   2  1  1    9   5  +4    7 (1st/2nd/3rd on H2H results: BRE 4, ARP 3, NTN 1)
2 A Random Place                   4   2  1  1   11  11   0    7
3 Natanians and Nosts              4   2  1  1    5   6  −1    7
4 Montego                          4   1  1  2    2   4  −2    4
5 The Hannasean Federation         4   1  0  3    6   7  −1    3

Group E
Ha'Yarok 1–0 Polkopia
Sangti 2–1 South Newlandia

P Group E                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 South Newlandia                  4   2  1  1    6   4  +2    7 (1st/2nd/3rd on H2H GD as H2H is level (3 each); H2H GD: SNL +1, TRB 0, XAN -1)
2 Sangti                           4   2  1  1    6   5  +1    7
3 Xanneria                         4   2  1  1    6   6   0    7
4 Ha'Yarok                         4   1  1  2    4   5  −1    4
5 Polkopia                         4   0  2  2    4   6  −2    2

Group F
The Hinodejin Empire 0–4 Tumbra
East Murbley 0–5 Nova Anglicana (AZE)

P Group F                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Tumbra                           4   3  1  0    8   1  +7   10
2 Nova Anglicana (AZE)             4   2  2  0    9   2  +7    8
3 Fhulghamous Peninsula            4   1  2  1    7   6  +1    5
4 The Hinodejin Empire             4   1  0  3    4  12  −8    3
5 East Murbley                     4   0  1  3    2   9  −7    1

Group G
Ancherion 3–2 Esportivan Darmen
Drehda 0–3 Burgburgh

P Group G                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Burgburgh                        4   2  2  0   12   6  +6    8
2 Esportivan Darmen                4   2  1  1   10   8  +2    7
3 Ancherion                        4   1  3  0    7   6  +1    6
4 Gouvanarch                       4   1  1  2    4   6  −2    4
5 Drehda                           4   0  1  3    1   8  −7    1

Seeding:

P Seeding                             Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Gergary (B1)                         4   4  0  0   16   2 +14   12
 2 Ceyne Isles (C1)                     4   4  0  0    7   3  +4   12
 3 Tumbra (F1)                          4   3  1  0    8   1  +7   10
 4 Ethane (A1)                          4   3  1  0    8   2  +6   10
 5 Burgburgh (G1)                       4   2  2  0   12   6  +6    8
 6 Brenecia (D1)                        4   2  1  1    9   5  +4    7
 7 South Newlandia (E1)                 4   2  1  1    6   4  +2    7
 8 Racing (B2)                          4   3  0  1    8   8   0    9
 9 Nova Anglicana (AZE) (F2)            4   2  2  0    9   2  +7    8
10 Esportivan Darmen (G2)               4   2  1  1   10   8  +2    7
11 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom (C2)       4   2  1  1    2   1  +1    7 [11, 12, 13 split by coin flips]
12 Bongo Johnson (A2)                   4   2  1  1    8   7  +1    7
13 Sangti (E2)                          4   2  1  1    6   5  +1    7
14 A Random Place (D2)                  4   2  1  1   11  11   0    7
15 Xanneria (E3)                        4   2  1  1    6   6   0    7 [15, 16 split by coin flip]
16 The Licentian Isles (A3)             4   2  1  1    2   2   0    7
17 Natanians and Nosts (D3)             4   2  1  1    5   6  −1    7
18 Ancherion (G3)                       4   1  3  0    7   6  +1    6
19 Fhulghamous Peninsula (F3)           4   1  2  1    7   6  +1    5
20 Le Choix (C3)                        4   1  2  1    2   2   0    5
21 Castlelobruxo (B3)                   4   1  1  2    5   7  −2    4

Day 6 - Play-in Round Schedule

(12) Bongo Johnson - Castlelobruxo (21) @Jecken Arena, 16,250 – Newport
(13) Sangti - Le Choix (20) @Walstreim Park, 15,000 – Walstreim
(14) A Random Place - Fhulghamous Peninsula (19) @Coast Stadium, 14,600 – Elephant Town
(15) Xanneria - Ancherion (18) @Elephant Dome, 21,500 – Elephant Valley
(16) The Licentian Isles - Natanians and Nosts (17) @Ratzupalfu Colosseum, 16,000 – Ratzupalfu

Day 7 - Round of 16

(1) Gergary - [Winner TLI/NTN] @EsportivArena, 14,000 – Newport
(8) Racing - Nova Anglicana (AZE) (9) @Coast Stadium, 14,600 – Elephant Town

(4) Ethane - [Winner TRB/LCX] @Walstreim Park, 15,000 – Walstreim
(5) Burgburgh - [Winner BON/CAS] @Elephant Dome, 21,500 – Elephant Valley

(2) Ceyne Isles - [Winner XAN/ACH] @Jecken Arena, 16,250 – Newport
(7) South Newlandia - Esportivan Darmen (10) @Stadium of Friendship, 41,093 – Elephant Valley

(3) Tumbra - [Winner ARP/FHU] @Ratzupalfu Colosseum, 16,000 – Ratzupalfu
(6) Brenecia - Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom (11) @Kinetik Stadium, 16,000 – New Colk

Espo T20 II

Group A
The Grearish Union 176/6 (20 overs)
Castlelobruxo 179/7 (19.5 overs)
Castlelobruxo wins by three wickets

Ethane 164/2 (20 overs)
South Newlandia 164/4 (20 overs)
Super Over

Ethane 10/0 (1 overs)
South Newlandia 9/0 (1 overs)
Ethane wins by one run or by two wickets

P Group A              Pld   W  D  L   NRR   Pts 
1 South Newlandia        4   3  1  0  +0.996   7
2 Castlelobruxo          4   3  0  1  +0.549   6 (2nd/3rd by H2H result)
3 Ethane                 4   3  0  1  +0.398   6
4 The Grearish Union     4   1  0  3  +0.609   2
5 Gouvanarch             4   0  0  4  -2.763   0

Group B
A Random Place 126/5 (20 overs)
Natanians and Nosts 177/3 (20 overs)
Natanians and Nosts wins by 51 runs

Sylestone 184/4 (20 overs)
The Sherpa Empire 155/4 (20 overs)
Sylestone wins by 29 runs

P Group B              Pld   W  D  L   NRR   Pts 
1 Sylestone              4   4  0  0  +2.069   8
2 Natanians and Nosts    4   2  0  2  +0.202   4 (2nd/3rd/4th by NRR)
3 Tumbra                 4   2  0  2  -0.335   4
4 A Random Place         4   2  0  2  -0.527   4
5 The Sherpa Empire      4   0  0  4  -1.263   0

Ingla Terra 168/6 (20 overs)
Copper Cuprum 183/5 (20 overs)
Copper Cuprum wins by 15 runs

Damukuni 152/5 (16.3 overs)
The Licentian Isles 148/5 (20 overs)
Damukuni wins by 5 wickets

P Group C              Pld   W  D  L   NRR   Pts 
1 Damukuni               4   4  0  0  +1.052   8
2 Esportivan Darmen      4   2  0  2  +1.125   4 (2nd/3rd/4th by NRR)
3 Copper Cuprum          4   2  0  2  -0.053   4
4 The Licentian Isles    4   2  0  2  -0.062   4
5 Ingla Terra            4   0  0  4  -2.107   0

Seeding:

P Seeding                   Pld   W  D  L   NRR   Pts 
 1 Sylestone (B1)             4   4  0  0  +2.069   8
 2 Damukuni (C1)              4   4  0  0  +1.052   8
 3 South Newlandia (A1)       4   3  1  0  +0.996   7
 4 Castlelobruxo (A2)         4   3  0  1  +0.549   6
 5 Esportivan Darmen (C2)     4   2  0  2  +1.125   4
 6 Natanians and Nosts (B2)   4   2  0  2  +0.202   4
 7 Ethane (A3)                4   3  0  1  +0.398   6
 8 Copper Cuprum (C3)         4   2  0  2  -0.053   4
 9 Tumbra (B3)                4   2  0  2  -0.335   4
10 The Licentian Isles (C4)   4   2  0  2  -0.062   4

Day 6 - Play-in Round Schedule

(7) Ethane - The Licentian Isles (10) @Harrier Stadium, 5,800 – New Colk
(8) Copper Cuprum - Tumbra (9) @Black Dolphin Arena, 7,000 – New Colk

Day 7 - Quarterfinals

(1) Sylestone - [Winner COP/TMB] @Southground, 4,500 – Elephant Valley
(4) Castlelobruxo - Esportivan Darmen (5) @Harrier Stadium, 5,800 – New Colk

(2) Damukuni - [Winner ETN/TLI] @Black Dolphin Arena, 7,000 – New Colk
(3) South Newlandia - Natanians and Nosts (6) @Harrier Stadium, 5,800 – New Colk

Esportivan Baseball Trophy

Group A
South Newlandia               0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2  4
Gouvanarch                    0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  3

Ha'Yarok                      0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 0  6
Natanians and Nosts           1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2

Super-Llamaland               1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1  4
Ethane                        0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3  6

P Group A                     Pld   W  L   RF  RA  RD    Win % 
1 South Newlandia               5   5  0   42   9 +33    1.000
2 Ethane                        5   3  2   23  38 −15    0.600 (2nd/3rd on H2H result)
3 Super-Llamaland               5   3  2   22  17  +5    0.600
4 Ha'Yarok                      5   2  3   14  23  −9    0.400 (4th/5th on H2H result)
5 Natanians and Nosts           5   2  3   18  25  −7    0.400
6 Gouvanarch                    5   0  5   16  23  −7    0.000

Group B
Nova Anglicana (AZE)          0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1
The Hannasean Federation      0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 X  2

Sangti                        0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1  4
A Random Place                0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3  5

The Sherpa Empire             3 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  7
Copper Cuprum                 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1  5

P Group B                     Pld   W  L   RF  RA  RD    Win % 
1 The Sherpa Empire             5   5  0   27  14 +13    1.000
2 The Hannasean Federation      5   4  1   21   8 +13    0.800
3 Nova Anglicana (AZE)          5   3  2   23  13 +10    0.600
4 Copper Cuprum                 5   2  3   20  19  +1    0.400
5 A Random Place                5   1  4   10  26 −16    0.200
6 Sangti                        5   0  5   13  34 −21    0.000

Day 6 - Quarterfinals

(A1) South Newlandia - Copper Cuprum (B4) @Dolphin Stadium, 12,500 – Newport
(B2) The Hannasean Federation - Super-Llamaland (A3) @Dolphin Stadium, 12,500 – Newport

(B1) The Sherpa Empire - Ha'Yarok (A4) @Elephant Stadium, 15,000 – Elephant Valley
(A2) Ethane - Nova Anglicana (AZE) (B3) @Seaside Park, 14,000 – Walstreim)

Esportivan Basketball Trophy

Group
Nova Anglicana (AZE) 91–61 United
Ha'Yarok 71–82 Fhulghamous Peninsula
Sangti 71–56 Natanians and Nosts
South Newlandia 82–63 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom

P Group                        Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana (AZE)           5   4  1  474 327 +147   4
2 South Newlandia                5   4  1  374 345 +29    4
3 Fhulghamous Peninsula          5   3  2  389 380  +9    3
4 Ha'Yarok                       5   3  2  365 378 −13    3
5 Sangti                         5   3  2  357 339 +18    3
6 United                         5   1  4  349 407 −58    1
7 Natanians and Nosts            5   1  4  353 399 −46    1
8 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom      5   1  4  346 432 −86    1

Esportivan Ice Hockey Trophy

Group A
South Newlandia 8–3 Polkopia
United 0–5 The Sherpa Empire

P Group A                      Pld   W OW OL  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts  
1 The Sherpa Empire              4   4  0  0  0   16   3 +13   12
2 South Newlandia                4   3  0  0  1   20  10 +10    9
3 Polkopia                       4   1  0  0  3   10  14  −4    3 (3rd/4th/5th on H2H GD as H2H is level (3 all); POL +4, UNI -1, ETN -3)
4 United                         4   1  0  0  3   12  21  −9    3
5 Ethane                         4   1  0  0  3    7  17 −10    3

Group B
Kaldtfjell 4–3 Gergary
Fhulghamous Peninsula 7–3 Gouvanarch

P Group B                      Pld   W OW OL  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts  
1 Fhulghamous Peninsula          4   3  0  0  1   15  10  +5    9
2 Kaldtfjell                     4   3  0  0  1   16  13  +3    9 (1st/2nd on H2H result)
3 The Hannasean Federation       4   2  0  0  2    6   6   0    6 
4 Gergary                        4   2  0  0  2    9   5  +4    6 (3rd/4th on H2H result)
5 Gouvanarch                     4   0  0  0  4    6  18 −12    0

Group C
Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom 4–4 Nova Anglicana (AZE) (4–5 OT)
Tumbra 5–0 Natanians and Nosts

P Group C                      Pld   W OW OL  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts  
1 Nova Anglicana (AZE)           4   3  1  0  0   17   6 +11   11
2 Tumbra                         4   2  0  1  1   10   7  +3    7
3 Natanians and Nosts            4   2  0  0  2    9  13  −4    6
4 Esportivan Darmen              4   1  1  0  2   15  14  +1    5
5 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom      4   0  0  1  3    7  18 −11    1

Seeding:

P Seeding                           Pld   W OW OL  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 The Sherpa Empire (A1)             4   4  0  0  0   16   3 +13   12
 2 Nova Anglicana (AZE) (C1)          4   3  1  0  0   17   6 +11   11
 3 Fhulghamous Peninsula (B1)         4   3  0  0  1   15  10  +5    9
 4 South Newlandia (A2)               4   3  0  0  1   20  10 +10    9
 5 Kaldtfjell (B2)                    4   3  0  0  1   16  13  +3    9
 6 Tumbra (C2)                        4   2  0  1  1   10   7  +3    7
 7 The Hannasean Federation (B3)      4   2  0  0  2    6   6   0    6 
 8 Natanians and Nosts (C3)           4   2  0  0  2    9  13  −4    6
 9 Polkopia (A3)                      4   1  0  0  3   10  14  −4    3
10 Gergary (B4)                       4   2  0  0  2    9   5  +4    6

Day 6 - Play-in Round Schedule

(7) The Hannasean Federation - Gergary (10) @Prosperena, 4,000 - Newport
(8) Natanians and Nosts - Polkopia (9) @Trunkst Hockey Arena, 3,000 - Trunkst

Day 7 - Quarterfinals

(1) The Sherpa Empire - [Winner NTN/POL] @Valley Rink, 3,300 - Elephant Valley
(4) South Newlandia - Kaldtfjell (5) @Prosperena, 4,000 - Newport

(2) Nova Anglicana (AZE) - [Winner HAN/GGY] @Valley Rink, 3,300 - Elephant Valley
(3) Fhulghamous Peninsula - Tumbra (6) @Trunkst Hockey Arena, 3,000 - Trunkst

Esportivan Gridiron Trophy

Group
Fhulghamous Peninsula 24–30 A Random Place
United 28–20 South Newlandia
Nova Anglicana (AZE) 44–3 The Hannasean Federation

P Group                       Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD    Win % 
1 Nova Anglicana (AZE)          5   5  0  162  63 +99    1.000
2 A Random Place                5   4  1  124 106 +18    0.800
3 Fhulghamous Peninsula         5   2  3  121 118  +3    0.400
4 The Hannasean Federation      5   2  3   89 137 −48    0.400 (3rd/4th on H2H)
5 United                        5   1  4  103 147 −44    0.200
6 South Newlandia               5   1  4   79 107 −28    0.200 (5th/6th on H2H)

Day 6 - Semifinals

(1) Nova Anglicana (AZE) - The Hannasean Federation (4) @EVU Field, 3,000 - Elephant Valley
(2) A Random Place - Fhulghamous Peninsula (3) @Jungledrom, 2,186 - Ratzupalfu

by **Natanians and Nosts** » Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:12 pm

After surprising defeat,Natanians and Nosts faces trouble for direct qualification,worries with goalkeepers

Have you ever seen a team have four goalkeepers in a match?This weird occurrence happened at Natanians and Nosts' latest game at the Campionato Esportiva.Right at the beginning of the match,Faraz Benton randomly used his hand to hit the ball,which caused A Random Place to score its first goal,the referee refused to accept any plea nor check any evidence,and registered the illegal goal.At the 28th minute of the first period,Daniel Whitcliffe hit his head on the side post and was replaced by Mihai Xosé Apilescu,concurrent to this the staff of A Random Place decided it was time for a substitution as well,so they brought a cloth sack from where he picked up a folded piece of paper in which the name of a player (presumably) was,he then called the first person he saw infield that's how we got Bree Cartwright in place of Tashan Dalton.
Natanians and Nosts had a good scoring opportunity on the 32nd minute of the first period with Cravelha.And again,three minutes later,with Espalheira hitting the upper post.Cue randomness again,after the third shot for A Random Place (made by Luther Dupont) (the first was the hand-goal;at the same time,Natanians and Nosts made 8 ),the ball hit the post,skimmed,went straight into the no-no spot of Baxter Woodcock,who was in legal position,and there to the goal.Obviously,the young mr. Woodcock had to be replaced as soon as possible,then again the cloth sack was given to mr. Adkins,and into his place went Ffion Hall.Despite everything,the rest of the first period was calm,bar some unsuccessful tries of Natanians and Nosts.
Natanians and Nost,after recovery of the happenings managed to score its,then yet-unknow,honour goal.On the 25th minute into the second period,Gabriel Ápio Silva scored with his head,after receiving a nice cross from Probus.One minute later,Apilescu started to feel extremelly strong cramps and had to leave the field,Soares went into his place.Fourtieth minute,Natanians and Nosts losing serious opportunities,A Random Place having done an offensive thing for ten minutes,corner for A Random place,resulting from a really long and inoffensive kick/crossing,Soares is on the ground,un-awaken.Suddenly,Humboldt has to take his place.On the remaining five minutes,goals by Soto,Cartwright and Salas,killed Natanians and Nosts' chance to an easier quarter-finals classification.With a bye on the next round,the team needs even more results combination to hope for it.Final result:Natanians and Nosts 1x5 A Random Place.
Whitcliffe is alright,so is Apilescu.Soares passed through medical exams and awaits the results,he does feel well,as do the preliminary exams indicate.

by **Hannasea** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:21 am

Selection of articles from Hannasean news media.

HATEBALL: Subeditor devastated by inability to describe team being devastated one last time

winners

BASEBALL: Choughs persevere in pitchers’ battle

~~FOOT~~HAND ~~BALL~~EGG: ‘Must-win’ encounter turns out not to be ‘must-win’, which is a good job

by **Har Yarok** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 4:29 am

Selection of articles from Ha’Yaroki news media.

Menachem Prag elected President

Ha’Yaroki delegation to Dannin to investigate light rail, subway options

Silver Stars earn meeting with dominant Sherpas

In Brief:

Association for Cricket in Ha’Yarok (ACHY) targets next EspoT20 for debut.
Pro-reconciliation children’s book tops sales charts.
Newspaper ‘agony aunt’ joins calls for get reform.
Two dead in missile strikes on terrorist camp.

by **Nova Anglican Admin Zone of Esportiva** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 11:33 am

PM announces new Esportivan deals, links

Marian Bailey, Rutupiae Free Beacon

It's not one week after the passage of the Treaty of Montfort, but Prime Minister Josephine Clark is moving quickly to strengthen ties with the rest of the region and highlight the benefits of joining the Esportivan Union. Yesterday, the PM made five announcements regarding ties to the rest of the region: first, the headquarters of the Esportivan Courts of Justice will be in the city of Rutupiae. Second, prominent Nova Anglican and Grearish companies, along with funding from Tumbra, will collaborate in a joint project to electrify the national government's fleet of vehicles. Third, the reports of substantial geothermal energy in the NAAZE are true, and the Licentian energy firm RenewTec will pay the national government millions of Anglican pounds for the rights. Fourth, trade representatives from Nova Anglicana and Hannasea have reached a tentative agreement for Nova Anglicana to begin selling many more goods to Hannasea. And fifth, a new cruise line, Esportivan Adventures, has announced that it has concluded agreements with many Esportivan nations to bring tourists from Nova Anglicana to these places and vice versa.

Beginning with the Courts of Justice, this is a consequence of the Esportivan Union's decision to decentralise power among its six original members. Each nation will have a key institution located within its borders; as Rutupiae will be the home of the ECJ, East Town, Damukuni will host the Assembly of Esportiva, and Shepperton, Tumbra will be the home of the Esportivan Council. The selection of Nova Anglicana for the judicial branch, the third-most important branch after the Council and Assembly, indicates that just because Nova Anglicana's population pales in comparison to states like Tumbra and Damukuni's, doesn't mean it won't wield influence. Bids are being accepted to build the new ECJ building and Nova Anglican and EU officials are hard at work casting a wide net to find excellent jurists. This will no doubt cause a boom for Rutupiae's economy, as more jobs are created to work at the ECJ and those folks will inevitably spend money on the local economy. One thing to be concerned about will be the rising price of housing; the provincial government will have to take steps to ensure local residents aren't priced out by the influx of newcomers.

The announcement of the Nova Anglican-Grearish-Tumbran partnership to electrify government vehicles is perhaps just as momentous as the location of the ECJ in Rutupiae. Nova Anglicana has no domestic vehicle manufacturer, preferring instead to buy from around the multiverse, and indeed, many Nova Anglicans do not own a car. But the government needs vehicles to get to many places around the nation, with among the most important vehicles being those of the Nova Anglican Mail Service. To help Nova Anglicana meet its target date for net-zero carbon emissions, reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector is key, and reducing government emissions are a significant step in the right direction. In order to achieve this goal, expertise and capital from the three countries needed to be combined. From the Nova Anglican side, battery makers Hypercell, steel company Dominion, and state-owned NovaRail will provide batteries, steel, and workshops to construct the new fleet of cars. From the Grearish side, mining companies will provide rare-earth materials and other components to construct batteries and other electronic components, and engineering firms will provide the design and testing expertise necessary to pull off a project like this. Tumbra's richest man, John Ashburn, an electronics and technology magnate, will provide a substantial amount of funding, without which constructing nearly 10,000 electric vehicles from scratch would be a much more difficult proposition. The contract is expected to run into the upper hundreds of millions of Anglican pounds, which represents a significant economic collaboration between the three nations. No word yet on whether this endeavor will continue beyond the Nova Anglican government fleet, but it would be an important test of its viability. If they can produce it and it works, the conglomerate would stand to make a significant amount of money from commercial sales.

As for geothermal energy, government engineers from the Ministry of the Environment have been conducting environmental surveys after substantial hot springs were discovered in the NAAZE. A thriving community called Rutupiae Springs has sprung up around them, and the engineers were able to confirm that geothermal energy will be able to be captured from the area and others in the NAAZE. They estimate that more than one hundred megawatts of energy may be able to be exploited, which would take care of a substantial percentage of NAAZE energy needs. After what the Ministry of the Environment described as a "competitive bidding process", the Licentian firm RenewTec were awarded the contract to exploit the resource. RenewTec, which manages other energy resources in the Isles, will receive a ten-year lease on the geothermal energy in exchange for a substantial sum up front and additional severance taxes in later years amounting to hundreds of millions of Anglican pounds over the life of the contract. RenewTec expects to be able to exploit not only the more than one hundred megawatts described above, but is optimistic that additional energy can be discovered as well. The fact that Nova Anglicana is part of the Esportivan Energy Commission will also allow RenewTec to take advantage of linked energy grids to sell any excess power as well.

When it comes to Hannasea, the Guild Federation aren't actually part of the EU at this time (OOC: this takes place before Hannasea is inducted), but they have made strong noises about being interested in being part of the Union. As a trade-oriented economy, they would naturally see the expansion of free trade as a good thing. And although Hannasea is an excellent producer of many goods and provider of many services, including in the artisanal space, one area in which they remain somewhat deficient is domestic food production. As it turns out, this is an incredible partnership opportunity for Nova Anglicana, which derives a large percentage of its GDP from agricultural products. So in anticipation of joining the EU and the lowering of trade barriers, Hannasean firms have promised to ramp up their purchases of Although many Hannaseans pursue vegetarian or vegan diets, thus limiting the demand for Nova Anglican beef, milk, and cheese, producers of other products can take heart. In the NAAZE, fishermen can rejoice that Hannasean pescatarians will provide another market for their finned and scaled catch. In places such as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the growing mushroom industry hopes to one day export millions of kilograms to Hannasea. Additionally, traditional Nova Anglican crops like potatoes and soybeans will certainly find a home in Hannasea, while burgeoning growers of spices and condiments such as garlic, mustard, and horseradish, and indoor growers of peppers and chilies, hope to take advantage of the Hannasean hunger for flavor. In return for this generosity, bespoke and luxury products produced by Hannasean crafters are likely to explode in popularity as Nova Anglicana learns more about this Esportivan nation.

The Esportivan Adventures cruise line brings a new dimension of tourism to the NAAZE. Previously, most visitors were from other parts of Nova Anglicana, or some of the nations close by, such as Tumbra or South Newlandia. With the cruise line, not only will Nova Anglicans from all over be able to vacation relatively inexpensively in other parts of Esportiva, but Esportivan tourists will have greater access to what the NAAZE has to offer. As far as the actual cruise destinations, not only will Esportivan neighbors and fellow EU members like South Newlandia and Tumbra be included, but other nations like Burgburgh, Super-Llamaland, Hannasea, and even far-flung nations like Xanneria, Gergary, and Sylestone. While the cruise line will not receive subsidies or preferential tax treatment from the national government, the provincial government has offered resources towards research on low-carbon and renewable fuel sources, and in exchange, Esportivan Adventures will donate money to environmental charities and work towards mitigating any kind of potential environmental damage.

Taken together, these announcements represent a swift public-relations offensive meant to showcase the benefits of Nova Anglicana joining the Esportivan Union. It also strengthens ties between Nova Anglicana and its EU partners, with contracts awarded to EU firms and trade deals being negotiated with Esportivan nations. It orients Nova Anglicana's future and its foreign policy towards Esportiva. Time will tell if Clark's move will pay off or if events in other parts of the world will supersede the attention paid to Esportiva.

CE 31 and Esportivan Sporting Festival Updates

Football

Record: 2-2-0, 8 pts
Standing: 9th in playoffs
Games to play: Up to 4 (Round of 16 vs Racing, potential quarterfinal vs Gergary/Licentian Isles/Natanians and Nosts, potential semifinal TBD, potential final TBD)
Most recent match/statistics: 5-0 East Murbley (Hampton 6', Reed 22', Gagne 43', Stevenson 78', Banks 89')

Baseball

Record: 3-2, +10 RD
Standing: 3rd in group
Games to play: Up to 3 (Quarterfinals vs Ethane, potential semifinal vs Sherpa Empire/Ha'Yarok, potential final TBD)
Most recent match/statistics: 1-2 Hannasea (LP: Will Pittman, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, Key player: Bryan Yates, E)

Basketball

Record: 4-1, +147 PD
Standing: 1st
Games to play: 2 (Ha'Yarok, Sangti)
Most recent match/statistics: 91-61 United (Christophe Tremblay 16 pts, Team 13-27 3-pt range)

Ice Hockey

Record: 3-1-0-0, 11 pts
Standing: 2nd seed in playoffs
Games to play: Up to 3 (Quarterfinals vs Hannasea/Gergary, potential semifinals vs Fhulghamous Peninsula/Tumbra, potential final TBD)
Most recent match/statistics: 5-4 Zeta Reka & Hugaltaldom (OT) (McCoy 12:38 1st, Harper 17:44 1st, Tétrault 4:13 2nd, Manning 6:41 3rd, Broussard 2:25 OT)

Gridiron

Record: 5-0, +99 PD
Standing: 1st seed in playoffs
Games to play: Up to 2 (Semifinals vs Hannasea, potential final vs A Random Place/Fhulghamous Peninsula
Most recent match/statistics: 44-3 Hannasea (QB Dixon: 29-38, 520 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT, K Hart 3/3 FG, 5/5 XP)

by **Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom** » Fri Dec 03, 2021 7:30 pm

National Football Team of Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom
Fudbalska reprezentacija Zeta Reka i Hugeltaldom, Rekadom-hügeltaldom Fussballnationalmannschaft
Campionato Esportiva 31
Group Stage Recap & Knockout Previews

Entering into another knockout round, the National Team had gotten a bye. The road to the knockout stages was tense and close, with Zeta Reka losing out on early points, and scraping into second. With prior success in South Newlandia, the National Team looks to repeat past success, and perhaps go beyond.

Finishing in second, Zeta Reka have against played a bit below their pot in an international tournament. The campaign began with a scoreless draw against Le Choix. "The game was a good exercise for our tactics and our play" captain Stani Gröss said after the matchup. "I am not unhappy," Lu Jialan said to the press. A bye day followed, which was good for Stanimir Rekawić. Rekawić needed rest after a challenge injured his foot. With time to rest up, Rekawić was able to avoid any long term injuries. Damukuni, a former World Cup side, were next on the block. Veteran Joelle Pessão made three saves, but gave up a goal to the Rekans late in the first half. "I'd prefer to play Bob Cricket" Zaur-Luka Igorić said to the camera after belting in a long range goal. The assist was credited to Marka Krušlin, her first. The Rekan team was living large in South Newlandia. At the same time, the Rekans were without much to talk about after two methodical point grabbing days.

The smooth sailing for Zeta Reka was about to be challenged by a dark horse in the form of the Ceyne Isles. The Pirates hadn't lost or drawn a game, and kicked off their campaign with a four goal victory. Phenalope Carden of the Ceyne Isles, familiar to Rekan fans as a player from AFK Imperialismus, was a conductor for her side. Rabican Monrow, an astute veteran, was able to steer away from Igorić and cross to Sanguine Kamau for a late game winner. With the Ceyne Isles group winners, Zeta Reka sat in third behind Le Choix. The points collected thus far put Zeta Reka a point back, and with a game left to play, unlike Le Choix. At the same time, with opponents Copper Cuprum needing to win, a draw was good enough for the Rekans. The defensive system of Zeta Reka was able to prevent Copper Cuprum from scoring a fifth goal in four matches. Better yet, Bogdan Rawć got on the score sheets with a run.

Thanks to good fortune from the officials of the tournament, Zeta Reka collect a bye by hanks to coin flips against former World Cup nation Bongo Johnson, and the hotshots Sangti. This would be the second knockout stage for Rekan fans taking place in South Newlandia. The round of sixteen had often been a trouble spot for Zeta Reka, with losses to class teams such as Esportivan Darmen, Nova Anglica, Xanneria, and Hampton Island coming at this stage. Brenecia, another class team, were the opposition in the round of sixteen. Brenecia's resumé in the football world was one of the best; Former World Champions, five time regional champions, with eight finals and twelve semi finals, not to mention a bevy of club awards. The Rekans, also a top pot side, had a history with Brenecia's patriotic team. The nations' sole meeting taking on the very island of South Newlandia. The match, Zeta Reka's only Campionato quarterfinal, was perhaps the finest victory in national history.

The game this time would be competitive, with two contenders locking horns after tight group stages. Zeta Reka would be without Andrej Jehu, who went down with a calf contusion. Wladmir Krammnik was proving to be stronger anyhow. Brenecia would be a strong test for any new players to the Rekan ranks. The Patriots won their group on tie breaks, almost finishing in second had A Random Place not drawn their final game. Said game would have also knocked Zeta Reka down into the playoff round. The sixteenth best side in the world, Brenecia relied on class and a vicious attack, giving up goals, but not faltering at full strength. "A different generation of the island nation would face Zeta Reka, who are also slowly changing," sportswriter Djoko Weljkowić wrote in his column after the group stages, "The old results won't matter, for either side, the upcoming game is a chance for future stars to reveal themselves."

by **Copper Cuprum** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 1:34 am

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

COPPER CUPRUM'S CAMPIONATO OVER AND OUT

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, well, that confirms it. Copper Cuprum’s goose is also cooked. They went against Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom knowing that only a win would be enough to even just put them in contention for making it through to the next round of the Campionato Esportiva, but they’ve only gone and cocked it up as well. And they had to do it in a way that cures insomnia as well. Christ above, I knew there was a reason why I didn’t want to cover Copper Cuprum’s matches for The Football Fallacies, and now I’ve remembered why: it’s because watching any given Copper Cuprum football match is more than enough to put me to sleep within five minutes! I mean, if this was a tactic meant to lull their opposition to sleep as well then maybe I’d accept it, but the only problem with this tactic is that it obviously doesn’t seem to work at all (except for Damukuni, that is, but that’s an entirely different kettle of fish that I won’t even bother with anymore).

If Group F might have seemed like a group of death in this particular Campionato,then Group C might as well be called the “group of sleepiness” because so far it seems as if strong defense is the single most favored tactic in this group. It doesn’t matter who it is, whether it’s Damukuni or the Ceyne Isles or even little Le Choix; if a team loves to play defensive then into Group C it is! And Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom is no different. Their entire game plan is centered around a strong defence and a quick counterattack. Nothing that either me or Copper Cuprum haven’t seen before. In fact, Copper Cuprum’s game plan is almost exactly the same as Zeta Reka’s, with the only difference being that ZRH actually want to spread the ball around to the flanks as opposed to Copper Cuprum just straight up lobbing the ball to their strikers. We’ve seen how ineffective that tactic was for the Fhulghamous Peninsula, and although on paper Copper Cuprum have a better set of players with which to do it, curiously enough, football isn’t won on paper but on the bloody pitch!

ZRH have always emphasized defending their center, so it was no surprise to see both Benjamin Papanicolaou and Napono Zurebe get bullied around inside the box. But when your game plan hinges around getting the ball to your strikers, you would think that Copper Cuprum would find some way to make sure that both Zurebe and Papanicolaou didn’t get bullied around all the time, but no. Dan Balangue kept them inside the box, thus proving why it was a mistake for Copper Cuprum’s FA to hire this guy just because he was fresh from managing General Santos’s B side over in the Oontaz. And by the time Balangue finally wised up and decided that maybe they should take a page out of their opponents’ book and go for the classic “cross and Inshallah” then it was already too late. Papanicolaou and Zurebe were too tired from all the bullying around, and their substitutes Yatupi Kriseye and Kifarin Weteqa were too green around the gills to stop themselves from getting pushed around.

And it wasn’t enough for ZRH that they already got one goal from Fenstermacher Scwartzhammer after the big bloke headed in the cross from Nikola Djordjewic. They wanted more goals, and frankly I couldn’t blame them. They could feel that the Copperites were ripe for the taking, and I think there might have been a thing about better goal difference as well. I mean, ZRH haven’t been able to score a lot of goals throughout this Campionato so they might have wanted to know that they actually know how to score goals. Both Bogdan Rawic and Stanimir Rekawic had shots on target but Nikoba Lobato did his best to sprinkle even just a little bit of action into this game, but those three were all of the notable actions in this game. Well, that and the Copperite strikers being shamelessly bullied and shoved around inside the ZRH box. Although I do have this feeling that there were those who actually enjoyed that, and I have a term for those kinds of people: masochists, the whole bloody lot of them. Well, to be fair, everyone has grounds to call me a masochist as well because I agreed to cover two different teams in the Campionato Esportiva, and both of them were “boring” teams as well! Don’t @ me, my Fhulghamousian and Copperite followers! You and I both know that both of your teams have played like absolute dog shite this CE!

Well, that’s all that there is for me now. If you’ve got any comments or thoughts of your own about the match between Copper Cuprum and Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom or predictions between the Fhulghamous Peninsula and A Random Place then feel free to leave them down below. Until then, I’ve been the Man from Markovsky, too angry to even feel disappointed about another country’s football team.

ZETA REKA AND HUGELTALDOM 1 - 0 COPPER CUPRUM
      SCWARTZHAMMER (38')

by **The Licentian Isles** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:01 am

The Montfort Times

Green Wave Recedes; Liberals and Nationals Gain Most

After spending five years in the driving seat of the nation’s politics, the Licentian Green Party have lost significant ground in two of the nation’s four parishes, including Montfort, where they won a majority just five years ago.

The Greens had come into this election expecting somewhat of a fall in stature, with leader Emma McCallum predicting that they would lose their majority in Montfort, and fall slightly in Abingdon and St Bart’s. In the end, the results were much more stark. In McCallum’s own home parish of Montfort, her party fell from a total of 55 seats to claiming only 39, 12 short of the absolute majority they previously held, meaning they will need support from one or two other parties if they intend to form a government. In St Bart’s, the Green vote was slashed amid controversy around the party not including the PDL in the parish’s coalition government for the past five years. They had taken 23 of the 60 seats in the St Bart’s Assembly five years ago: now, they are in single figures, taking only nine seats and losing all but one of the constituency seats that they held coming into this week.

Of course, the picture is much bigger than just the Greens, and in both Montfort and St Bart’s it is the Liberal Party who have benefitted and taken an increased share of the vote. Their 25 seat tally in Montfort is a return to the sort of numbers they were winning in the capital 10 years ago, and while they are most likely to form a coalition with the Greens where they are the junior party, this vote share will give them significantly more bargaining power. On the outer isles, the Liberals look likely to move from the junior party in a coalition with the Greens to the senior partner, most likely with the Partij voor de Dutch-Licentiërs, who have also gained in St Bart’s. The Liberals earned 21 seats, nearly double their tally of 11 last time out, while the PDL more than doubled their own seat share to 14, driven by an increase in their list vote. Sìne MacDonald, the Liberal leader who was re-elected by a large majority in her own seat in Abingdon Kirkham, said that her party “had shown [themselves] to be the true opposition in the Isles”, and said that they would aim to influence the selection of Federal Councillors in as many parishes as possible.

As expected, the Liberal surge was not equal across the whole nation. Colesham very much proved to be the exception to the rule for MacDonald’s party, as a surge on the right wing that had been predicted in the polls came to pass in the west of the main island. The Licentian National Party fell just short of claiming an overall majority in the parish, earning 27 of the 60 seats in the Assembly, leading to a rousing speech from Alyssa Lamont at her constituency count in Kirkross, where she stated that “the voice of Colesham will be heard, whether those in power like what that voice is saying or not”. While some have suggested that the Nationals may attempt to rule in a minority, given how close they are to the 31 seat mark, William Blair, leader of the Conservative People’s Party, said his party were ready to support Colesham’s National Party government after the CPP grew to 10 seats.

In Abingdon, the picture looks like it will end much the same as it was prior to the election. It may be the only parish where the Green claim to government was not significantly weakened, as they remained the largest party in the parish despite a Socialist surge. The Greens claimed 20 seats, down on their tally of 31 from five years ago, while the Socialists climbed to 18 from a low figure of 11. That does mean that the Green/Socialist coalition will not survive alone, falling three seats short of a joint majority. As a result, we will likely see a three party ruling group in Abingdon for the next five years. The question lies with whether that coalition will include the Liberals, on 12 seats, or the smaller Pàrtaidh Gàidhlig, who reached five seats for the first time, falling just short of winning their first constituency seat in Abingdon Fionnfort.

Now, the questions in Licentian politics lie with which parties will eventually lead coalitions across the parishes, and therefore which will be able to elect their choices for Federal Councillor. While the Green fall has been large, their position in both Montfort and Abingdon as the largest party, and the continuation of the Nationals as the largest party in Colesham, means that there is only likely to be one change in terms of composition on the Federal Council. We’re likely to see a Liberal return to the Council for the first time in five years, with that party sitting in the driving seat in negotiations in St Bart’s.

There is also the more specific question of which politicians will be elected as Councillors. As those elected to the Council are required to resign their party affiliations, and can only serve one five year term, it’s likely that whoever is selected will be at the end of their political careers. That includes, possibly, the leader of the Green Party, Emma McCallum: while she retained her seat in Montfort Palace, she is considered likely to resign the party leadership after their struggles in this election. A seat as a Federal Councillor would be a respectable way to end the career of a party leader who lead her party to a majority in Montfort just five years ago.

by **Kaldtfjell** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:57 am

Dagsposten

Kaldtfjeller Footballers Disappear in South Newlandia

Concern has been raised for three of Kaldtfjell’s international footballers, who have failed to return to the team’s accommodation after the final game of the Campionato Esportiva group stages against Racing.

Kaldtfjell had a disappointing campaign, failing to win a single match as they were eliminated in Group B, losing 1-0 to Racing on the final day. During that game, one starting player, Amund Freyrsson, and two of the team’s substitutes in the final game, Viggo Gudbrandsson and Asbjorn Halsteinsson, failed to return to the changing room at the end of the match. This has led to concern for their wellbeing from the highest levels of government in Kaldtfjell.

Amund had been sent off in the second half of the fixture against Racing for a two-footed tackle, while Viggo and Asbjorn hadn’t been introduced from the bench by head coach Sverre Ericsson. After the match, Sverre was joined in a press conference by the Hovding, Arnfinn Steinarsson, who said that he was “incredibly worried” about the fact the three young men had gone missing. He stated that, should anyone know about their whereabouts, they should get in touch with the Kaldtfjeller Foreign Affairs Department, but also issued a vaguely worded threat in case any nation had played a role in their disappearance.

“Should any nation have intentionally acted to remove these young men from our care, they will be dealt with,” said the Hovding, underscoring his message with a pointed finger. As yet, there is no indication of where Amund, Viggo, and Asbjorn have found themselves.

by **Fhulghamous Peninsula** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:35 am

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independent sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

Gabbing on Gridiron
with Dara Keane

ESPORTIVAN GRIDIRON TROPHY: MATCHDAY FIVE

Fhulghamous Pen.    7  7  0 10  24
A Random Place      7 10 10  3  30

Well, if you don’t call that a disappointment then I don’t know what is one by your book. You would think that playing against some team called “A Random Place” would be an easy win for a Fhulghamous Peninsula national gridiron team made up of the best and brightest that both the Marble Arch Freedom Fighters and the Port Thimpodopoulos Constructors, but of course the evil queen of randomness decided that she loved that bunch more than she did us. If those players were indeed randomly picked up from the street then that street must have been a place where a lot of gridiron players live because these people have actually managed to play a good game of gridiron that, had it happened to anyone else, would have been certainly appreciated by the Fhulghamousian gridiron-loving public. But since it happened to them, it’s just yet another example of the sporting gods enjoying us being their playthings a little too much.

I mean, how do you even describe what in the absolute flying fuck happened in this game? Sheldon Frazier scored the first touchdown of the game on the first possession of the game after a 27-yard pass from Niels Schubert, but that was where normalcy ended and chaos began. In the first three plays of their first possession of the game, A Random Place looked like none of their players knew how to properly execute a football play. On 4th and 10, they decided to go for it, which is either a very calculated and ballsy move or a sign that they literally didn’t know what they were doing. But given what happened next, a lot of people are suddenly inclined to believe that it might have been the former, even though when it was happening, it certainly looked like the decision to go for it was based on the latter. Jacob Dominguez cocked back his arm and threw with all his might even as the pocket collapsed around him, and even though Tyler Oehlert should have had that ball in his hands for the first interception of the night, the thing literally bounced out of his hands and into the path of a bloody 39-year-old tight end named Misty Esquivel. And if she was indeed randomly picked from the street then she must have some sort of running background because she just turned on the jets, man! I never thought it would have been possible for anybody, least of all a 39-year-old woman, to be able to get away from the speed demon that was Ezekiel Maheras, but she did it! She did it and she scored a touchdown for A Random Place. And that’s just in the first quarter! If you thought that was already weird, then you haven’t seen the rest of this game yet!

The second quarter started like the first one did, with the Fhulghamous in possession of the ball. This time it was Daniel Günther who scored the Peninsula’s second touchdown of the game, and once again it looked like normality had been restored in this game. Little did we all know what was to come next. A Random Place got another lucky break in their second possession after Samuel Marks was somehow able to escape from a tackle by Bradyn Bernardi. Bernardi really looked like he had Marks stuffed, but by some sort of freakishly kind sheer luck on Marks’ part, he managed to slip away and bolt for the end zone, and only the timely intervention of Stelios Stavros downed Marks on the Fhulghamous’s 30-yard line. The Peninsulars finally got some luck on their part and stopped the opponents from moving any further, and this time A Random Place brought out their kicker. Chantal Poole really looked like she scuffed that field goal, but while it initially looked like it was going to fly past the wrong side of the upright, the pigskin grazed the upright just enough for the field goal to count. And with a very loud doink at that!

But if you thought that that was where the weird randomness of this whole thing was about to end then you’re sadly mistaken. Chantal Poole got a better kick with the kickoff this time, allowing her to pin the Fhulghamousians back to their 10-yard line. Twice the Fhulghamous tried the run, and twice they were unsuccessful. I’m telling you, I really feel like I have the grounds to contend the claim that A Random Place picked all of these random strangers off of the street and told them to play gridiron, because there is just no way that you can bring a bunch of strangers together and expect to make them defend as well as this bunch are doing at the moment! On the third down of this particular possession, Niels Schubert tried to pass the ball to Sheldon Frazier, but instead the pigskin ended up in the hands of Dustin Reeve, who had somehow found himself in the place where Frazier should have been to receive the pass. And somehow Reeve had the presence of mind to run towards the right end zone to get the pick-six. So now instead of a 14-10 lead, the Fhulghamous went into halftime with a 17-14 deficit thanks to a surprisingly excellent defensive play from A Random Place.

You might think that this is the luckiest that A Random Place were ever going to get, but you would be wrong once again. A Random Place would receive the ball to start the third quarter, and thanks to a sudden huge gust of wind blowing through the stadium, instead of getting trapped somewhere between the 15 and 20-yard lines, the ball dropped on the 33-yard line and basically gave A Random Place a good place to start their first drive in the second half. Once again, Samuel Marks found himself a good hole to squeeze through and gain a large chunk of yardage, and only the efforts of Tyler Oehlert prevented Marks from scoring the touchdown. Well, it prevented the touchdown from being scored for a few more plays, but A Random Place still managed to score, even if it is under curious circumstances. Stelios Stavros looked like he had a handle on Lori Davies, but for some reason the Fhulghamousian cornerback decided to stop dead in his tracks, giving Davies all the time in the world to track the ball for the easy touchdown catch. Stavros would later claim that he thought he heard the zebras blowing their whistles so he thought the play was dead, only to be surprised when the referees raised their arms to signal for the touchdown. You can imagine that he wasn't too happy about that!

And the misery for the Fhulghamous was about to be compounded even further. They managed to get their first possession off to a good start, but it stalled 25 yards short of goal. The Peninsulars opted to go for the field goal, but then, as luck would have it, the FG attempt would get blocked and Lucien Sloan would come up with the goods and give the ball back to A Random Place in a more favorable position for them. Their second drive took out another good chunk of time from the clock once again, and it might be a deciding factor in the result of this game as a whole. For once, Jacob Dominguez actually managed to put together a decent drive, and for the amount of time that the drive took, A Random Place actually looked like they had the bare bones of a decent gridiron squad. Their drive stalled on the 28, and Chantal Poole came out to score the field goal. Possession returned to the Fhulghamous with a few seconds left in the third quarter but they opted to wait for time to run out and just start the drive in the fourth. They were able to make it all the way to the 34 before the drive stalled once again and they had to settle for a field goal yet again. This time though, Miguel Prieto made no mistake and blasted the pigskin through the uprights.

A Random Place got lucky once again with the rush, with Samuel Marks punching a hole through the Fhulghamousian defense once again and making it all the way to the 7-yard line. But the Fhulghamousians actually made a stop for once and stopped their opponents from getting any further, leaving them no choice but to go for the easy three points once again. The Fhulghamous got the ball back once again, and once again they had to slog it up the field before Guillermo Millar finally broke through to score a touchdown, which would turn out to be the last for the Fhulghamous. It was also the last score of the game, period, and that plucky random team of random strangers from A Random Place won over a team fully made up of fully professional gridiron players, giving the Peninsulars a .400 record. It may have been enough to get the Fhulghamous through to the next round of the Esportivan Gridiron Trophy, but they have to it all over against the same team, A Random Place. I am not looking forward to witnessing the salt flowing from my followers in the Fhulghamous after these two teams. Not looking forward to it at all! Toumain Vincelot, Toumain Vincelot, Toumain Vincelot…

by **South Newlandia** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 1:26 pm

Have you seen these men?
Since three Kaldtfjaller football players went missing near Elephant Valley yesterday, the city and its law enforcement have been frantically searching for Amund Freyrsson, Viggo Gudbrandsson and Asbjorn Halsteinsson. Not much is known yet about their disappearances; some camera footage is currently being evaluated. Police are reportedly stumped; and no motive is known at this time. Hugh Brockman, spokesman for the Elephant Valley Police Department: “We do not currently know much about their whereabouts. We are looking into any possible reasons, ranging from the three men hiding voluntarily to them having been victims of a crime. We are incredibly worried for their safety. If you know anything about the whereabouts of them, please contact the South Newlandian police, One-Two-Three, or the Kaldtfjeller Foreign Affairs Department.

by **South Newlandia** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 1:39 pm

Cutoff for Day 6 of the Campionato Esportiva 31, Espo T20 II and Esportivan Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Gridiron Trophies!
If you notice any mistakes, please alert me ASAP!

Campionato Esportiva 31

Day 6 - Play-in Round

(12) Bongo Johnson 1-0 Castlelobruxo (21) @Jecken Arena, 16,250 – Newport
(13) Sangti 1-0 Le Choix (20) @Walstreim Park, 15,000 – Walstreim
(14) A Random Place 6-5 Fhulghamous Peninsula (19) @Coast Stadium, 14,600 – Elephant Town - (scorinated by Sylestone)

(15) Xanneria 3-1 Ancherion (18) @Elephant Dome, 21,500 – Elephant Valley
(16) The Licentian Isles 1-1 Natanians and Nosts (17) (3-1 AET) @Ratzupalfu Colosseum, 16,000 – Ratzupalfu

Day 7 - Round of 16

(1) Gergary - The Licentian Isles (16) @EsportivArena, 14,000 – Newport
(8) Racing - Nova Anglicana (AZE) (9) @Coast Stadium, 14,600 – Elephant Town

(4) Ethane - Sangti (13) @Walstreim Park, 15,000 – Walstreim
(5) Burgburgh - Bongo Johnson (12) @Elephant Dome, 21,500 – Elephant Valley

(2) Ceyne Isles - Xanneria (15) @Jecken Arena, 16,250 – Newport
(7) South Newlandia - Esportivan Darmen (10) @Stadium of Friendship, 41,093 – Elephant Valley

(3) Tumbra - A Random Place (14) @Ratzupalfu Colosseum, 16,000 – Ratzupalfu
(6) Brenecia - Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom (11) @Kinetik Stadium, 16,000 – New Colk

Espo T20 II

Day 6 - Play-in Round

(7) Ethane - The Licentian Isles (10) 
Ethane 172/8 (19.3 overs)
The Licentian Isles 171/7 (20 overs)
Ethane wins by two wickets
@Harrier Stadium, 5,800 – New Colk

(8) Copper Cuprum - Tumbra (9) 
Copper Cuprum 151/4 (20 overs)
Tumbra 155/4 (20 overs)
Tumbra wins by four runs or by six wickets
@Black Dolphin Arena, 7,000 – New Colk

Day 7 - Quarterfinals

(1) Sylestone - Tumbra (9) @Southground, 4,500 – Elephant Valley
(4) Castlelobruxo - Esportivan Darmen (5) @Harrier Stadium, 5,800 – New Colk

(2) Damukuni - Ethane (7) @Black Dolphin Arena, 7,000 – New Colk
(3) South Newlandia - Natanians and Nosts (6) @Harrier Stadium, 5,800 – New Colk

Esportivan Baseball Trophy

Day 6 - Quarterfinals

(A1) South Newlandia - Copper Cuprum (B4) 
Copper Cuprum                 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0  6
South Newlandia               0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
@Dolphin Stadium, 12,500 – Newport

(B2) The Hannasean Federation - Super-Llamaland (A3) 
Super-Llamaland               0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2  3
The Hannasean Federation      3 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 X  7
@Dolphin Stadium, 12,500 – Newport

(B1) The Sherpa Empire - Ha'Yarok (A4) 
Ha'Yarok                      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
The Sherpa Empire             0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 X  5
@Elephant Stadium, 15,000 – Elephant Valley
(A2) Ethane - Nova Anglicana (AZE) (B3)
Nova Anglicana (AZE)          0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  2
Ethane                        0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  3
@Seaside Park, 14,000 – Walstreim

Day 7 - Semifinals

(B4) Copper Cuprum - The Hannasean Federation (B2) @Seaside Park, 14,000 – Walstreim

(B1) The Sherpa Empire - Ethane (A2) @Dolphin Stadium, 12,500 – Newport

Esportivan Basketball Trophy

Group
United 53–61 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom
Natanians and Nosts 78–96 South Newlandia
Fhulghamous Peninsula 82–74 Sangti
Nova Anglicana (AZE) 94–83 Ha'Yarok

P Group                        Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana (AZE)           6   5  1  568 410 +158   5
2 South Newlandia                6   5  1  470 423 +47    5
3 Fhulghamous Peninsula          6   4  2  471 454 +17    4
4 Ha'Yarok                       6   3  3  448 472 −24    3
5 Sangti                         6   3  3  431 421 +10    3
6 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom      6   2  4  407 485 −78    2
7 United                         6   1  5  402 468 −66    1
8 Natanians and Nosts            6   1  5  431 495 −64    1

Esportivan Ice Hockey Trophy

Day 6 - Play-in Round

(7) The Hannasean Federation 3–3 Gergary (10) (0–2 SO) @Prosperena, 4,000 - Newport
(8) Natanians and Nosts 8–5 Polkopia (9) @Trunkst Hockey Arena, 3,000 - Trunkst

Day 7 - Quarterfinals

(1) The Sherpa Empire - Natanians and Nosts (8) @Valley Rink, 3,300 - Elephant Valley
(4) South Newlandia - Kaldtfjell (5) @Prosperena, 4,000 - Newport

(2) Nova Anglicana (AZE) - Gergary (10) @Valley Rink, 3,300 - Elephant Valley
(3) Fhulghamous Peninsula - Tumbra (6) @Trunkst Hockey Arena, 3,000 - Trunkst

Esportivan Gridiron Trophy

Day 6 - Semifinals

(1) Nova Anglicana (AZE) 30–13 The Hannasean Federation (4) @EVU Field, 3,000 - Elephant Valley
(2) A Random Place 3–23 Fhulghamous Peninsula (3) @Jungledrom, 2,186 - Ratzupalfu

Day 7 - Third Place Playoff

(2) A Random Place - The Hannasean Federation (4) @Elephant Field, 7,700 - Elephant Valley

Day 7 - Final

(1) Nova Anglicana (AZE) - Fhulghamous Peninsula (3) @Elephant Field, 7,700 - Elephant Valley

by **Sylestone** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:04 pm

HAWTHORNS GO FOUR FROM FOUR WITH 29-RUN WIN, FACE TUMBRA IN QUARTERFINAL

Round Five:
Sylestone vs The Sherpa Empire @ Harrier Stadium, New Colk, South Newlandia

NEW COLK, SOUTH NEWLANDIA - Despite only playing what could be called a “second-second-string” side, the Hawthorns were able to rack up their fourth relatively easy victory in a row against the Sherpa Empire, handing the third-placed side in the inaugural edition of the EspoT20 their fourth loss from four games and bottom of the table. However, with star players Dharmendra Reddy and Panu Tripathi missing from the Sherpa squad thanks to injury, this was certainly not the best they could do, either.

For the first time all tournament, Liam Afosha lost the toss under sunny skies at Harrier Stadium in New Colk and found himself telling his openers to get the pads on - a new experience for them after successfully chasing down targets in the opening three matches. However, that sort of thing was not going to faze the likes of the talented, in-form Brianna Eastwood, who has upwards of 100 runs already in the tournament, and the experienced Edward Cunningham, albeit on debut. Batting first or batting second, the Sherpas were going to have to work their arses off to beat this Hawthorn side.

Right from the first ball, Jitender Singh and Santosh Bhattacharyya got the ball to move around under lights, meaning that Eastwood and Cunningham were forced to protect their wickets for the opening three overs, only scoring fifteen runs. But if they were going to hold that run rate back, the Sherpas would have to get the breakthrough, for Eastwood was just about to take the game on. Champa Rao replaced Bhattacharyya for the fourth over and overpitched the first ball, allowing Eastwood to lean on it and carve it through cover to the boundary, her first of the evening.

But it would be her last. The very next ball, the 20-year-old failed to pick an off-cutter and spliced it directly into the hands of Sukhbinder Murthy, wasting a good start to be 1-19 after 3.2 overs, with Cunningham on seven at the other end. In a normal game, this would bring Lachlan Cocrine to the crease, arguably one of the best T20 batters in the multiverse, but in this one, it was not. Instead, Cocrine watched on from the sidelines as Samuel Cross entered, fresh off a match-winning 25 against A Random Place and despite a poor start to the tournament with the bat, certainly deserved the promotion to three.

Cross looked scratchy at first, but as time passed, the ball only ever came off the bat cleaner, as the two right-handers began to up the ante. Cunningham played a bit more of a support role, with Cross looking in superb touch at the crease, that was all that was needed. However, the 21-year-old didn’t play without risk, nearly being caught off the bowling of Temba Dilu in the sixth over and again off Geli Chandrasekhar in the ninth, but by the time the ten-over mark came around, both he and Cunningham were in the low 30s, the score 1-77. With only one player back in the sheds, the Hawthorns were poised to go real big, and the Sherpas needed a wicket before it was too late.

And they got one, in the very next over. As has been the theme for games Sylestone has played in this EspoT20, one of the set batters was dismissed the ball directly after the 10-over mark, halting the innings just for a little bit as the new batter began to work their way into the game. This time, it was Cunningham that fell for a vital, 27-ball 32, leaving Cross with the important job of remaining until the very end of the innings, with other batters going hard around him. If that happened, then a score of above 180 was on the cards.

But the Sherpas weren’t going to let that happen without putting up a fight. In the very next over, Brock Westleford could only get a feather on a rank long-hop from Zhao Tan, gifting the left-arm finger-spinner his first wicket of the evening without really bowling well enough to deserve it. Yet, with the score 3-89 in the twelfth over, the Sherpas were certainly still in this, particularly if they could take Cross’s wicket.

It wouldn’t be easy, though, particularly with Afosha joining the youngster at the crease, for a cool-headed finisher joining a rare talent at the crease is almost always a problem for the bowling side. And today, it proved to be so, with both batters refusing to give the opposition a single chance to get them out, setting up the innings for a massive final five overs.

On the first ball of the fifteenth over, Cross passed 50, his maiden half-century at the top level, coming from only 39 balls. It had been a superb innings, but even so, he wasn’t quite done yet. With the score currently 3-105, Cross decided it was now or never and proceeded to launch into the bowling with ease, tearing the previously-economical figures of Geli Chandrasekhar and Santosh Bhattacharyya to pieces with an astonishing display of finesse and power hitting. Afosha also got in on the act and all of a sudden, the run-rate summiting 8.5 an over in a heartbeat.

Finally, on the final ball of the eighteenth over, Jitender Singh was able to get the big wicket of Cross, bowling him for a 49-ball 72, the score now 4-159, with a whopping 54 runs coming from the last four overs. With two overs remaining, though, the hard-hitting Peter Lenton was just the man for the job. 180 was still in sight.

Some lusty blows from both Afosha and Lenton saw the Hawthorns jump that mark with a ball to spare, with Afosha finishing with 41 from 24 and Lenton 10 from 7, the total score 4-184 after 20 overs - a superb one on a pitch that favours fast bowling. Now, all eyes were on the Sherpa batters to see whether they could complete this tricky run chase, or whether this inexperienced Sylestone bowling lineup could hold their nerve. It would be an intriguing second innings to the match, and one the capacity crowd at Harrier Stadium would thoroughly enjoy, especially if the Hawthorns fucked it up.

Right from the first ball, Temba Dilu and Tsering Rita Vijayan showed that they were serious about this, hitting Nathan Norwell for eleven off his opening over and eight off debutant Caitlyn Freehill’s, scoring nineteen runs in twelve balls to signal their intent to get as close to this target as possible. The carnage continued in the third over, with the both batters hitting a single four apiece off the first five balls of the third over, with a single off the fourth ball making it nine off five with one ball remaining, Rita Vijayan on strike. The ball was floated up there, too, and the batters’ eyes lit up, only for the ball to seam a tad and send his middle stump flying. Sylestone had their first, and a big one, too, with Rita Vijayan going for 13, the score 1-28 after three overs.

With Ross Amitt and the spinners tightening up the scoring a bit after the carnage of the opening three overs, Jitender Singh found the going rather tough and while Dilu continued to attempt to take the game on. However, with Singh struggling to get off strike, at various points Dilu had to restart his innings again, but even he could not find the boundary, instead mainly dealing in sixes, singles and twos.

By the time the ten-over mark came around, the score was 1-79 - one run and zero wickets better than the Hawthorns had been at that stage of the innings early in the evening. Still, with 106 runs needed and one batter struggling to get a move on at one end, the target still seemed a long, long way away. But they’d given themselves a chance.

Milan Poci’s next over went for eleven, with Dilu whacking his fourth six of the innings, while Singh survived a tight LBW appeal, the ball appearing to be narrowly missing off-stump. Yet, the two Sherpa batters managed to ground eleven runs out of the over; exactly what they needed if they wanted to give the Hawthorns a real scare.

However, with the required run rate still upwards of 10.5 an over, the Sherpa batters could not afford to be complacent. On the second ball of Brianna Eastwood’s first (and only) over, Singh punched a yorker into the leg side, looking for a two to pressurise the fielders. However, Poci’s pick-up and throw was superb, flinging the ball directly over the bails to the youngster, who caught it and whipped the bails off with Dilu caught a foot or so short of his ground. Although the Sherpas were going along steadily, with only two wickets down, Sylestone certainly had stolen the initiative, especially if they could twine together a couple of tight overs in a row.

But Khenrab Parihar and Singh were not going to let that happen without putting up one hell of a fight. A couple of looseners from Poci and Eastwood saw the two of them more or less keep up with the required run-rate, although with Afosha giving the likes of Edward Cunningham a bowl, that seemed to be rather expected. With five overs remaining, the Sherpas were 2-128, with 57 runs required from five overs - definitely chaseable on this pitch.

The only problem was that Samuel Cross, in the form of his life with the ball, was going to bowl three of those five overs.

Yet, Singh and Parihar seeked to take him on, scoring six off his first three balls with a single to the latter, before Singh drove a slower ball over cover for four to pass a sluggish, 44-ball 50, where he was tied down for the majority of it all the way up until recently. Yet, with 52 runs required from 28 balls, his innings could still prove match-winning.

And that’s when disaster struck. On the fourth ball of the over, Parihar nudged a really-really-really-slower ball back to Cross, ending a fruitful partnership of 43 from 26 at just the right time to balance the game again, the score 3-134 with 26 balls remaining. Two balls later, it was 4-134, with Ashton Stealom diving classically to his right to snare an attempt at a run off the face of the bat from Sukhbinder Murthy. All of a sudden, with Parihar and Murthy out, everything rested on the worn shoulders of Jitender Singh with 51 runs required from four overs. Could he pull it off?

He did his best. The next over, delivered by Ross Amitt, went for ten runs, but Singh could not get back on strike to face up to Cross, with 41 runs required from three overs. Now, all eyes lay on Gyunmin Chemburkar to see whether he could provide some lusty blows to help further whittle down the target.

He could not lay bat on a single ball.

Yes, you read that correctly. The first three balls were superb wide yorkers, just inside the wide lines, with Chemburkar unable to get bat on any. Anticipating a fourth ball in the same area, he moved across to the off-side for the fourth ball of the over, only to be bamboozled by a quick bouncer that nearly took his head off. The next was another wide yorker, while the final ball was so slow that Chemburkar had two swings at it… and missed both.

With 41 runs required from 12 balls, the game was essentially over.

Singh (72 from 57) and Chemburkar (6 from 12) managed to grind out eleven runs from the final two overs, including eight from Cross’s final one to finish on 4-155, 29 runs shy of the target the Hawthorns had set a couple of hours earlier. Despite facing a few scares here and there, Sylestone had largely dominated the match and assured themselves of a positioning of first place overall, with South Newlandia’s loss and Damukuni’s rather pitiful net run-rate not good enough to overhaul the sheer dominance this Hawthorn side had been able to produce. Now, they had to travel back to Elephant Valley for a group stage rematch at this very ground, against Tumbra, following the Blue Lions’ intense victory over Copper Cuprum. Last time, a Lachlan Cocrine masterclass saw the Hawthorns home in the fourteenth over with five wickets in hand, but with the Tumbrans having won three games on the trot, they are bound to put up a significant fight.

Can they pull off a shock victory, or will the Hawthorns hold their nerve?

Sylestone Batting
Batter                                                  R   B  4s  6s   SR
B Eastwood          c Murthy b Rao                     11  10   1   0  110
E Cunningham        c Rita Vijayan b Chandrasekhar     32  27   4   0  118.52
S Cross             b Singh                            72  49   7   3  146.94
B Westleford        c Sulaymanhil b Tan                 5   5   1   0  100
L Afosha (c)        not out                            41  24   4   2  170.83
P Lenton            not out                            10   7   0   1  142.86
       EXTRAS       (2 b, 4 lb, 5 wd, 2 nb)            13
        TOTAL       for 4 wickets                     184   (20 ov; 9.2 RPO)
Did not bat:      A Stealom (+), C Freehill, N Norwell, R Amitt, M Poci

FOW: 1-19 (B Eastwood, 3.2 overs); 2-78 (E Cunningham, 10.1 overs); 3-89 (B Westleford, 11.4 overs); 
     4-159 (S Cross, 17.6 overs)

The Sherpa Empire Bowling
Bowler                 Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
J Singh (c)             4   0  28  1      7  (2 nb, 1 wd)
S Bhattacharyya         3   0  34  0  11.33  (3 wd)
C Rao                   4   0  33  1   8.25  
T Dilu                  2   0  22  0     11  
G Chandrasekhar         4   0  33  1   8.25  (1 wd)
Z Tan                   3   0  28  1   9.33  

The Sherpa Empire Batting   (Target: 185)
Batter                                                  R   B  4s  6s   SR
T Dilu              run out (Poci)                     40  27   1   4  148.15
T Rita Vijayan      b Norwell                          13   8   1   1  162.5
J Singh (c)         not out                            72  57   5   3  126.32
K Parihar           c&b Cross                          19  14   3   0  135.71
S Murthy            c Stealom b Cross                   0   2   0   0    
G Chemburkar        not out                             6  12   0   0   50
       EXTRAS       (3 b, 2 wd)                         5
        TOTAL       for 4 wickets                     155   (20 ov; 7.75 RPO)
Did not bat:      G Sulaymanhil, C Rao, Z Tan, S Bhattacharyya, G Chandrasekhar 

FOW: 1-28 (T Rita Vijayan, 2.6 overs); 2-91 (T Dilu, 11.2 overs); 3-134 (K Parihar, 15.4 overs); 
     4-134 (S Murthy, 15.6 overs)

Sylestone Bowling
Bowler                 Ov   M   R  W   Econ  Ext
N Norwell               2   0  20  1     10  
C Freehill              4   0  27  0   6.75  (1 wd)
R Amitt                 4   0  28  0      7  
L Afosha (c)            2   0  14  0      7  
M Poci                  3   0  28  0   9.33  
B Eastwood              1   0   9  0      9  
E Cunningham            1   0  12  0     12  (1 wd)
S Cross                 3   1  14  2   4.67  

Venue: Harrier Stadium, New Colk, South Newlandia
Toss: The Sherpa Empire won the toss and elected to bowl
Season/Tournament: EspoT20 II
Matchdays: Matchday 3
Player of the Match: Samuel Cross (SYL)
Debut: E Cunningham (SYL), C Freehill (SYL), M Poci (SYL)
Umpires: Unknown
TV Umpire: Unknown
Reserve Umpire: Unknown
Match Referee: Unknown
Match Result: Sylestone win by 29 runs

Quarterfinal XI vs Tumbra @ Southground, Elephant Valley

1. Yash Ubuni
2. Brianna Eastwood
3. Lachlan Cocrine
4. Samuel Cross
5. Liam Afosha (c)
6. Peter Lenton
7. Ashton Stealom (+)
8. Nathan Norwell
9. Ross Amitt
10. Leo Codrington
11. Kate Sonnel

by **Brenecia** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 2:22 am

A Random Place 1 - 6 Brenecia
(4-3-3) 1 - Finnan; 2 - Bravender, 5 - Leadbetter, 6 - Giltanan, 3 - Roscommon (c, 22 - Seeler 61'); 8 - Conway (23 - Garrett 73'), 4 - Schofield, 13 - Garrard; 7 - Carpenter (15 - Fife 77'), 21 - Lyrick, 10 - Byrne
Goals: Byrne 22' 27', Garrard 39', Lyrick 55', Leadbetter 71', Seeler 81'

Brenecia 1 - 1 Natanians and Nosts
(4-3-3) 1 - Finnan; 2 - Bravender, 5 - Leadbetter, 6 - Giltanan, 3 - Roscommon (c, 22 - Seeler 79'); 8 - Conway, 4 - Schofield, 13 - Garrard (11 - Brind 70'); 7 - Carpenter, 21 - Lyrick (9 - White 70'), 10 - Byrne
Goal: Conway 29'

Montego 0 - 1 Brenecia
(4-3-3) 1 - Finnan; 2 - Bravender (17 - Lovibond 81'), 5 - Leadbetter, 18 - Shrine, 3 - Roscommon (c); 8 - Conway, 15 - Mikoliunas, 11 - Brind; 7 - Carpenter, 9 - White, 10 - Byrne (16 - Leonard 72')
Goal: Byrne 59'

Brenecia 1 - 3 Hannasean Federation
(4-3-3) 12 - Cove; 17 - Lovibond, 18 - Shrine, 6 - Giltanan, 22 - Seeler; 23 - Garrett, 15 - Mikoliunas (4 - Schofield 61'), 11 - Brind (13 - Garrard 76'); 15 - Fife, 14 - Tristram (21 - Lyrick 55'), 16 - Leonard
Goal: Lyrick 62'

In multiple ways, Derdriu Wright had an addictive personality.
Multiple addictions, multiple angles. Wright puffed on e-cigarettes constantly, drank three cups of coffee a day, binge-watched football and had little time for anything else. And she compulsively took notes. It helped her get her thoughts in order, which otherwise tended to resemble a hopeless snarl.
Wright was a good manager*. The asterisk was there, present, underlined and double-bolded. 'Cause yeah, she was a good manager... in the A-League. And that wasn't exactly a hot property these days, was it? Even in the good old days, though Union and sporadically Kingsgrove could mix it with the best, it was still... second-rate. You'd have lads smash it in Brenecia, get a smattering of caps, then head off for the Goldleague or Zenith at 24... and it would horribly turn out that they'd just thrived on that extra half-second you got in the A-League compared to the best out there. Ross Hearkener, Tiferet Ashbrown... players who were excellent A-League forwards could become Goldleague memes in a year. And perhaps the same went for managers.
It was an... intellectually stale environment, managers tending to one of three or four established blueprints. And, sure, for the layman Wright looked like much the same type of figure. She set up her side to play a high line and counter-press, an ancient and time-honoured approach. But while the big picture looked basically the same, Wright was more willing to micro-manage.
Of course, that... isn't really possible, at international level. But she'd be damned if she wasn't going to try.

She'd had a pen and paper in her early days, but at Rozelle, she'd been advised to use a tablet instead. It was all too easy to become a meme, see. So now during games she tap-tap-tapped away, trying to figure out the deal with this odd little side of journeymen and B-list stars.
Started great. Started about as good as she could've hoped, as they beat the shit out of a random place by the name of A Random Place. The notes came thick and fast;

danger from set pieces - do we work more on that? size adv.
lacks creativity but physicality is there to brute-force through
byrne good
lyrick needs to take that touch
byrne !!!

It was a satisfactory outing. A brilliant scoreline. Pity, in hindsight. Where were all those goals when they were needed?
They didn't come against Natanians and Nosts, a tougher opponent, but still one Brenecia felt they should have beaten.

buildup through scho essential but too slow - spice it up
finnan the right choice. exc distribution, bad in air but betts is there
good goal but not from tactics; conway just hit it well
idiot caught in possession fuck
fuck

Late on, one on one with the goalkeeper, Lyrick rounded Whitcliffe only to be too casual with the finish, rolling the ball into the side netting. Wright's thoughts were straightforward:

jesus christ

It ended 1-1. A tight match, and an undoubtedly frustrating one, leaving an obvious conclusion.

we need to try our other players

180 minutes of football later, as the final whistle blew on a humiliating defeat to Hannasea - but a deserved one, regardless of moments of madness from players or referees:

we have no other players.

So it would be that straightforward strongest XI to take the field in the knockout stages, and with luck, to bring back silverware to the Misty Country. Searching for a winning combination would have to wait for qualifying. At this stage of the tournament, it was shit or bust.

by **Racing** » Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:19 am

>+> A report from Racing <+<

In a time that see the other nations participate in many sport and some will call it a sporting festival, Racing is only playing one sport. The sport of Campionato Esportiva.

If you will look at the result you will see the benefit. Racing is a comfortable team in Group B. Three victories in four games. Oduduwa Repulbic - a win. Kaldtfjell - a win. Castlelobruxo - a win. We do not have to say much about the game against Gergary. This is the team that has so good performance that no team outside has a goal difference in their favor. Gergary has taken all goals. 16 goals. Really it was not very nice.

It does not matter. 8 goals for 8 goals against and racing zoom through to the Round of 16.

Now racing takes a break. other teams finishing third place in their groups will compete for a opportunity to join into this Round of 16. It makes no concern to racing or the opponent for the Round of 16 which is Nova Anglicana. Both of these nation just wait.

Now do you see Nova Anglicana is a unique case. Here you have Racing finishes second in the group. Three victories one defeat but no goal differential. In the other case you have Nova Anglicana administrative zone of esportiva and they are winning only two games but look at seven goal differential.

This means it is not easy to project the result of this match. Racing has more victory in the group phase. Nova Anglicana have more goals. Which is more important? Soon we find out.

by **Nova Anglican Admin Zone of Esportiva** » Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:14 am

PM announces slate of candidates for Esportivan positions

Marian Bailey, Rutupiae Free Beacon

After much speculation about who she would name to be key Nova Anglican representatives to the Esportivan Union, Prime Minister Josephine Clark has finally unveiled her "Esportivan team". Three of her choices were solid and predictable, while one choice was a bit outside of the box and another choice seemingly out of nowhere. Her choices were Carolyn Harper (Sub-Minister for Esportivan Affairs), Colby Blackburn (Esportivan Councillor), Nicholas Jensen (Esportivan Union Foreign Aid Commissioner), Bernice Beaulieu (Esportivan Energy Commissioner), and Graham Hatton (Lead Candidate for Assembly of Esportiva Elections). With the selection of Hatton, she also announced that the date for the Assembly of Esportiva elections and the referendum on joining the Espo single currency would coincide with the November date of the Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec local elections. Let's dive into what these choices represent.

Let's begin with the more traditional candidates. First, with the joining of the Esportivan Union, a new sub-ministry needed to be created to deal specifically with Esportiva: Esportivan Affairs. Harper, the former Deputy Minister for policy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the #3 position, after Minister and Deputy Minister), is a long-time civil servant and had formerly worked in multiple countries before moving up the ranks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She will bring a wealth of experience as well as a keen knowledge of Esportiva to the position. As a simple civil servant, she does not require confirmation by the Senate. Two individuals who will require confirmation, as representatives to foreign bodies, are Jensen, the Sub-Minister of International Co-operation & Assistance, and Beaulieu, the Sub-Minister of Water, Power & Waste Management. As current Sub-Ministers, they already have the necessary qualifications for those positions, and are seeking to transition to similar positions within the European Union. Jensen is a management consultant and Beaulieu a civil engineer. They are both expected to heavily emphasise their technical expertise and play down any mention of politics, though they are both committed to Clark's vision of strong ties and co-operation with Esportiva. Their path to Senate confirmation is considered easier than if Clark had chosen more political candidates.

One reason why their path to Senate confirmation might be smoother than expected lies in Clark's incredibly unexpected selection of Colby Blackburn as her nominee for the position of Esportivan Councillor. Blackburn is a very political candidate, in that he is a senator. More incredibly, he is a People's Party senator, and the PP leader, Michael Ramsey, is Clark's most implacable foe. Even more surprising is that Blackburn is easily the most conservative of the "Gang of Three", a group of PP senators who helped Clark pass her budget and taxation bills, with two of the three voting to ratify the Treaty of Montfort. Before being elected from New Brunswick, Blackburn was a businessman in raw materials like lumber and agricultural commodities like beef and potatoes. He was a reliable vote for the Ramsey government during their approximately one year in power, and did not appear to have any left-leaning sympathies, though he was careful to avoid any incendiary far-right rhetoric at the time. One clue to his appointment might be the fact that he has export interests in Esportiva, and is personally invested in the success of the Esportivan Union project. Upon his nomination, Blackburn said, "Although the Prime Minister and I have significant differences in domestic policy, division stops at the water's edge. We both believe that strategic co-operation with Esportiva is in Nova Anglicana's long-term interests and that the EU offers significant advantages to people of all political opinions." He further vowed to take steps to comply with ethics regulations to ensure there were no conflicts of interests between his business and his potential new position. As for why Clark picked him, there are any number of reasons. Perhaps she believed that choosing someone from the other major party would reinforce the EU as a transpartisan project that all Nova Anglicans can unify behind. Perhaps she thinks he's a shrewd political operator that can reliably fight for Nova Anglican interests without feeling pressured not to ruffle Esportivan feathers. Or maybe she intended to give her government an advantage in the Senate. The Senate is currently tied 15-15, and with Blackburn removed, her government would have a 15-14 lead in that body. She is currently pushing for a quick hearing and confirmation of Blackburn, which would give her government that temporary advantage, at least until the by-election, which the Sub-Ministry of Elections & Election Security has scheduled for the same day as the Esportivan elections, referendum, and local elections.

Speaking of Esportivan elections, Clark's choice of Graham Hatten as the lead candidate for her Progressive Justice Party is also somewhat unusual. Hatten is relatively inexperienced, this being only his first full term as a deputy, with a few terms in the Nova Scotian House of Deputies before that. He is also under 35. However, Hatten is a notable voice on the left wing of the party and the only leadership candidate besides Martin Oullette, a small player in the party, and Alec Thornhill, not a national politician, not to receive a post in the Cabinet. This could be a sop to a disappointed left wing that recently saw the breakaway of Samantha Speer and another deputy to join the new Equality party. His youth could also prove an advantage, as he can present a new face of the PJP and give credence to the new ideas and energy of the party going into the new project of the EU. In selecting him, Clark said, "Graham has proven to be a wonderful colleague and someone who believes very strongly in Esportivan co-operation and the power of government to achieve progressive change. I'm confident he will be an excellent ambassador for our party as we join our Esportivan partners." Michael Ramsey and the PP called Hatten "a lifetime politician whose only qualifications are being a left-wing ideologue" and vowed to select a "lead candidate with more experience and views more in touch with the mainstream of Nova Anglican politics." Clark does run the risk of having her party branded as radical by choosing Hatten, when her pitch to the nation was competence and moderation. But in the moment, it appears uniting her party is more important than the potential negative public opinion about Hatten.

It now appears that November will be a busy time, with the Assembly of Esportiva elections, espo single currency referendum, local elections in Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec, and a Senate by-election in New Brunswick. The time between now and November will also be busy, with other parties announcing their lead candidates, beginning campaigning for the Assembly, and deciding their stance in the espo referendum. Clark has not announced her intention to give Parliament any extraordinary recess, so parties will have to split their time between parliamentary business and campaigning. It remains to be seen what will be the fate of the welfare reform bill. It needs to work its way through at least two additional committees, be discussed and passed (presumably) in the House of Deputies, then considered in committee and in the full Senate. Will it founder in committee? Will it be punted to next year in the midst of all of this campaigning? Will it sneak through as everyone is distracted by all the Esportivan goings-on? Should Blackburn be confirmed, the path would appear open for a party-line approval of the welfare reform bill, but we will have to see everything play out.

Candidates

Sub-Minister for Esportivan Affairs: Carolyn Harper
Esportivan Councillor: Colby Blackburn
Esportivan Union Foreign Aid Commissioner: Nicholas Jensen
Esportivan Energy Commissioner: Bernice Beaulieu
Lead Candidate for Assembly of Esportiva Elections: Graham Hatten

CE 31 and Esportivan Sporting Festival Updates

Football

Record: 2-2-0, 8 pts
Standing: 9th in playoffs
Games to play: Up to 4 (Round of 16 vs Racing, potential quarterfinal vs Gergary/Licentian Isles/Natanians and Nosts, potential semifinal TBD, potential final TBD)
Most recent match/statistics: Off

Baseball

Record: 3-3, +9 RD
Standing: Eliminated in quarterfinals
Games to play: None
Most recent match/statistics: 2-3 Ethane (LP: Kerry Poole, 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, Key player: Cory Christensen, 1-4, 2 RBI)

Basketball

Record: 5-1, +158 PD
Standing: 1st
Games to play: 1 (Sangti)
Most recent match/statistics: 94-83 Ha'Yarok (Hayden Charpentier 22 pts, Team 3 steals in final 3:17)

Ice Hockey

Record: 3-1-0-0, 11 pts
Standing: 2nd seed in playoffs
Games to play: Up to 3 (Quarterfinals vs Gergary, potential semifinals vs Fhulghamous Peninsula/Tumbra, potential final TBD)
Most recent match/statistics: Off

Gridiron

Record: 6-0, +116 PD
Standing: 1st seed in playoffs
Games to play: 1 (Final vs Fhulghamous Peninsula
Most recent match/statistics: 30-13 Hannasea (QB Dixon: 34-47, 358 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT, K Hart 3/3 FG, 3/3 XP)

by **The Licentian Isles** » Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:22 am

The Montfort Times

Liberals the Largest Party in Esportivan Elections, Pro-Union Parties Narrowly Lead

The Licentian Liberal Party will be the largest group of Licentian representatives on the newly formed Esportivan Assembly, despite not placing first in any of the four parishes in the nation.

The Liberals, having positioned themselves as a pro-Union party, managed to convince significant portions of the voter base in Montfort and St Bart’s to vote for their list, along with a smaller proportion that earned them one of the four seats in Abingdon. Their two seats in Montfort and one each in St Bart’s and Abingdon means that they will have four seats on the Esportivan Assembly, just ahead of the Greens and Nationals, who each earned three representatives. The large hauls for Liberal and Green lists, along with the election of a member from the Partij voor de Dutch-Licentiërs in St Bart’s, means that parties in favour of the Esportivan Union hold a slim majority of the fourteen seats assigned to the Isles.

In Montfort, the Green vote fall in the parish elections was mirrored in the Esportivan elections, but the fall was not enough to prevent them from retaining their position as the largest party in the parish. That meant that the Greens received the first seat allocation, along with a second further down the ballot. The Liberals also earned two, although their second MAE was elected on the last allocation. The remaining two seats in the capital went to the Nationals and Socialists respectively, symbolising a majority pro-Union view in Montfort.

Members of the Assembly of Esportiva representing Montfort Parish:

First allocation – Lucy Todd, LGP/DG/PUA (EGG)
Second allocation – Teàrlag Paterson, LLP/LPLE/PLA (EU!)
Third allocation – Kate McCulloch, LNP/LVP/PNA (GER)
Fourth allocation – Noah Moore, LGP/DG/PUA (EGG)
Fifth allocation – Samantha Rennie, LSP/DS/PSA (ULEG)
Sixth allocation – Felicity Barclay, LLP/LPLE/PLA (EU!)

The split of the vote in Abingdon saw each of the nation’s “Big Four” parties take a single seat. Many political analysts have wondered whether this is reflective of a more split view on the Esportivan Union in this parish, given that the Big Four parties are also split evenly on the issue of the Union. It’s the Greens who came out on top again, though it was only a very slim margin that saw their list leader, Amelie Shields, beat the Socialist list leader Bran Milne to the first allocation. The Liberals once again needed the final allocation to earn a seat in the parish.

Members of the Assembly of Esportiva representing Abingdon Parish:

First allocation – Amelie Shields, LGP/DG/PUA (EGG)
Second allocation – Bran Milne, LSP/DS/PSA (ULEG)
Third allocation – Matilda McGregor, LNP/LVP/PNA (GER)
Fourth allocation – Noah Cooper, LLP/LPLE/PLA (EU!)

St Bart’s presented perhaps the biggest shock of the evening in the Esportivan elections, as the top two parties from the parish elections were reversed. That meant that the PDL, who not too long ago were a fairly minor force in Licentian politics, now have a legitimate claim to being the largest party in the outer isles. Once again, the Liberals gained the last allocation here, though that is perhaps more of a reflection of the fact that in the two smallest parishes, only two seats were up for elections, with lists jokingly referred to as “pairs” for these elections.

Members of the Assembly of Esportiva representing St Bart’s Parish:

First allocation – Fiene Koster, PD/PDL/PDA (EPAG)
Second allocation – Adrian Jack, LLP/LPLE/PLA (EU!)

While coming top of the poll in Colesham is undoubtedly a positive sign for the National Party, they will have been disappointed not to gain both of the seats in the parish. A surge in votes for the minor Conservative People’s Party, a right wing populist group who are more anti-Union than even the Nationals, meant that William Blair was elected at the second allocation ahead of Nicholas McLaughlin, who had hoped to join his National colleague Gracie McCabe at the Assembly. It does mean that, much as expected, Colesham is represented entirely by Esposceptic politicians in the Assembly.

Members of the Assembly of Esportiva representing Colesham Parish:

First allocation – Gracie McCabe, LNP/LVP/PNA (GER)
Second allocation – William Blair, CPP/CVLE/PTA (NSG)

The implications for the individual parties coming out of this election are relatively clear, with Liberal Party leader Sìne MacDonald arguing that this shows her party is the biggest opposition force in the nation. It’s a less positive night for the Greens and the Nationals, who had both hoped to top the poll across the nation, though both can take their own consolations away from the evening. The larger question of the extent of support for the Esportivan Union in the Isles is perhaps muddier than it was before this election. From one perspective, there is a majority of pro-Union MAEs to Esposceptics (8 to 6), and while that majority is slim, the Socialists are not as wedded to anti-Union ideas as the right wing parties: if it turns out to benefit the Isles, then you can expect the average Socialist voter to come round to the idea. On the other hand, it’s clear from the results in Colesham and, to some extent, Abingdon that not everyone is entirely in favour of further integration with the wider region. It presents an interesting quandary for those who thought that the nation being in favour of this endeavour was a foregone conclusion.

by **Tumbra** » Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:59 am

Tumbra 4-0 The Hinodejin Empire

TMB (4-2-3-1): 12 - Frank Johnson; 2 - Ryan Hughes, 4 - Ian Ashburn, 14 - Stephen Kerr, 3 - Chris Carter (19 - Nigel Harris, 74'); 8 - Trudy Harrison, 15 - Craig McGrath, 23 - David Burnet (10 - Phil Cole, 63'); 17 - Valerie Wells (7 - George Hilton, 85'), 9 - Robin Vaughn; 22 - Nigel Erskine

TMB scorers: Nigel Erskine (3'), Ian Ashburn (14'), Robin Vaughn (32'), Chris Carter (66')

Player of the Match: Nigel Erskine (TMB)

FOREIGN MINISTER STERN CONFIRMS THREE KALDTFJELLER FOOTBALLERS IN TUMBRAN CUSTODY; CONFIRMS THEY ARE "SAFE, HEALTHY AND WELL"

COUNO — For many football aficionados in Tumbra following the exploits of Yuan Zilai's players, finishing top of their group having conceded just one goal in four matches, the small mountain nation of Kaldtfjell may not ring a bell. In a relatively weak Group B, they finished fourth in their group, having failed to win a single game. Yet the full attention of football fans following the Campionato was focused on the disappearance of three of their footballers — Amund Freyrsson, 21, Viggo Gudbrandsson and Asbjorn Halsteinsson, both 22, following the conclusion of their last group game against the nation of Racing. The mystery of their disappearance was finally solved on Monday, the day before Tumbra's round of 16 game against the oddly-named Random Place coached by Newton Wanderers manager Steve Nicholls, in a press conference by Foreign Affairs Minister Natalie Stern.

Stern, in a press conference held at 10pm on Monday, confirmed that the three footballers were in Tumbran custody and were "safe, healthy and well," and that no further details on their whereabouts or why they were in Tumbran custody would be released at this time. The straight-talking diplomat, as observers have called her, was extremely reluctant on answering questions posed by journalists at the Foreign Affairs Ministry building in Straton, giving rise to theories that the three players are intent on defecting to Tumbra.

"Kaldtfjell is a very reclusive country, very closed-off internationally, that has just begun to make its presence known on the international stage," says Professor Daniel Martin, an adjunct lecturer in Esportivan Relations at the University of Marray. "In short, it's a dictatorship, led by Hovding Arnfinn Steinarsson, and as expected, they are very politically repressive. The three footballers being in Tumbra's custody may be a sign that they wish to defect to the country, owing to Tumbra's stance on asylum."

Clause 37 of Tumbra's Constitution, known as the Asylum Clause, enshrines the right for anyone to seek political asylum in Tumbra provided that they found themselves being persecuted for their political opinions. The Asylum Act of 1967, which forms the basis for all political asylum-related law in Tumbra today, expanded the definition to be more liberal, allowing the government to determine what were reasonable grounds for seeking asylum in Tumbra. The law was most recently in the spotlight during the last days of Darren Hayes' Liberal government, when they tried to narrow the grounds for seeking political asylum in 2016 by editing the Act, but stood down under pressure.

TUMBRA vs A RANDOM PLACE - CAMPIONATO ESPORTIVA 31, SECOND ROUND

Starters: 1 - John Lennon; 2 - Ryan Hughes, 5 - Harry Henderson, 14 - Stephen Kerr, 3 - Chris Carter; 6 - Vincent Hicks, 8 - Trudy Harrison, 10 - Phil Cole; 7 - George Hilton, 9 - Robin Vaughn, 11 - Nick Riordan

Bench: 12 - Frank Johnson, 13 - Victoria Jones; 18 - Josh Hindley, 4 - Ian Ashburn, 20 - Douglas Moore, 19 - Nigel Harris; 15 - Craig McGrath, 16 - Alan Morgan, 23 - David Burnet; 17 - Valerie Wells, 21 - Lynne Crossley; 22 - Nigel Erskine

CE 31 & EspoT20 II & Sporting Festival - Everything Thread

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