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the phantom · 07-25-2011, 12:08 AM

Tol In Gaurhoth vs Westernesse

The halls and tunnels leading into the arena were absolutely packed- the celebrating Doriath fans were pushing their way out to go party, while the excited Westernesse and Tol In Gaurhoth fans were rushing in for the night match. Some of the Westernesse fans from Numenor were familiar with the place, having visited Doriath during the 2008 finals where team Armenelos played in the third-place match (against Tol In Gaurhoth no less)- though that particular match had taken place in the secondary stadium a little ways away in the forest.

While Tol In Gaurhoth had also played in that match, their fans had not taken so much time to tour the area and experience the culture, and so the stadium was quite new to them. Many of the Wights and Werewolves appreciated the beauty, but not surprisingly given their natures many of them were noting the beauty with a mind towards damaging it should their squad be cheated in any way. NiennaWight and FeaWight in particular had an eye towards the sculptures, wondering what “improvements” they might make with their painting tools. AganWight and LegateWight on the other hand were keen to take a closer look at the woven hangings, in order to determine how easily they might burn.

But there was no time to linger- the game would not wait on them, and it was starting soon. In fact the end of the lines had not yet reached their seats when the teams were introduced, and everyone hastened all the more. Westernesse looked proud and confident taking the field, but the Werewolves more so. Tol In Gaurhoth and their fans were still holding the same attitude as in the last round, where they simply laughed at the thought that their opposition could challenge them. “Westernesse- ha! Mere mortals cannot hope to challenge the might of our Wight-Wolf hybrids!” shouted The GreatElvenWight, facing the TIG section of fans and whipping them into a frenzy.

As the game began, however, things weren’t so simple. Tol In Gaurhoth was quick and strong and fearsome, but they could gain no ground on the mighty men and women of Westernesse, whose tactics and positioning and discipline outshone the TIGites. The forwards and midfielders of TIG were trying to make lengthy runs as if they were playing lesser competition, and their fellows too often were caught just watching and not preparing to receive it so early, and so Westernesse took it time after time and got things going on the other end.

When Westernesse put on the pressure TIG refused to help their defense too much, as they were chomping at the bit to be released for a long counter, but Westernesse played it smart and beautifully and didn’t give them the chance, but instead gained decent opportunities for their scorers. Ar Pharazon deflected one wide off a corner, Elros drove one wide from 35 meters, and Ar Adunakhor placed a beautiful header that forced ShastaWolf to make a tough save indeed.

The crowd was just shocked, but NogWolf wasn’t caught off guard on the field. “I told you it would be like this! We can’t be showing off. Let’s bring it back in a bit. Carefully- let’s show them we’re more than animals.”

And quite swiftly most of TIG went along with him, and for the first time they looked somewhat threatening, now taking their own turns controlling the ball and turning away Westernesse more quickly with defensive help. Finally around the 30 minute mark TIG gained their first substantial threat when InzilWolf sent it forward and across the goal box, where GwathWolf managed to nudge the ball’s course towards the net. Tar Atanamir however sprawled out to bat it aside however, and the Westernesse supporters gave him a great ovation.

But just minutes later those same fans found themselves quite silent, as TIG built up another nice attack and NogWolf found himself unmarked only 20 meters out and blasted it through an empty slot. Tar Atanamir deflected it, but not well, and the ever pounce-ready NerWolf swiftly kneed the bouncing ball back towards the net and gained her side the lead!

For the remaining ten minutes of the half TIG played a possession game, and did surprisingly well at it for Werewolves- much better than Westernesse was expecting anyway, who managed only an awkward deflection and a weak off-balance header against the Werewolf defense. The Wights and Wolves applauded their team as they went to the lockers, but also urged them on to greater heights. “Come on!” screamed BrinWight. “Get your act together in there and come out and beat them into submission!”

As the second half started it looked like TIG was keen to do just that, but playing more frantically and less controlled did not help against Westernesse despite TIG’s athleticism, and the game began to turn towards the mortals. At minute 63 it turned fully, as Tar Telperien toed a pass away to Malbeth, and with his gift of foresight in full operation he boomed it forward and to the right, knowing things would somehow work out that direction. NilpWolf was first to it, but he couldn’t control the ball coming down and when it squirted away Ar Adunakhor was first to it and he sent the ball skidding towards the goal into the middle of the field. The other defenders were completely wrong-footed, as they had slowed up and started turning when they saw NilpWolf would clearly be receiving it, and they allowed Elros and Ar Pharazon to dash right past them, breaking behind them at the precise moment Ar Adunakhor sent his pass.

ShastaWolf was a fine keeper, but had no prayer with both High King Elros and the legendary Golden-boot Ar Pharazon running in unopposed, and the game was level with 25 minutes left!

The TIG supporters were now quite shaken with what they were witnessing. Their team was not invincible after all, and after having long enough to observe Westernesse’s game they were impressed against their will. It would take a quality effort to get through this match!

On the field, TIG debated what course of action to take. They figured Westernesse wouldn’t change what they were doing, so it was up to them to dictate how the game would finish. Defend for overtime? Defend for a shootout perhaps? They felt they had an advantage there for certain. But Westernesse was scrappy and could sneak in a last second goal, so perhaps they should push for a goal in regulation to win it?

NogWolf was undecided, and he was getting different input from different teammates. The defenders did not want to suffer the embarrassment of giving up a late goal to Westernesse, and preferred to go full-barrel attack, as that way they would be said to be at a disadvantage if Westernesse got a quick counter for the win. But NogWolf thought it was bad policy to base the strategy on protecting the pride of a few people.

NerWolf and GwathWolf both favored going full-bore lockdown defense, including assigning them and PhantomWolf to defensive duty. Surely with their athletic skills they could shut Westernesse out and get to a shootout, where GwathWolf and NerWolf were both quite confident that both they and their other shooters would score, while ShastaWolf would come up with a save, or pressure the Westernesse shooters into missing.

Not completely settled on the idea, NogWolf ordered a lockdown for the time being, figuring it couldn’t be bad to cut off Westernesse’s attack. And cut it off they did. Westernesse could do nothing at all with each Werewolf marking a man one on one. Normally such a strategy would be too tiring for a squad, but these were Werewolves, and they had played some good possession game in the first half of the contest and were thus fresher than they might have been, and Westernesse suddenly looked quite impotent.

As the minutes of this treatment ticked past, those two instigators SallyWolf and PhantomWolf began to feel offended by the idea that they were going to go into overtime against a squad that was so obviously inferior. Finally PhantomWolf began begging NogWolf, “Let me loose, Noggins, let me loose on them!” NogWolf stared thoughtfully at the clock and scoreboard and at the Westernesse players and then whispered something to PhantomWolf that seemed to calm him down, and then proceeded to hold up five fingers and wave them in a circle. The Werewolves all noticed, but did not change their gameplay in the least, defending doggedly, kicking it around in back, then lobbing it to the other end to make Westernesse start over.

And then suddenly at minute 81, (five minutes after NogWolf had made his signal), KuruWolf took a standard time-wasting pass and launched it straight down the middle. This wasn’t completely surprising, as TIG had been booting it away to Westernesse occasionally, but this time PhantomWolf was already tearing down the field towards the goal, completely catching Westernesse off guard. The ball came down in front of PhantomWolf and on the second bounce reached the box at the same time as he did, and the Wights and Wolves in the crowd were just screaming! He touched it deftly down and rushed in, made the keeper commit and banged it to the other side!

But no- he was called off side! Westernesse breathed a huge sigh of relief as TIG supporters angrily clamored for a replay to be shown, and the hanging screen gave them their wish, and to their great anger it showed that PhantomWolf had clearly been nothing more than level when the pass was sent! Evidently the speed of the Werewolves was confusing to the refs, who didn’t see how he could have received it as far behind the defenders as he did while still being on side.

Even the cool-headed NogWolf was furious, and nearly joined KuruWolf in being written up for threatening the officials. But that was nothing compared to the reactions in the audience. Goblets, wrappers, little boxes- anything that could be thrown onto the field began raining down, and Westernesse fans and site officials began getting extremely nervous. If Westernesse now pulled out a late win, things were going to get extremely out of hand. Already many of the Wights were making preparations for causing property damage no matter what the outcome.

But Elwe and Melian were in attendance after their sovereign victory in the first game, and the pair was very wise, and sporting as well. And so it was that the big screen displayed an image of the pair booing the refs, looking quite severe and indignant, and the TIG supporters were mollified. How could they wreck the realm of a King and Queen that so rightly supported them?

And then it happened- Westernesse threw it in and booted it to the corner for Elros, but SkipWolf put on an astounding turn of speed and coming out from the goal box somehow beat everyone to it and clubbed the ball straight up the sideline. For the second time the ball found a streaking PhantomWolf, only this time he was obviously on side, as Tar Palantir and Malbeth were back in reserve. Rather than wait for the other forwards, a furious PhantomWolf angled towards the goal and rushed madly forward.

Tar Telperien was coming straight up the middle and had the angle to halt him, but PhantomWolf went headlong into her and though it was just a blur it seemed clear he had taken her and thrown her like a rag doll. The refs kept their cards in their pockets however- a makeup call for their blown off sides ruling perhaps? Then it was only the two far-sighted defenders left- Tar Palantir and Malbeth. PhantomWolf crushed the ball directly into the chin of Malbeth, felling him and amazingly receiving the ball right back to his feet without losing a step. Whether or not it was intentional no one may ever know. Then Tar Palantir went to the ground to block the way, but PhantomWolf hopped the ball over him and stepped over alongside it, making certain to stamp on Tar Palantir’s ribs as he did so.

And then it was just the keeper- Tar Atanamir. NogWolf could be heard howling, “Kill him!!” as PhantomWolf rushed towards the goal, and NerWolf boomed, “Plus plus Atanamir!!” Meanwhile the crowd had, as soon as the run started, begun chanting “Blood! Blood! Blood!” Tar Atanamir was no coward, but it was simply a bit much for him. PhantomWolf’s face simply screamed “murder” and given the attitude of the team and crowd the thought flashed through Tar Atanamir’s mind that the angry Werewolf might very well fatally bite him and screw the consequences. Tar Atanamir’s knees gave way and he crumpled backwards into the goal leaving PhantomWolf free to slot it home, and Tol In Gaurhoth was back in front!

The roar of the TIG supporters was beyond deafening, meanwhile NogWolf signaled to the squad to lock down and shut Westernesse out the rest of the way. And indeed it was just as easily done as said given that Tar Palantir had cracked ribs and possibly worse, Malbeth had a broken jaw and a concussion, and Tar Telperien had a nasty gash on her shoulder, a badly twisted knee, and an arm that appeared to be out of socket. The Werewolves could sag off of them and focus on the rest of the team, making it impossible for Westernesse to mount any sort of attack.

In no time at all the contest was over and the Tol In Gaurhoth team was tearing the goalposts apart, intending to keep the pieces as a trophy. Their fans rushed onto the field to join them. Security looked for a minute like they may try and stop them, but Elwe waved them to stand down. It wouldn’t do any good, and might make things turn violent. Westernesse and their supporters fled the arena as swiftly as possible, feeling somewhat ashamed but refusing to slow their retreat nonetheless. They were a great and proud team that had championship potential and they had played their very very best, but the creatures of Tol In Gaurhoth were just a bad matchup for them.

Meanwhile the TIG fans continued to party on the field, thrilled to be headed to Arda Cup’s biggest stage, which was exactly where they belonged!

Tol In Gaurhoth 2-1 Westernesse
tot shots 19-14
on target 7-4
GOALS:
*35, 1-0 NerWolf (NogWolf)
*63, 1-1 Ar Pharazon (Elros)
*82, 2-1 PhantomWolf (SkipWolf)
YELLOW CARDS:
*TIG- SallyWolf, NerWolf, KuruWolf
*Westernesse- Ar Adunakhor, Elendil

07-25-2011, 12:08 AM	#123
the phantom Beloved Shadow Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Stadium Posts: 5,971	Quarterfinals at Doriath continue... Tol In Gaurhoth vs Westernesse The halls and tunnels leading into the arena were absolutely packed- the celebrating Doriath fans were pushing their way out to go party, while the excited Westernesse and Tol In Gaurhoth fans were rushing in for the night match. Some of the Westernesse fans from Numenor were familiar with the place, having visited Doriath during the 2008 finals where team Armenelos played in the third-place match (against Tol In Gaurhoth no less)- though that particular match had taken place in the secondary stadium a little ways away in the forest. While Tol In Gaurhoth had also played in that match, their fans had not taken so much time to tour the area and experience the culture, and so the stadium was quite new to them. Many of the Wights and Werewolves appreciated the beauty, but not surprisingly given their natures many of them were noting the beauty with a mind towards damaging it should their squad be cheated in any way. NiennaWight and FeaWight in particular had an eye towards the sculptures, wondering what “improvements” they might make with their painting tools. AganWight and LegateWight on the other hand were keen to take a closer look at the woven hangings, in order to determine how easily they might burn. But there was no time to linger- the game would not wait on them, and it was starting soon. In fact the end of the lines had not yet reached their seats when the teams were introduced, and everyone hastened all the more. Westernesse looked proud and confident taking the field, but the Werewolves more so. Tol In Gaurhoth and their fans were still holding the same attitude as in the last round, where they simply laughed at the thought that their opposition could challenge them. “Westernesse- ha! Mere mortals cannot hope to challenge the might of our Wight-Wolf hybrids!” shouted The GreatElvenWight, facing the TIG section of fans and whipping them into a frenzy. As the game began, however, things weren’t so simple. Tol In Gaurhoth was quick and strong and fearsome, but they could gain no ground on the mighty men and women of Westernesse, whose tactics and positioning and discipline outshone the TIGites. The forwards and midfielders of TIG were trying to make lengthy runs as if they were playing lesser competition, and their fellows too often were caught just watching and not preparing to receive it so early, and so Westernesse took it time after time and got things going on the other end. When Westernesse put on the pressure TIG refused to help their defense too much, as they were chomping at the bit to be released for a long counter, but Westernesse played it smart and beautifully and didn’t give them the chance, but instead gained decent opportunities for their scorers. Ar Pharazon deflected one wide off a corner, Elros drove one wide from 35 meters, and Ar Adunakhor placed a beautiful header that forced ShastaWolf to make a tough save indeed. The crowd was just shocked, but NogWolf wasn’t caught off guard on the field. “I told you it would be like this! We can’t be showing off. Let’s bring it back in a bit. Carefully- let’s show them we’re more than animals.” And quite swiftly most of TIG went along with him, and for the first time they looked somewhat threatening, now taking their own turns controlling the ball and turning away Westernesse more quickly with defensive help. Finally around the 30 minute mark TIG gained their first substantial threat when InzilWolf sent it forward and across the goal box, where GwathWolf managed to nudge the ball’s course towards the net. Tar Atanamir however sprawled out to bat it aside however, and the Westernesse supporters gave him a great ovation. But just minutes later those same fans found themselves quite silent, as TIG built up another nice attack and NogWolf found himself unmarked only 20 meters out and blasted it through an empty slot. Tar Atanamir deflected it, but not well, and the ever pounce-ready NerWolf swiftly kneed the bouncing ball back towards the net and gained her side the lead! For the remaining ten minutes of the half TIG played a possession game, and did surprisingly well at it for Werewolves- much better than Westernesse was expecting anyway, who managed only an awkward deflection and a weak off-balance header against the Werewolf defense. The Wights and Wolves applauded their team as they went to the lockers, but also urged them on to greater heights. “Come on!” screamed BrinWight. “Get your act together in there and come out and beat them into submission!” As the second half started it looked like TIG was keen to do just that, but playing more frantically and less controlled did not help against Westernesse despite TIG’s athleticism, and the game began to turn towards the mortals. At minute 63 it turned fully, as Tar Telperien toed a pass away to Malbeth, and with his gift of foresight in full operation he boomed it forward and to the right, knowing things would somehow work out that direction. NilpWolf was first to it, but he couldn’t control the ball coming down and when it squirted away Ar Adunakhor was first to it and he sent the ball skidding towards the goal into the middle of the field. The other defenders were completely wrong-footed, as they had slowed up and started turning when they saw NilpWolf would clearly be receiving it, and they allowed Elros and Ar Pharazon to dash right past them, breaking behind them at the precise moment Ar Adunakhor sent his pass. ShastaWolf was a fine keeper, but had no prayer with both High King Elros and the legendary Golden-boot Ar Pharazon running in unopposed, and the game was level with 25 minutes left! The TIG supporters were now quite shaken with what they were witnessing. Their team was not invincible after all, and after having long enough to observe Westernesse’s game they were impressed against their will. It would take a quality effort to get through this match! On the field, TIG debated what course of action to take. They figured Westernesse wouldn’t change what they were doing, so it was up to them to dictate how the game would finish. Defend for overtime? Defend for a shootout perhaps? They felt they had an advantage there for certain. But Westernesse was scrappy and could sneak in a last second goal, so perhaps they should push for a goal in regulation to win it? NogWolf was undecided, and he was getting different input from different teammates. The defenders did not want to suffer the embarrassment of giving up a late goal to Westernesse, and preferred to go full-barrel attack, as that way they would be said to be at a disadvantage if Westernesse got a quick counter for the win. But NogWolf thought it was bad policy to base the strategy on protecting the pride of a few people. NerWolf and GwathWolf both favored going full-bore lockdown defense, including assigning them and PhantomWolf to defensive duty. Surely with their athletic skills they could shut Westernesse out and get to a shootout, where GwathWolf and NerWolf were both quite confident that both they and their other shooters would score, while ShastaWolf would come up with a save, or pressure the Westernesse shooters into missing. Not completely settled on the idea, NogWolf ordered a lockdown for the time being, figuring it couldn’t be bad to cut off Westernesse’s attack. And cut it off they did. Westernesse could do nothing at all with each Werewolf marking a man one on one. Normally such a strategy would be too tiring for a squad, but these were Werewolves, and they had played some good possession game in the first half of the contest and were thus fresher than they might have been, and Westernesse suddenly looked quite impotent. As the minutes of this treatment ticked past, those two instigators SallyWolf and PhantomWolf began to feel offended by the idea that they were going to go into overtime against a squad that was so obviously inferior. Finally PhantomWolf began begging NogWolf, “Let me loose, Noggins, let me loose on them!” NogWolf stared thoughtfully at the clock and scoreboard and at the Westernesse players and then whispered something to PhantomWolf that seemed to calm him down, and then proceeded to hold up five fingers and wave them in a circle. The Werewolves all noticed, but did not change their gameplay in the least, defending doggedly, kicking it around in back, then lobbing it to the other end to make Westernesse start over. And then suddenly at minute 81, (five minutes after NogWolf had made his signal), KuruWolf took a standard time-wasting pass and launched it straight down the middle. This wasn’t completely surprising, as TIG had been booting it away to Westernesse occasionally, but this time PhantomWolf was already tearing down the field towards the goal, completely catching Westernesse off guard. The ball came down in front of PhantomWolf and on the second bounce reached the box at the same time as he did, and the Wights and Wolves in the crowd were just screaming! He touched it deftly down and rushed in, made the keeper commit and banged it to the other side! But no- he was called off side! Westernesse breathed a huge sigh of relief as TIG supporters angrily clamored for a replay to be shown, and the hanging screen gave them their wish, and to their great anger it showed that PhantomWolf had clearly been nothing more than level when the pass was sent! Evidently the speed of the Werewolves was confusing to the refs, who didn’t see how he could have received it as far behind the defenders as he did while still being on side. Even the cool-headed NogWolf was furious, and nearly joined KuruWolf in being written up for threatening the officials. But that was nothing compared to the reactions in the audience. Goblets, wrappers, little boxes- anything that could be thrown onto the field began raining down, and Westernesse fans and site officials began getting extremely nervous. If Westernesse now pulled out a late win, things were going to get extremely out of hand. Already many of the Wights were making preparations for causing property damage no matter what the outcome. But Elwe and Melian were in attendance after their sovereign victory in the first game, and the pair was very wise, and sporting as well. And so it was that the big screen displayed an image of the pair booing the refs, looking quite severe and indignant, and the TIG supporters were mollified. How could they wreck the realm of a King and Queen that so rightly supported them? And then it happened- Westernesse threw it in and booted it to the corner for Elros, but SkipWolf put on an astounding turn of speed and coming out from the goal box somehow beat everyone to it and clubbed the ball straight up the sideline. For the second time the ball found a streaking PhantomWolf, only this time he was obviously on side, as Tar Palantir and Malbeth were back in reserve. Rather than wait for the other forwards, a furious PhantomWolf angled towards the goal and rushed madly forward. Tar Telperien was coming straight up the middle and had the angle to halt him, but PhantomWolf went headlong into her and though it was just a blur it seemed clear he had taken her and thrown her like a rag doll. The refs kept their cards in their pockets however- a makeup call for their blown off sides ruling perhaps? Then it was only the two far-sighted defenders left- Tar Palantir and Malbeth. PhantomWolf crushed the ball directly into the chin of Malbeth, felling him and amazingly receiving the ball right back to his feet without losing a step. Whether or not it was intentional no one may ever know. Then Tar Palantir went to the ground to block the way, but PhantomWolf hopped the ball over him and stepped over alongside it, making certain to stamp on Tar Palantir’s ribs as he did so. And then it was just the keeper- Tar Atanamir. NogWolf could be heard howling, “Kill him!!” as PhantomWolf rushed towards the goal, and NerWolf boomed, “Plus plus Atanamir!!” Meanwhile the crowd had, as soon as the run started, begun chanting “Blood! Blood! Blood!” Tar Atanamir was no coward, but it was simply a bit much for him. PhantomWolf’s face simply screamed “murder” and given the attitude of the team and crowd the thought flashed through Tar Atanamir’s mind that the angry Werewolf might very well fatally bite him and screw the consequences. Tar Atanamir’s knees gave way and he crumpled backwards into the goal leaving PhantomWolf free to slot it home, and Tol In Gaurhoth was back in front! The roar of the TIG supporters was beyond deafening, meanwhile NogWolf signaled to the squad to lock down and shut Westernesse out the rest of the way. And indeed it was just as easily done as said given that Tar Palantir had cracked ribs and possibly worse, Malbeth had a broken jaw and a concussion, and Tar Telperien had a nasty gash on her shoulder, a badly twisted knee, and an arm that appeared to be out of socket. The Werewolves could sag off of them and focus on the rest of the team, making it impossible for Westernesse to mount any sort of attack. In no time at all the contest was over and the Tol In Gaurhoth team was tearing the goalposts apart, intending to keep the pieces as a trophy. Their fans rushed onto the field to join them. Security looked for a minute like they may try and stop them, but Elwe waved them to stand down. It wouldn’t do any good, and might make things turn violent. Westernesse and their supporters fled the arena as swiftly as possible, feeling somewhat ashamed but refusing to slow their retreat nonetheless. They were a great and proud team that had championship potential and they had played their very very best, but the creatures of Tol In Gaurhoth were just a bad matchup for them. Meanwhile the TIG fans continued to party on the field, thrilled to be headed to Arda Cup’s biggest stage, which was exactly where they belonged! Tol In Gaurhoth 2-1 Westernesse tot shots 19-14 on target 7-4 GOALS: 35, 1-0 NerWolf (NogWolf) 63, 1-1 Ar Pharazon (Elros) 82, 2-1 PhantomWolf (SkipWolf) YELLOW CARDS: TIG- SallyWolf, NerWolf, KuruWolf Westernesse- Ar Adunakhor, Elendil __________________ the phantom* has posted. This thread is now important.