The Dice & Chart Season
 

I recently purchased The Beautiful Game, Blue Zone Hockey and World of Motor Racing - Formula 1 from OWZAT GAMES, The home of Lambourne Games

These games consist of a deck of cards, and some dice. TBG and BZH is very similar in the teams are created by giving the statistics of Goals Scored Home, Goals Scored Away, Goals Against Home and Goals Against Away. The stronger the team, the more chances they have in match and vice versa. The dice determine whether it is a scoring opportunity or not, and of course, whether a goal is scored.

Formula 1 is similar but different (the age old saying ;)) but still gives a good representation of the sport it is trying to present. There are no user-decisions in TBG or BZH, and F1's decisions are purely optional.

I am going to attempt to recreate leagues that I have previously run or been a part of in the PBeM scene, using these games. I intend on simming them realistically (having games on weekends etc.) with the Hockey season starting just before the Soccer season finishes. The F1 will be spread out through both as each race takes around 1.5 hours!

I'm going to try to give it a newspaper-type feel to it, with a little write-up on all the games played that day, and any little tid-bits of stats that may be interesting to know.

January 02 2009
The Stormers	1		Vizhune Vipers	2
B.Ficini 30			Z.Schüßler 7 B.Pålsson 57
			Half-Time: 1-1
Bayside Bombers	1		Caron Chargers	2
S.Andrews 57			A.Magnusson 51 I.Jacobson 76
			Half-Time: 0-0

Caron showed why they are one of the favourites to take the Super League title this season after a convincing 2-1 victory over the Bayside Bombers this evening. Caron squandered a few god chances in the first half before substitute A.Magnusson headed home into an empty net after M.von Moers free kick hit the wall and looped over, leaving Bayside Goalkeeper J.Felloni stranded.

Bayside had a chance to equalise deep into injury time when some slack marking by the Chargers back line allowed a free header for P.Dowd, who could only head it straight to L.Souter's outstretched arms.

Meanwhile Vizhune also picked up a valuable 2-1 away win, when they made The Stormers rue their missed chances. Vizhune only managed 2 clear chances all game and put both away whilst The Stormers missed chance after chance.

Standings

Fixtures
Megopolis Titans v Cherry City Devils
Seattle Skyhawks v Jonestown Broncos

January 03 2009
Megopolis Titans	2		Cherry City Devils	2
P.Hart 26 N.Doschke 47			R.Gavioli 61 L.Hartmann 86
			Half-Time: 1-0
Seattle Skyhawks	2		Jonestown Broncos	1
I.Macpherson 10 C.Murante 69			I.Waak 30
			Half-Time: 1-1
January 04 2009
Ruysdael Generals	0		Saphire Coast Sharks	0
Snowflake City Pirates	0		Peanut Valley Prowlers	0
Splimopia Shockers	1		New Auckland Warlocks	1
W.Cotán 5			L.Di Magno 90
			Half-Time: 1-0

Last Season's league runners-up Megopolis could only manage a 2-2 draw against Cherry City on Saturday night. N.Doschke had earlier doubled Megopolis' lead just after the break only to see goals from R.Gavioli and L.Hartmann peg back the Titans.

In the other game on Saturday night, Seattle were far too strong for Jonestown with I.Macpherson opening the scoring in the 10th minute. A wonder strike from Broncos striker I.Waak levelled the scores 20 minutes later, but it wasn't enough as Seattle took the lead again in the 69th minute when C.Murante hit a brilliant volley that hit the underside of the bar and went in, leaving Jonestown's Goalkeeper F.Köther stranded.

In the Sunday games Ruysdael and Saphire Coast played out an entertaining 0-0 draw as both sides failed to capitilize on their chances in the first half. Both teams then shut up shop in the second half as neither team managed a single chance of note.

The same cannot be said for the Snowflake City-Peanut Valley fixture, as neither side tested the oppositions goalie in a dull 0-0 draw.

Splimopia fans will feel hard done by here as they dominated New Auckland from start to finish yet still only managed to draw 1-1 with the visitors. The Shockers had numerous chances to put the game beyond doubt, but a mix of poor shots and great saves by Warlocks 'keeper P.Musco kept the home team from doubling their advantage. However, in the 90th minute, Right Midfielder L.Di Magno tucked home an easy chance from a rebound after his original shot was well saved by the New Auckland Goalkeeper.


Fixtures - 7th of January 2008
Caron Chargers v Seattle Skyhawks
Cherry City Devils v The Stormers
Jonestown Broncos v Snowflake City Pirates
Megopolis Titans v Bayside Bombers
New Auckland Warlocks v Saphire Coast Sharks
Peanut Valley Prowlers v Ruysdael Generals
Vizhune Vipers v Splimopia Shockers

January 07 2009
Caron Chargers	0		Seattle Skyhawks	0
Cherry City Devils	1		The Stormers	2
R.Gavioli 79			E.Direne 18 I.Mackie 35
			Half-Time: 0-2
Jonestown Broncos	1		Snowflake City Pirates	1
L.Scarponi 74			S.Busch 57
			Half-Time: 0-0
Megopolis Titans	0		Bayside Bombers	0
New Auckland Warlocks	2		Saphire Coast Sharks	1
H.Riesgo 1 S.Dierichs 21			Z.Fiorio 38
			Half-Time: 2-1
Peanut Valley Prowlers	2		Ruysdael Generals	1
D.Mendicino 45 M.Zavorotnyuk 90			X.Casper 41
			Half-Time: 1-1
Vizhune Vipers	2		Splimopia Shockers	2
P.Vocanac 37 D.Carro 42			S.Marsh 15 Y.Kümmerling 23
			Half-Time: 2-2

A spate of draws ensures all teams are still conegested on the League Table with no teams having won or lost both their opening fixtures. League favourites Caron and Megopolis were held to nil-nil draws with Megopolis squandering many chances to break the dead-lock.

Jonestown and Snowflake City's 1-1 draw was filled with end-to-end action with both teams have great opportunites turned away by the opposing goalkeepers. The Broncos had a chance late in the game to secure 3 points but failed to convert.

H.Riesgo gifted New Auckland the lead in the first minute of their game against Saphire Coast. The midfielder drove home a stunning shot from 15 yards, 20 minutes before striker S.Dierichs doubled the lead.

Meanwhile in what was probably the game of the round, Splimopia opened up a 2-0 lead only to see Vizhune reply with 2 goals shortly before Half time to ensure both team walked away with a point.

As a result, all teams are only seperated by 3 points after 2 games each going into next weekends Round 3 fixtures which will surely see some teams starting to break away from the rest of the pack.

Standings

Fixtures - 9th of January 2009
Bayside Bombers v Seattle Skyhawks
Snowflake City Pirates v Caron Chargers
Formula 1: Elon Grand Prix

Rummel takes pole
Raven Racing's C.Rummel will go into Saturday's afternoons race in Pole position after blitzing the rest of the field, shaving over 100 milliseconds off C.Villoria's time of 1 minute, 23.989 seconds.

Rummel's teammate L.McConvery qualified 4th fastest behind Q.Heemskerk in third. McConvery was unlucky in traffic during Qualifying and felt slightly dissapointed in the way Qualifying was handled.

"Yeah, i'm a tad disapointed, I felt I could have shaved a lot of time if their wasn't so many other cars in the way. [G.Corica] got in my way towards the end, but I have no ill feelings towards the guy, afterall, I'm still 4th on the grid which is a great way to start the season".

Meanwhile LIAN's C.Vantaggi was lucky not to total his car completely after spinning out on one of his fast laps. The 27 year old was on track to post a fairly strong qualifying time when he spun off on the second to last corner. The lost time means he qualified 10th.

"I saw the crash and feel he was very lucky to come out of it to be honest. He was really pushing the car and perhaps he pushed it a little too far" said teammate F.Mellqvist who qualified 25th on grid after succumbing to serious Handling problems. "He still managed to post a great time though, and can really push for points in tomorrow's race". When asked about his handling problems, the Caron native was not so upbeat "the car just wasn't working all day, I was really fighting with it the whole morning, and my lap time represents that. It's not the best way to start a season but at the end of the day, I've got nothing to lose going into the race".

L.Demjanenko's car also suffered from handling problems, but still managed to qualify 7th with a time of 1.24.456. Lumenition's number 1 driver was frustrated but admitted things could have been worse.

"A lot of cars were sufferring from problems today, so for me to still qualify 7th is a good acheivement and one that I can definitely improve on".

The Elon Grand Prix is 58 laps long with the weather forecast prediciting warm and sunny tomorrow afternoon.

Qualifying Times

January 09 2009
Bayside Bombers	2		Seattle Skyhawks	0
B.Munroe 42,58
			Half-Time: 1-0
Snowflake City Pirates	1		Caron Chargers	0
Y.Giacobbo 20
			Half-Time: 1-0

BAYSIDE --- Two goals from striker B.Munroe ensured Bayside picked up their first win of the season with a convincing 2-0 victory over Seattle last night. The Bombers took the lead shortly before half-time when G.Townley's high cross was met by the foot of B.Munroe who gracefully lobbed the ball in off the far post in the 42nd minute.

Bayside then doubled their lead 12 minutes after the restart when Seattle's backline failed to clear a loose ball and allowed B.Munroe to lash past the 'keeper from 12 yards. The 34 year old said he was pleased to have scored his first goals for the season.

"It was a good win, we really pushed hard to pick up the 3 points and we managed to secure them which is always good. The Skyhawks have a great team, and although they are tipped for relegation I don't think they are going to be dead-certs for the drop".

Seattle had a two chances just after the break, but both M.Andrews and C.Murante forced good saves from Bombers' goalkeeper J.Felloni.

Meanwhile in the other game, Snowflake City showed their title credentials with a strong 1-0 win over reigning champions Caron. A 20th minute strike from Right midfielder Y.Giacobbo after a string of good passing moves ensured Pirates fans went home happy.

ELON --- C.Villoria pipped pole leader C.Rummel to the post in the Elon Grand Prix this afternoon. However, team Black Lightning didn't have it all their way after co-driver Q.Heemskerk retired on Lap 30 with faulty brakes. The 23 year old slammed into a barricade after his brakes failed.

Raven Racing's C.Rummel and L.McConvery took 2nd and 3rd spots respectively with the two Lumenition drivers a lap behind them. M.Buzilo moved up 9 positions from his starting spot to grab 3 points for Team Alpha ahead of B.Kellacher and C.Vantaggi who rounded out the top 8.

But C.Villoria led the race from lap 9 after C.Rummel spun out on the track leaving the track wide open for Villoria to take the lead. Rummel also complained of a Brake problem 5 laps too the end, and his lap times got progressively slower as the race came to a conclusion.

"I saw [C.Rummel] spin out up ahead so I just gunned it and held on for the rest of the race. I was quite fortunate as he was just starting to get away from me." said Villoria. When asked about his teammate: "Yeah he was lucky. The brakes just failed apparently and he went crashing into the barriers. It could have been a lot worse, but he is okay, and we are now just focusing on fixing the problem for Angelsea in a fortnight".

4 laps after Q.Heemskerk went off, I.Skripka went off in similar fashion after his brakes failed forcing his retirement; teammate C.Sykes retired on his penultimate lap with an Oil Leak leaving Boyce Racing with some work to do for the next grand prix.

"To lose 2 cars from mechanical problems is frustrating. Both our drivers were in or near scoring positions when they went out as well, which is even harder to swallow" said Boyce Racing team owner Steven Boyce.

CED driver T.Southall struggled with his car all day and looked well off the pace, after slipping 6 positions from his qualifying spot. He later blamed a lack of Oil pressure which seemed to hurt his lap times.

"The car was handling really poorly, and I was struggling to stay in the race, let alone posting good times, but we will learn from this and hopefully be better prepared next time".

F.Mellqvist also bemoaned his car's mechanics after struggling through Qualifying, and then being forced to retire in last place on lap 38 with overheating problems.

"The car just wasn't right all weekend, and we are very disappointed. Thankfully C.Vantaggi picked up a valuable point for us".

The next race at Angelsea is 57 laps long with weather predictions of sunny and very hot temperatures.

January 10 2009
New Auckland Warlocks	4		Peanut Valley Prowlers	3
D.Cartledge 5 L.Bekic 17 H.Riesgo 40 L.Di Magno 53			R.Vallejo 27 D.Dusosky 48 M.Zavorotnyuk 57
			Half-Time: 3-1
The Stormers	1		Megopolis Titans	1
E.Direne 24			F.Di Capita 21
			Half-Time: 1-1

7 goal Thriller
NEW AUCKLAND --- Seven goals in 52 minutes was witnessed at Sadaki Stadium as New Auckland overcame Peanut Valley 4-3.

D.Cartledge (pictured, 10) gave the hosts the lead 5 minutes in when his head met the ball from a free-kick, and the lead was doubled 12 minutes later when L.Bekic evaded a tackle and sent a screamed into the top corner.

Striker R.Vallejo halved the deficit on 27 minutes when a long searching ball found the 26 year old who calmly slotted home. But the Prowlers hard work came undone when H.Riesgo smashed a volley home on 40 minutes after Right Midfielder L.Di Magno crossed into the area to give the Warlocks a 3-1 half-time lead.

Two minutes after the break Peanut Valley had pulled another one back, as they scrambled the ball over the line after 'keeper P.Musco fumbled the ball. L.Di Magno gave New Auckland their two goal cushion shortly before M.Zavorotnyuk scored the consolation.

"We feel a bit hard done by, I mean, to score 3 goals and still come away with nothing is quite sickening really, we are quite down about it, but life goes on" commented Prowlers midfielder S.Weise. I.Weller echoed his teammates feelings "We are all bitterly disappointed in the result and definitely feel we should've at least managed a point".

In the other game The Stormers and Megopolis played out a 1-1 draw when Striker E.Drienne equalised for the hosts 3 minutes after F.Di Capita gave the Titans the lead.

Standings