First off, I had two articles that incurred penalties regarding length. Franko's article was too short by F7s regulations, and unless I miss a rule about quotations being excluded from the word count, TITs Anonymous' was far too long. If there is a rule I missed, can someone let me know? I looked everywhere and didn't see anything about it.
Without further ado!
South Sydney
Colors are All Around Us Franko
This started strongly and seemed to be going somewhere positive, and then it just kind of... ended. A disappointment after a promising beginning.
SCORE: 77 (-5 points for length) = 72
Thoughts from Game Day DaveQ
An interesting article on the different ways in which we can view a game. I've certainly indulged in it from time to time.
SCORE: 83
Protection for the Kickers byrnerovellifan
Definitely an issue that has long been a talking point within the game. I felt this lost a bit of momentum as a result of over-long sentences and the occasional misused word.
SCORE: 79
An Ode to Benny's Return (part 2) miccle
A well written, poetic piece about Bennett's return to Brisbane and its effect. A thoroughly enjoyable piece.
SCORE: 85
Direction of the Game from a Past Great Marshall_magic
An amusing read with some very valid points that I myself often ponder. I'm not sure Raudonikis would ever have said it quite so eloquently, and there were some tense changes mid-sentence that confused but it was still an entertaining read.
SCORE: 84
TOTAL: 403
Gold Coast Titans
Willy's Stinky Situation Titanic
An... odd article. It took me a moment to grasp that this was entirely tongue in cheek. I blame the Irish car bombs. A well written piece about the dramas surrounding our game and how, in most cases, they're blown grossly out of proportion.
SCORE: 86
Bert's Balls tits&tans
Wow. Physics and how they relate to the forward pass. I loved it. A little wordy for a layman at times, but it never strayed too far and became inaccessible. A really good read.
SCORE: 88
NRPL Amadean
Classic. Any article that mocks sports I hate, mentions enemas, and references curling is a winner in my book.
SCORE: 90
Shakespeare in League TITs Anonymous
As a theatre major and an unabashed Shakespeare nut, it was good to see the man getting some play on a rugby league forum. Some amusing parallels drawn here.
SCORE: 85 (-30 points for length) = 55
NOTE: I could find no rule that says quotations weren't counted, only that the references posted after he fact were not.
Choices Titan Uranus
I don't know what the put in the water in Shanghai (although I suspect it isn't safe to drink), but the Titans have such a wealth of talented writers. An enjoyable piece. But 'ew' to there being an Aussie Rules team in China.
SCORE: 87
TOTAL: 406
FINAL SCORE: Gold Coast Titans 406 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 403
MOTM: Amadean (Titans)