[Anguirel]

Mirkwood vs. Valimar-or, Clash of the Hippies

This game may be pretty slow starting as both sides will be eager to avoid damaging the grass on the pitch.

However, once Mirkwood get onto form, there will be no stopping them. They embody the wild spirit of Faerie, while the ethos of the Valier is just too mixed. They're in a Celto-Norse-Hellenic muddle, which will lead to a disordered atmosphere in contrast with Mirkwood's dynamism and determination.

Winner: Close victory to Mirkwood

Likely Scorers: Legolas, Thranduil, Varda, Yavanna.


Gondor vs. Bree-or, Epic Pub Crawl

Bree have scraped through so far by the skin of their yellowed teeth. They lack Barliman Butterbur, a vital morale-raiser, and the crafty Bill Ferny. Gondor is on peak form. The question is whether Bree will be able to humiliate its conqueror by penetrating its defence even once.

Winner: Walkover to Gondor

Likely Scorers: Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, Imrahil, Harry Goatleaf


Doriath vs. The Shire-or, Under the Greenwood Tree

Gandalf is full of surprises, but he'll have to be on top form if he hopes to take on Thingol's star-scattered Sindar. The Shire's talent base is too narrow to be efficiently exploited against such a versatile opponent; other Hobbits than Pippin are going to have to show their quality. Bar a radical improvement in performances of key players like Frodo Baggins, Doriath will storm this one...

Winner: Solid win to Doriath

Likely Scorers: Beleg "Strongboot", Thingol, Mablung "Heavyfooted", Saeros, Pippin, Gandalf


Mordor vs. Fangorn-or, Slash n' Burn

Remember the Brown Lands Cup Final? The Dark Lord led his Mordor diehards against a solid Entwives United opposition and slaughtered them so heavily that their team had to be disbanded-the survivors went out east and took up netball. Now there's only the males to deal with, though they'll put up a stiff resistance.

Winner: Mordor will defeat Fangorn. Many injuries on both sides.

Likely Scorers: The Dark Lord, the Witch-king, Khamul the Easterling, Ringwraith No. 7, Treebeard, Quickbeam


Numenor vs. Angband-or "His name is Melkor, the Giver of Freedom"

Numenor famously caves in against Melkor's mere apprentice Sauron. The host of Angband, it might be said, is rather too much for them. But brute force is what Numenor excells in opposing. Provided Ar-Pharazon is positioned as centre-forward, the Numenoreans will have a slim chance of humbling the pride of He Who Arises In Might. In such a situation the subtle tactics of new striker Maeglin may prove more useful than the brute force of Gothmog or Ancalagon.

Winner: Narrow victory for Angband

Likely Scorers: Melkor, Maeglin, Gothmog, Ancalagon, Ar-Pharazon, Ar-Zimraphel, Tar-Ancalime


Nargothrond vs. Moria-or, Claustrophobia

This struggle for the caves can only have one victor! Nargothrond has dealt with a Petty-Dwarven team in the past which should easily prepare it for Balin, and friendlies with Angband have made this team more than used to Orcs and Balrogs. If the rumours that Nargothrond are planning to transfer Edrahil and Orodreth in exchange for Celegorm and Curufin prove true, the defeat of Moria will be still more pronounced.

Winner: Solid win for Nargothrond.

Likely Scorers: Turin, Finrod Felagund, (Celegorm and Curufin-to be confirmed), Bill the Balrog, Azog


Tol-in-Gaurhoth vs. Arnor-or, Who's the Ranger?

Tol-in-Gaurhoth have been tipped to romp through this one, but Arnor have a tendency to overturn predictions-they are, we must remember, fresh from knocking out Rivendell against the expectations of the phantom. With so many Rangers in their ranks, the dirty lynching tactics of Tol-in-Gaurhoth will be consistently thwarted; but expect the wolves, bitter at their loss, to aim to injure Arnor's star players towards the end.

Winner: Arnor will win, just

Likely Scorers: Arvedui, Arathorn, Halbarad, Sauron, Draugluin, Thuringwethil


Alqualonde vs. Barrowdowns-or, The Gulls Are Crying

Here I must cohere with previous expectations. Unless Alqualonde signs Tom Bombadil at the last minute, a somewhat unlikely course of action for these haughty Elves, they will go down. Into the barrow. Ha ha!

Winner: the Barrow-Downs will win with usual elegance and contempt for its piffling opponent.

Likely Scorers: the Saucepan Man, Sleepy Ranger, Olwe