Outback News and Standings

Last Friday saw the FireStar challenge with Apple wresting the red rock out of Hope’s hands. Bout one went to the incumbent, 5-2 in 6, and made it look she’d have an easy time continuing her reign. Apple turned things around in the second though, breaking a 3-3 tie after 8 with a chop, jab combo for 2 straight points and victory. The 3rd and final bout had Hope take the initial lead, but Apple turned that into a tie by the 4th and a lopsided win by the 8th. Taking the bout 5-2 in 8, Apple becomes the new FireStar holder.

The very next night had Claire facing Matt for MoonBeryl. Matt has a nice defense streak going over in the Arena and, of course, had many here in the Outback, but after a challenge-less year holding the yellow rock he didn’t seem prepared to fend off the violence Claire brought to the ring. The challenger took the first bout 5-2 in 6 and then swept up the first point of the second before Matt tried to stage a comeback. It was back and forth with Matt moving the score to a 4-3 bout point with the patented spinning backlist in the 6th. He couldn’t hold on though as Claire took us to Sudden Death in the 7th and then jabbed for the win in the 8th to win 5-4. Claire takes the rock in 2 straight.

Also this past week, last night actually, saw this cycle’s Panther’s Claw Tournament. We had a field of 7 show up to fight out for the junior title and a final that came down to Jewell and Kruger. The currently blonde Empress has received some exceptional mentoring of late and was in fine form throughout the competition. She began the bout with a strong jab to take the lead, but the Anvil had things back to a 2-2 stalemate in the 3rd. Jewell took control from there though and put her feet to work. SnapKick, Sweep, SpinKick all scoring in succession to take the claw in a 5-2 six round finish.

There are no new opal challenges outstanding.

DEBUTS: None this week.

ADVANCEMENTS: Kruger Allen advance to Ruby!

PANTHER'S CLAW: The holder of the Panther's Claw forthis cycle is Jewell Ravenlock! ((The Claw grants the holder one extra fancy/feint maneuver above his/her current rank (excluding Emerald))).

FISTMELDA'S TUSK: The holder of the Fistmelda's Tusk for this cycle is ! ((Fistmelda's Tusk grants the holder several perks, some of which are rank dependant and and include an extra modifier for lower ranks. Please see this thread for more details.)).