ISML 2013: Asuna, Mio lead Ruby

ISML 2013: Asuna, Mio lead Ruby

By JR Salazar
June 14, 2013

Match Day 3 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Ruby Necklace Period took place on Thursday, and a couple of heavyweights now lead in the running. Asuna Yuuki is at the head of the pack in the Nova Division, while past ISML Champion Mio Akiyama is at the top of the Stella Division. A number of upsets took place in the Nova Divisionm, throwing some of the prospects' SDOs into a tailspin.

The field of unbeatens whittled down to 12. Only seven can get the nod, provided that they have not already won a necklace. So in reality, there are 10 in the hunt. Here is a roundup of the action from Match Day 3 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Ruby necklace Period.

NOVA DIVISION

In the Nova Division, Yozora Mikazuki won a 3477-3415 thriller over Nyarlathotep, Inori Yuzuriha defeated Momo Beila Deviluke 3735-3156, Rikka Takanashi clocked Shinka Nibutani 4669-2408, Erio Touwa defeated Yui Kotegawa 3536-3080, Ririchiyo Shirakiin stunned Suguha Kirigaya 3802-3241 and Mikan Yuuki prevailed over Rea Sanka 3563-3203.

Kuroyukihime routed Noumi Kudryavka 4583-2412, Homura Akemi delivered the Upset of the Round over Shinobu Oshino 3507-3249, Eru Chitanda crushed Karen Araragi 4566-2359, Yui drubbed Tsukihi Araragi 4098-2959, Kobato Hasegawa ran past Touka Takanashi 4451-2712 and Rin Natsume prevailed over Fuuko Kurasaki 3538-3108.

Wrapping up action in the Nova...Mashiro Shiina drilled Keiko Ayano 4925-2265, Shouko Kirishima upended Aria Holmes Kanzaki 3626-3334, Asuna Yuuki rolled past Nanami Aoyama 4042-3161, Sena Kashiwazaki trampled over Mei Misaki 4570-2619, Kurisu Makise defeated Subaru Konoe 3634-3107 and in the closest match of the night, Meiko Honma won a 3387-3359 nailbiter over Karuta Roromiya.


STELLA DIVISION

In the Stella Division, Yuri Nakamura gunned down Masami Iwasawa 5220-1549, Kirino Kousaka cruised past Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 4324-2683, Eucliwood Hellscythe silenced Saber 4482-2721, Ayase Aragaki pummeled Tomoyo Sakagami 4360-2728, Shana torched Charlotte Dunois 4072-2978 and Hinagiku Katsura prevailed over Nymph 3427-3313.

Ruri Gokou ran past Nadeko Sengoku 5258-1888, Mato Kuroi blasted Konata Izumi 3794-2998, Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Victorique de Blois 4835-2476, Yui-nyan rocked Kyou Fujibayashi 4511-2448, Azusa nakano romped past Konjiki no Yami 4012-3142 and Yuki Nagato powered past Holo 4341-2591.

Wrapping up Stella play...Taiga Aisaka roared past Yui Hirasawa 4552-2719, C.C. defeated Illyasviel von Einzbern 3480-3285, defending champion Kanade Tachibana sliced and diced Haruhi Suzumiya 4830-2708, Mio Akiyama boomed past Rin Tosaka 4542-2645, Hitagi Senjougahara whipped past Ui Hirasawa 3907-3009 and Last Order defeated Nagisa Furukawa 3749-3418.

Naoyuki Asaba and Kana Iriya teamed up to defeat Shuuji and Chise 3004-1738 in the special exhibition.

Match Day 4 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Ruby Necklace Period is scheduled for June 16, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

South Sydney marches on...


South Sydney Rabbitohs centre Beau Champion plans comeback match in Perth
MICHAEL WASHBOURNE PERTHNOW JUNE 11, 2013 4:41PM

RABBITOHS centre Beau Champion is hopeful of returning for South Sydney's clash against the New Zealand Warriors in Perth on July 7.

Champion damaged ligaments in his right ankle after a collision with Newcastle’s Alex McKinnon earlier this month.

It was initially feared Champion may have broken his leg or ruptured his Achilles tendon, but scans found he had only suffered serious ligament damage.

Champion, who was in Perth today to promote the upcoming clash, has set his sights on returning against the Warriors at South Sydney’s “second home”.

“This is the game I’ll be looking to come back. It was a 4-6 week injury and this sort of brings me about the five-week mark,” Champion said.

“The structure of the ankle is pretty good, just a couple of torn ligaments.

“I’ll be working really hard to try and get myself fit, especially for this game because we’re all really looking forward to the chance to come over here and play some football.

“As players, we love coming to Perth. It is a home game for us and we get a lot of support over here.”

South Sydney sit on top on the NRL ladder and there is plenty of buzz on the eastern seaboard about the foundation club’s chances of ending a premiership drought dating back to 1971.

Champion said the Rabbitohs were doing their best to keep a lid on all the hype surrounding their resurgence.

“If we just keep taking it week by week, and I know it’s a cliché, it will be us in good stead towards the end of the season,” he said.

“We’re travelling along pretty well at the moment and we’ve had a really good start to the season. And it’s been pretty consistent as well.”

Perth was fortunate to witness a blockbuster NRL clash between New Zealand and Manly last year, with the Sea Eagles scoring a come-from-behind win at the death in front of more than 20,000 people.

NRL IN PERTH

It was another positive step for rugby league in Western Australia, which is hopeful of entering a team -- the West Coast Pirates -- in the national league in the coming years.

WA Rugby League chief executive John Sackson said Perth was busy preparing a bid he hoped would be “irresistible” to the game’s governing body.

“The NRL have put expansion on the backburner, I guess is the best way to put it, but we know it’s certainly a big part of the future,” he said.

“From our point of view, we are going to continue developing the game at grassroots level and continue to earn more respect for the code. The NRL games that come into Perth are going to feed that appetite that is growing here for rugby league.

“The bid is still being developed and the intention is there that when we are officially invited to put forward our credentials, we want to be in a position where it will be an irresistible bid.

“We do know that Perth is considered strongly a favourite for a franchise when the NRL do choose to expand and we’re certainly encouraged by that and determined to make the most of that opportunity.”