Tough summer ahead for Aussie championship contenders. (Summer Sport).(Brief Article)

January's knockout round of highway collecting championships looks like being the most gruelling ever in the relatively short history of this favourite year-round sport. The holiday fall in traffic passing through major urban intersections coupled with a post-Christmas decline in willingness to give on the part of the public will see teams really having their work cut out to notch up those all-important points on the championship ladder.

"Aggressive play is the name of the game. Our opponents are going to find they get as good as they give--or in this case don't give," says Shane ("Cap'n Moonlight") Standover, executive officer of the newly-constituted Highway Collectors League. He said that already there had been several complaints to the HCL tribunal against collectors adopting the new get-tough strategy. "One guy came whingeing to us that two team-members from last year's champions Help Our Wheelchair-Bound Ballet Dancers were bashing their tins against his car windows and calling "cheapskate!" through a megaphone as he tried to drive off without giving a cent. Naturally the charge was dismissed. Another complained about old collecting bins tied to his bumper bar and appeal leaflets stuffed into his exhaust--but don't worry, the public can play dirty too. One motorist tried to drive through an automatic car wash with four fantastically determined players from Support For Sperm Donors With Trauma clinging to his bonnet. He was nearly drowned when the boys managed to kick in his windscreen and jump off just in time. Serves him right."

Results of matches at busy intersections Australia-wide over the last season indicate several teams as clear favourites to make it into the final four for the championship. There's high-profile Help Us Stamp Out Pyorrhoea, level on the ladder with Support For Date-Rape Counselling. There's Charities ...