Take the Hobbit Town squad plus the points...

Hmmmm...I've seen some pretty amazing leaps of faith/logic in fantasy books. While it may be preferable to keep within a range of possibilities, sometimes that leap makes the book memorable. :)

So, generally speaking I would agree with your sports analogy and how fantasy writing usually has to follow certain guidelines, but some of the best of it pushes the reality envelope.

But, you also have to count in whether the refs have been paid off or are watching the dancers in cages (Cowboys "Pleasure Palace") rather than watching the action on the field... e.g. In the last drive on Sunday, the Giants first play had a holding call, that wasn't holding, and a leg whip personal foul, that wasn't a leg whip.

If the Giants had some Goblins on their side, they would have stormed the field and beheaded somebody! Not out of anger. They just like human stew over nachos...

And, while the protaganist may end up 'winning' in the end, even if they die, they don't always win throughout. What fun would that be? :)

Have you read much Clancy? Not sure he always follows his own guidelines about 'fiction' having to make sense...