Wasps dominant despite Seeker concerns

Wimbourne Wasps - 430 vs Caerphilly Catapults - 220*

Line-Ups

	Catapults	Wasps
Keeper	Quigg	Brookstanton (C)
Chasers	Denison	Pippins
	Lympsham	Branstone
	Lafarge	Johnston
Beaters	Lofthouse (C)	Nutt
	Aderonis	Oddpick
Seeker	Bryson	Vogler

The Caerphilly Catapults were not expected to genuinely challenge the Wimbourne Wasps in their opening round encounter. The primary question was just how impressive the League Cup favourites would look. When Bruno Pippins weaved through and around almost every Catapult to open the scoring after 17 seconds, already their favouritism was justified.

But Caerphilly certainly turned up. If Round 1 is any indication, the youthful teams might just have some success, which is fantastic news for the League. The Prides and Kestrels were slick in their opening contests. In many ways the Catapults topped both. Asgeir Lofthouse was predictably stellar and backed up the trio of gallant hard-working Chasers. But the Wasps are just on another level. Apollo Brookstanton’s dexterous keeping kept the Catapults scoreless for nearly half an hour, while Beater Erasmus Oddpick popped up at every second.

Wimbourne’s less spectacular but ultra-efficient Chasers quickly got into a zone, with Delphine Branstone in particular dominating the hapless Catapult Keeper Nigel Quigg. Like the Kestrel-Harpy contest preceding, the match pulled up shorter than expected, ending mid-way through the third hour. But it was more than enough time to get an indication of the Wasps’ peerless pitch presence as they raced out to a 36 goal lead.

The Wasps’ one clear question mark remains that of their 19 year old rookie Chaser Venus Vogler, who was anonymous for the duration of the match. She showed herself to have a keen eye, catching sight of the snitch from nearly a hundred feet away. But Catapult Seeker Brynmor Bryson was clearly the superior mover, easily outstripping and outmanoeuvring Vogler to a comfortable consolation catch, reducing the final Wasp margin to 210 points.

Wimbourne Wasps - 430: Pippins 18, Branstone 17, Johnston 8

Caerphilly Catapults - 220: Lympsham 5, Denison 1, Lafarge 1, Bryson Capture

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ERASMUS ODDPICK (Wasps)