Charging Puddlemere overrun unlucky Arrows

Puddlemere United - 670* vs Appleby Arrows - 570

	United	Arrows
Keeper	Wood (C)	Delaney
Chasers	Dingle	Fladbury (C)
	Lochrin	Comstock
	Blijk	Applebee
Beaters	Blenkinsop	Flitley
	Ellesmere	Belcher
Seeker	Kiddell	Mustaq

In their first match of the season last week, Puddlemere United were genuinely pushed by the Chudley Cannons. Whether this was the Cannons playing out of their skin, or a worrisome lack of United strength, should go a long way to being answered by a clash against the Appleby Arrows.

For both teams there is an abiding feeling that the potential to win the League Cup is there on paper, but most are yet to be convinced. Both managers likewise saw the potential in their charges as both sides entered the match unchanged, other than Puddlemere welcoming Seeker Donaghan Kiddell back from paternal duties.

It was the Arrows who had the early running, running a swathe of early goals past a strangely flat and slow Oliver Wood. Violetta Fladbury in particular had the measure of Wood, directing her troops with aplomb. Puddlemere Beater Dougal Blenkinsop was deadly in the first hour, taking out both Arrows Beaters at one point. Flitley and Belcher have proven to be the backbone of the Arrows defence, so with their partial incapacitation and subsequent general lethargy, the opportunity was there for Puddlemere to take control. But their Chasers looked confused and unsure, not gathering the necessary momentum.

As the Arrows built their lead towards a safe snitch margin, the unlikely strangeness of the game began to hit home for fans and pundits. For both teams, their traditional strengths were today weaknesses, with the Arrows all-star Beaters ineffective, and Oliver Wood and Nephele Lochrin both well off the pace.

After three hours the Arrows led 400-260, but endurance was always going to play a key role. The Arrows starting seven have the highest average age in the League and they were coming off two lengthy and tough tussles, particularly the brutality of the Falcons clash. United on the other hand, were filled with the energy of youth and had played just one game, a shorter one at that.

Puddlemere rallied, and it was their two very youngest who led the charge. With Lochrin clearly hamstring by unknown physical ailments (later revealed to be the early stages of dragon pox), Druella Dingle and Alcmene Blijk stepped up. The Arrows were unable to match their lightning speed as the deficit quickly narrowed.

With the end of the fifth hour approaching, the Arrows were hanging on desperately, with Flitley and Belcher fighting through their pain to show their class. The lead was still Appleby’s, but the margin crept down dangerously, towards fifty.

It was the battle of the veterans when it came down to catching the snitch. But while Donaghan Kiddell had lost some of his speed, he was still a world class first choice Seeker. Ava Mustaq’s comparative rust was clear and telling and although it was Mustaq who caught more sights of the snitch, it was Kiddell who made the decisive match-winning catch to break Arrow hearts.

Puddlemere Unites - 670: Blijk 28, Dingle 17, Lochrin 7, Kiddell Capture

Appleby Arrows - 570: Fladbury 29, Applebee 16, Comstock 12

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ALCMENE BLIJK (PUDDLEMERE)