Horrendous Harpies catapult to defeat

Caerphilly Catapults - 470 vs Holyhead Harpies - 330*

Harpies vs Catapults

	Harpies	Catapults
Keeper	Griffiths	Carrington
Chasers	Glossop (C)	Denison
	Gaenor	Lympsham
	Gladstone	Lafarge
Beaters	Samuels	Lofthouse (C)
	Gibberd	Aderonis
Seeker	Bloch	Bryson

2012 welcomed Monday Night Quidditch with the season’s first Welsh derby, traditionally the most spirited (re: violent) of regional rivalries.

After such a rusty showing last week, Harpies manager Gloria Gwestenak could have been forgiven for making wholesale changes for this crucial clash against the less fancied but still threatening Catapults. But she stayed true to her tried and tested girls, trusting them to pull out of their year-long form slump.

But the early indications were grim.

The Catapults had foregone Nigel Quigg in goal, giving Caddock Carrington a chance to make his debut. The eighteen year old showed no sign of nerves however, pulling off two sprawling saves early on to deny Gwenevak Glossop. Spurred on by yet another uncovered new star, the Catapults quickly gained control of the match.

Asgeir Lofthouse and Addfwynn Aderonis were severe, fiercely taking our Samuels, Gladstone and Griffiths within minutes. Aderonis’ assault on Keeper Lina Griffiths earned him two minutes off the field and the Harpies a penalty shot. But Carrington pulled off yet another athletic save, then the Catapults Chasers kept hold of the Quaffle for the duration of the two minutes, with Lofthouse alone still doing more work than two Beaters.

For three hours Caerphilly dominated their all-female opponents, building to a lead of almost 300. Brynmor Bryson then caught sight of the snitch but could not pull off a catch to match his consolation brilliance against Wimbourne a week earlier. Tiny Zelda Bloch used her speed to sweep past Bryson and hand their team its own consolation catch.

The Harpies face the strong and ruthless Falmouth Falcons next week and will need to improve tenfold to even entertain half a chance of victory. If one positive can be taken from their performances, it is the stellar Seeking form of Zelda Bloch. But even that positive exposed a biting negative. In not making an attempt at a more defensive play on Byrson, instead merely snatching the snitch from him, Bloch had conceded that her team had no chance to claw back the gap. With the match just three hours old and the margin a hardly extreme 280, there can be no more affecting vote of no confidence. 

Caerphilly Catapults - 470: Lympsham 18, Denison 18, Lafarge 11

Holyhead Harpies - 330: Gaenor 8, Glossop 5, Gladstone 5, Bloch Capture 


PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ASGEIR LOFTHOUSE (CATAPULTS)