Round 1 Review
It is always impossible to know what to expect from the opening week of a new Quidditch season. In a funny way though, we got exactly what we could have expected last week. Each game was vastly different, unpredictable, more often than not strange, each with everlasting memorable moments. All this intrigue despite, or more accurately because of, the fact that overall Round 1 could not lay claim to displaying the highest quality Quidditch. That is exactly what a season opener is about. Scratchiness, unpredictability, drama.
Through it all though, there were no major boilovers. The Falcons systematic battering of the Arrows was the match not to run to the bookmakers' script in its final result. But still there were surprises aplenty and many questions to ask.
The Tornados were clinical in disposing of the Wanderers 470-120, but the Wanderers were indifferent in the extreme and the match was short, so we can gather little usable data.
The Chudley Cannons once again redefined their own record standards of mediocrity with a display of occasional athleticism but more frequent self-inefficacy. It is therefore impossible to know the true standing of the Prides. They managed a sizable points tally, but one cannot help but feel they are still well below the required level.
The Magpies and Bats too played for far too short a time period, but we at least know where they are. Both performed the expected level, with enterprising attacking flair but questionable defense. Alison Abberley once again showed she has reached the upper echelon of British Seekers with her astonishing change of direction and reflex grab. If Abberley proves anywhere that good on a consistent basis it could be the answer to Montrose's long term Seeker problems, the one last facet of their game which remained clearly inferior.
Both the Falcons and Arrows will, as ever, threaten any opponents with their rough and ready game, but have a lot of work to do yet to be in Top Four contention. As do the worrisome Harpies, who showed no improvement on last year and were lucky to get away with a stodgy limping win over the Kestrels. Kenmare for their part were the revelation of Week 1 in terms of hitherto unseen skill and tactical efficiency from their vivacious kids. But when the key moment came, both their Chasers and Seekers failed to put the game to bed.
As for putting the game to bed, that is the one area where the Wimbourne Wasps must be worried. There were question marks aplenty when Venus Vogler was signed from obscurity. She did little to answer them last week with a lazy and anonymous performance. Luckily the Catapults were flat and unobtrusive and so the ever-dominant Wasps Chasers had them well clear.
Quite bewilderingly considering the brutality of many of last week's exchanges, no team has reported any genuine injury concern heading into this week's matches. All 14 line-ups should therefore be largely unchanged, save for any trigger-happy managers heavily swinging the selection axe early.
Round 2 Preview
So now we go to the second week, where many more unanswered questions will be resolved and any lucky fluke from the opening fears their inevitably exposure.
First up come the Arrows and Prides on Friday night. Appleby flattered to deceive in their pre-season winning run and were shown up to still have fundamental holes in their game by the hardly intellectually demanding Falcons. Meanwhile the Cannons deceived to flatter Portree. Chudley's was a performance for the ages, performance being the operative word sadly. Logic suggests the Arrows should win this, but they have had a bad knack of defying logic at the most inopportune moments in recent years.
When the Wasps face the Falcons however, we at least know what we've got. The League's de facto standard-bearer against the simplistic neanderthaline but effective Falcons. The consummate professionals Wimbourne should be too slick to be sucked in to any dangerous level. But it will still be a telling contest, showing up just where Falmouth stand, and if Miss Vogler can handle the pressure of even tougher opponent.
Puddlemere United received the bye in Week 1 and would be chomping at the bit to get out there and damage some more hapless Cannon skulls. Consider also the recent historical precedent that teams with the first round bye generally win emphatically in Round 2 and the outlook is grim for this 'contest'. The Cannons best hope would be for United's ultra-experienced Seeker Donaghan Kiddell to snap up the snitch early to save their blushes.
The Ballycastle Bats and Kenmare Kestrels' contest is perhaps the most underrated of the week. The lead-up has passed with minimal hype, but this could be a defining barometer of just where each team sits. Last year they were an eon part but if Round 1 is any indication (and to be fair and rational it probably isn't), the Bats may just have come back to the field almost as fast as the Kestrels have caught the back of the pack.
If the Holyhead Harpies and Caerphilly Catapults play as they did last week, the season's first Monday blockbuster will be anything but. With any luck this clash might just bring the best out of both teams, but the Catapults in particular. They will be encouraged to have escaped with a fairly minor loss to the Wasps as well as Brynmor Bryson's snitching form. The Harpies are there for the taking if all goes well. For Holyhead this may be a season defining game. They need to win, and win well, against a team which in every theoretical framework, comfortably weaker. A second poor showing (win or loss) may demoralize them beyond repair.
Game Of The Week
The choice for game of this week is easier than it will ever be again all year. The Tutshill Tornados and Montrose Magpies played an all too-short but fascinating Grand Final last year. Often the masters in the Ministry schedule a Grand Final rematch in Round 1 for pure drama. But Round 2 is perhaps an even more exciting proposition, for this time around we can understand both teams' current squads and their actual form, not speculative reflection on six months earlier.
Both Tutshill and Montrose had fairly easy hitouts to differing degrees in Round 1. The Magpies were off the field inside 90 minutes against the Bats and as the Grand Final showed, the Magpies cherish freshness. The Tornados in turn had a fairly low-intensity hit-out against a flat Wanderers. In both cases though the signs were there that nothing has been lost in the off-season.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that although the Tornados are the champions, it was Montrose who had won the previous four encounters between the two teams, making this an almost impossible one to pick. If it goes over a few hours though, except Tutshill to slowly take control. For that reason it should once again be Magpie Seeker Alison Abberley who is the X factor in deciding the game.
Round 2 Betting Odds
Appleby Arrows: 2G 6S - Pride Of Portree: 4G 16S (Prides +160)
Wimbourne Wasps: 1G 16S 27K - Falmouth Falcons: 5G (Falcons +220)
Montrose Magpies: 3G 7S - Tutshill Tornados: 3G 2S 15K (Magpies +10)
Chudley Cannons: 11G 16S 28K - Puddlemere United - 1G 4S 15K (Cannons +1270)
Ballycastle Bats: 2G 13S - Kenmare Kestrels - 4G 16S (Kestrels +120)
Holyhead Harpies: 3G - Caerphilly Catapults - 4G 12S 12K (Catapults +90)
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