Mighty Magpies dismantle Falcons

Montrose Magpies - 830* vs Falmouth Falcons - 300

	Magpies	Falcons
Keeper	Wintringham	Frobisher
Chasers	Keitch (C)	Grinderford (C)
	MacLean	Otterburn
	MacTavish	Meadows
Beaters	Moriattis	Bundy
	MacGregor	Wagtail
Seeker	Abberley	Mostafa

The Falmouth Falcons have, as ever, been thereabouts this year. After six rounds they sat outside the Top Four only on percentages. The team’s mantra looks to be to provide a solid challenge (literally, basing the game plan around brutal physicality). With the extraordinarily notable exception of Marina Grinderford, there seems to be a lack of genuine star quality. It was shown up early in the season against the Wimbourne Wasps in a competitive but ultimately outclassed performance. Now it was time for the even more intimidating Montrose Magpies juggernaut.

Neither team was at their best last week, but circumstances were extenuating. For Montrose the match ended before they could really get into their stride, while Falmouth’s focal point of Grinderford with Fairfax Meadows in support, presented a front of notable fatigue after their recent English duties.

There was little reason to change either side, and so both managers obliged with suitable loyalty.

The Falcons were competitive early, as is their forte and as they were against the Wasps in Round 2. But this time there was no creeping inkling of sensation. The Magpies had the situation well under control.

It took the best part of the first hour to adjust to the Falcons nebulous and violent game and hit the front, but once they did, the Magpies never looked back.

For Falmouth, Grinderford was back to her mind-blowing best, but she was unable to even render the contest competitive. Unlike the more methodical and hands-off Wasps, the Magpies’ dominance is in a large part due to their size and power. They proved themselves the only team able to not only combat the Falcons’ physicality, but face it head-on and overpower it.

With this primary weapon gone, the Falcons were disconcertingly sterile. Even Grinderford appeared to disappear into the shadows as time passed.

Young Alison Abberley has been one of the revelations of the season. With Scotland’s incumbent Seeker Daryl Pembroke failing to find game-time with the Prides, Abberley must surely be a shoe-in for a national debut later this year. She proved this claim tenfold once again with a victory-sealing catch low to the ground just minutes short of the six hour-mark, saving her substitutes’ efforts for a later date.

Montrose Magpies - 830: Keitch 39, MacTavish 18, MacLean 11, Abberley Capture

Falmouth Falcons - 300: Grinderford 22, Otterburn 5, Meadows 3

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ROYDEN KEITCH (MAGPIES)