Proficient Portree further dent Ballycastle pride

Pride Of Portree - 860 vs Ballycastle Bats - 640*

	Prides	Bats
Keeper	McCormack	Alford
Chasers	McNewton	Quigley
	MacPunnet	Doolittle
	Pilliwickle	Thomsonicle
Beaters	Moriattis	Ogborne
	Stroulger (C)	Skively
Seeker	McBride	Shettigar (C)

For the struggling Prides and Bats, this lowdown on the table grudge match represented something of a last chance for both teams to show a meaningful sign of intent for the season.

The declining Bats continued to lack assurance in selection, with manager Marcus Montgomery reverting to Ignotus Thomsonicle just a week after labelling him ‘an old and dilapidated weasel”. On the other side of the coin, Alexandra Alford somehow retained her place in goal despite consistent mediocrity.

Montgomery’s opposite number Ewan Harfang showed some belated reason and sensibleness though, in finally removing the woefully fatigued and festering Maisie Mordaunt in preference for the Chaser leadership of Belarius McNewton. With Jericho McCormack returning after a month recovering from his kidnapping ordeal, the Prides were full of confidence, only aided by the fidgety unsureness of their opposition.

Given this context, the match narrative was almost entirely predictable, astonishing given the little known inexperience of the Prides contrasted with how impressive the 2011 Bats were.

The Prides comfortably dominated the early exchanges, reaching their century of goals inside half an hour. However the contest evened out after the early frenzy, with the Bats able to increasingly negate Stephanie Pilliwickle’s looping lines.

Ignotus Thomsonicle, clearly scorned by his manager’s biting critique, was back to his flowing but forceful best, while young Taurus Ogborne surprised with his arm strength. But the Prides always looked in control. Terrence Stroulger and Justin Morriattis masterfully directed Bludger traffic away from their Chasers, while Jericho McCormack’s thankfully undiminished brilliance meant that even at their most fluent, the Bats could do more than hold the margin steady, never close it.

With three hours passed and Portree staying solidly clear, inching towards the snitch margin, Ajax Shettigar knew finding the snitch was paramount. He hunted energetically, making his presence known mid-pitch far more than typical Seekers, but with no luck.

As the fourth and fifth hours passed, his concerns came to fruition.

The Prides had already played out two long-winded contests this season, whereas Ballycastle had on average the shortest game time per week of the entire League after four rounds. The fitter and more enduring Prides reasserted their authority and took the game from beyond the Bats’ grasp.

Not even a rotation of fresh blood could arrest the momentum after six hours. Jericho McCormack, clearly fresh from his couchbound month, remained on the field beyond six hours, as steadfast as ever. The much maligned Maisie Mordaunt may also have found her new calling, impressing for the first time this season as a replacement.

With the match well and truly over as a contest, for Shettigar there was no alternative other than to lose by an even greater margin when Musidora McBride spotted the snitch. So swallowing his pride, Shettigar pounced and reminded everyone just what the Bats could achieve if they could keep their star Seeker within range.

Pride Of Portree - 860: Pilliwickle 36, McNewton 25, MacPunnet 13, Denholm 7, Mordaunt 4, Claverdon 1

Ballycastle Bats - 640: Quigley 22, Thomsonicle 19, Doolittle 4, Prod 4, Shettigar Capture


PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JERICHO MCCORMACK (PRIDES)