Warrior Wanderers push fizzing Falcons

Falmouth Falcons - 720* vs Wigtown Wanderers - 400

	Falcons	Wanderers
Keeper	Frobisher	Warburton
Chasers	Grinderford (C)	Shimpling
	Otterburn	Melvina
	Meadows	Anstice
Beaters	Bundy	A.Parkin (C)
	Wagtail	Toothill
Seeker	Mostafa	B.Parkin

In these modern times the Falmouth Falcons are perpetual bridesmaids. Although a long-awaited League Cup title this year looks a little overambitious, their dominant win over the reigning premiers last time up showed the true top four credentials within. They are a team that cannot be taken likely, on the back of Captain Marina Grinderford who is in the kind of dizzying vein of form few players ever have the privilege of reaching.

Considering the recent struggles of Wigtown, who entered the match with another untried starting combination, few expected much of a contest.

But Wigtown finally seemed to have found the right balance. Barclay Shimpling led the Chaser attack with a flair and assurance Domhnall Drummond had failed to bring. Veterans Aileen Anstice and Saundra Melvina, reunited again this season having played together at the Caerphilly Catapults nearly a decade previously, finally got the chance to start together. Their enterprising interplay was a pleasure to behold, the pair comfortably outstripping an unusually ineffective Odo Frobisher at the goal face.

Marina Grinderford  and Fairfax Meadows were both below their best, clearly fatigued from the extra mid-week match for England. But fortunately for the Falcons, even Grinderford at reduced capacity is a far more intimidating proposition than most Chasers at 100%. Aided by the unspectacular but steadfast Matilda Otterburn, Grinderford was able to overcome the early Wanderers advantage and slowly build a lead.

The Beater contest was the only area in which the Falcons advantage was clear. With long-held memories of his former glory days forefront in the mind, it is such a sad sight to watch the aging and fading Alaisdair Parkin struggling to keep up with the frenetic pace of 2012 Quidditch.

Cyprian Bundy and Gordon Wagtail were slowly able to get a hold on the Wanderer Chasers, with the notable exception of the stellar Anstice who remained unstoppable. But her one woman show was enough only to keep the margin close by the snitch range, not within. With the Falcons lead hovering around 200, Begonia Parkin was on the back foot, playing defensively with the hope of her side sneaking back within 150. But this just left the door open for Oakden Mostafa to ensure an unexpectedly tough but satisfying win.

Falmouth Falcons - 720: Grinderford 24, Otterburn 23, Meadows 10, Mostafa Capture

Wigtown Wanderrs - 400: Anstice 28, Shimpling 7, Melvina 5

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: AILEEN ANSTICE (WANDERERS)