Fighting Magpies sneak past Arrows in thriller

Montrose Magpies - 810* vs Appleby Arrows - 590

	Magpies	Arrows
Keeper	Wintringham	Delaney
Chasers	Keitch (C)	Fladbury (C)
	MacLean	Cauldwell
	McTavish	Croaker
Beaters	Moriattis	Flitley
	Ollerton	Belcher
Seeker	Abberley	Sapworthy

The Appleby Arrows are tailoring their form at the exact right time of the season. Up to third on the ladder now, the Arrows have well and truly left the disappointment of 2011 behind. But such has been the dominance of the Montrose Magpies in 2012 that few gave Appleby any chance of pushing the competition leaders.

Arrows manager Maeve Halcyeone wisely concluded that Cameron Applebee’s indifferent form would not be adequate against the Magpies, but rather than relying on the proven and experience Severus McCliver, Halcyeone surprised by handing Cuthbert Croaker his first start of the season.

The Magpies’ only changes saw their three older marquee players rested from last week’s clash against the Cannons returning duly to the seven.

The week off clearly hadn’t done them any harm, as Fingal McTavish opened the scoring and Royden Keitch expertly repelled early Arrows offenses. But it was those who hadn’t been rested who were showing signs of fatigue. Beater Zachariah Ollerton’s aim was not quite as true as can usually be expected, while Euan Wintringham was powerless in goal when Appleby’s enterprising Chasers came along.

Montrose were only slightly off their dominating best, but when the Arrows are on form they only need a tiny look-in. Legendary captain Violetta Fladbury proved once again to all her doubters that there is still brilliance left in those old legs, spearheading the Arrows’ charge.

Appleby shot to an early lead and with Ragmar Flitley and Gifford Belcher providing their usual impenetrable Beater fortress, the Magpies found themselves on the back foot.

For the first two hours the Arrows continued to streak away, shocking everyone, not least of all the League Cup leaders themselves.

Mulciber Moriattis would be the saviour for Montrose. As the fast fatiguing Fladbury began to fade, Moriattis pounced, striking down the isolated goal-machine Katherine Cauldwell.

The Arrrows’ Beaters remained rock solid, keeping Montrose’s progress slow and tedious, but with the rusty Croaker as their only fighting fit Chaser remaining, Arrows goals dried up.

Farquhar MacLean led the way for the Magpies, slowly but surely closing the gap with some at times astonishing tactical improvisation. Finally after nearly five hours, the Magpies hit the front for the first time. But the match remained there for the taking when both Seekers began closing on the snich.

Arrows Seeker Millie Sapworthy saw it first, but this year nobody can counter the blinding speed and manoeuvrability of Alison Abberley, who cut under Sapworthy to snap up the turning snitch and secure a tight and scrappy win for her team.

It was a close run thing, but the Magpies’ undefeated record remains intact. However the Arrows must be considered every bit a genuine premiership chance.

Montrose Magpies - 810: MacLean 29, McTavish 21, Keitch 16, Abberley Capture

Appleby Arrows - 590: Cauldwell 33, Fladbury 15, Croaker 11

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: MULCIBER MORIATTIS (MAGPIES)

Round 10 Results and Standings

Round 10 Results

Ballycastle Bats	520*	vs	Holyhead Harpies	520
Appleby Arrows	330*	vs	Wigtown Wanderers	90
Wimbourne Wasps	750*	vs	Tutshill Tornados	260
Chudley Cannons	110	vs	Montrose Magpies	560*
Puddlemere United	100	vs	Kenmare Kestrels	1220*
Pride Of Portree	240	vs	Caerphilly Catapults	510*
Falmouth Falcons		vs	BYE

2012 League Cup Standings

Pos.	Team	P	W	L	T	B	+	-	%	Points
1	Montrose Magpies	9	9	0	0	1	4060	980	80.56	20
2	Wimbourne Wasps	9	8	1	0	1	5690	2610	68.55	18
3	Appleby Arrows	9	6	3	0	1	6470	4970	56.56	14
4	Falmouth Falcons	9	6	3	0	1	5690	5520	50.76	14
5	Holyhead Harpies	9	5	3	1	1	5910	5020	54.07	13
6	Tutshill Tornados	10	6	4	0	0	4790	3610	57.02	12
7	Kenmare Kestrels	9	4	5	0	1	11900	7770	60.50	10
8	Caerphilly Catapults	9	3	5	1	1	3050	3660	45.45	9
9	Puddlemere United	9	3	6	0	1	2520	4880	34.05	8
10	Wigtown Wanderers	9	2	6	1	1	8630	11930	41.97	7
11	Ballycastle Bats	10	2	6	2	0	3350	4050	45.27	6
12	Pride Of Portree	10	2	7	1	0	4380	5040	46.50	5
13	Chudley Cannons	9	1	8	0	1	1660	7930	17.31	4

Round 11 Fixtures

Friday May 25

7:30pm: Montrose Magpies vs Appleby Arrows @ Bodmin Moor

Saturday May 26

2:30pm: Caerphilly Catapults vs Puddlemere United @ Exmoor

7:30pm: Kenmare Kestrels vs Chudley Cannons @ Ilkley Moor

Sunday May 27

2:30pm: Falmouth Falcons vs Pride Of Portree @ Ellis Moor

7:30pm: Tutshill Tornados vs Holyhead Harpies @ Bodmin Moor

Monday May 28

7:30pm: Wigtown Wanderers vs Wimbourne Wasps @ Ellis Moor

Confident Catapults outsmart Pride

Caerphilly Catapults - 510* vs Pride Of Portree - 240

	Prides	Catapults
Keeper	McCormack	Carrington
Chasers	McNewton	Gwenhwyfar
	Claverdon	Lympsham
	Pilliwickle	Lafarge
Beaters	Van Hoorn	Lofthouse (C)
	Stroulger (C)	Aderonis
Seeker	McBride	Bryson

The Pride Of Portree and Caerphilly Catapults were expected to perform similarly, (that is to say, unspectacularly) at the beginning of the season. The two young teams have both shown glimpses of a similar peak, but the sustained unity of the Catapult cause has served them well.

With a win here to spur them towards a late surge, Portree could still entertain thoughts of making the Top Eight (quite possibly at Caerphilly’s expense), but final results can be deceptive. The Prides have shown nothing discernibly extraordinary, while the Catapults have in fact been notably impressive in their efforts and growth.

The gap between the two teams only appears to be growing based on last week’s efforts. The record books will show a pair of losses, but the circumstances and efforts were certainly most different. Caerphilly pushed the top line Falmouth Falcons extremely close, while the Prides folded and were overwhelmingly thumped by the decidedly mid-range Kenmare Kestrels.

That loss had the side-effect of removing Hazel MacPunnet from the side, in favour of Leona Claverdon.

Looking at the line-ups, it was clearly going to come down to the four big and dominating Beaters. Terrence Stroulger in particularly put in an immense effort, but he and Mordred Van Hoorn lack the wiles of Asgeir Lofthouse. The difference he created was small but vital.

Neither team’s Chaser line-up screams spectacular goal-scoring, and the two new girls on each side struggled in particular (Claverdon and Gwylfai Gwenhwyfar). But on paper, the experienced Scottish international Belarius McNewton and the exciting Stephanie Pilliwickle should have given the Prides an edge.

McNewton and Pilliwickle were improved on recent performances, each scoring some lovely goals, but Lofthouse and Addfywnn Aderonis were a tough proposition to get past. Catapult Chasers Antigone Lympsham and Cristian Lafarge may be more subtle and underrated in their talents, but backed by their Beaters, their tight-knit combinations were all that was needed for Caerphilly to pull clear as the match went on.

After three hours, with the Catapults leading fairly solidly but not yet snitch clear, Musidora McBride showed her eye’s inexperience once again, failing to spot the snitch when it was close by. Brynmor Bryson made no such mistake and pounced towards his prey.

The finish was a thrill as McBride made clear strides, gaining on Bryson at a rapid rate. But her brilliant speed will only afford McBride the kind of star career she is capable of if the eye is more on the ball. The error was costly. Bryson’s early advantage was too great to close down and so he caught the snitch to seal victory and take his team back above Puddlemere into the Top Eight.

Caerphilly Catapults - 510: Lafarge 16, Lympsham 14, Gwenhwyfar 6, Bryson Capture

Pride Of Portre - 240: McNewton 12, Pilliwickle 9, Claverdon 3

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ASGEIR LOFTHOUSE (CATAPULTS)