Falcons' physicality overwhelms undisgraced Kestrels

Falmouth Falcons - 670 vs Kenmare Kestrels - 510*

	Falcons	Kestrels
Keeper	Frobisher	O’Hare (C)
Chasers	Grinderford (C)	McNally
	Meadows	Rosebottom
	Goodfellow	Mason
Beaters	Bundy	Winston
	Wagtail	Tuckett
Seeker	Mostafa	Denshaw

Having started the season in solid if not title-threatening form, the last two rounds had been somewhat faltering for the intimidating but one-dimensional Falcons. The Kestrels however were going from strength to strength and although Falmouth would present a greater challenge than the Caerphilly Catapults, there was no reason to suggest they could not rise to it.

The only change on either side was an astute one, with Falmouth manager Mungo Poyntz recognising the increased physicality in Kenmare’s performance last week and responding with the return of Caliban Goodfellow to the starting line-up in place of Matilda Otterburn.

The early exchanges were predictably scruffy, but with a decidedly Falconian flavour. Kenmare may have some impressive intimidators in their Beaters and Chaser Ulysses Rosebottom, but their side remains an essentially youthful and nimble one. The Kestrel power trio were unable to match the strength and dominance of Goodfellow, Fairfax Meadows and the Falcon Beaters. With Marina Grinderford’s inevitable and unabated brilliance added into the mix, the Kestrels had a tough time.

The contest was far from one-sided thanks to the Kestrels’ Irish International threesome of Saraid O’Hare, Deirdre McNally and Florentia Denshaw. The clear experience advantage of the trio over their team-mates was worryingly stark. O’Hare was able to consistently find ways of denying Grinderford goals perhaps more than any other Keeper. Deirdre McNally’s game is built around reliance on O’Hare’s quality Keeping and the Falcon attacking mindset left her perfect counter-attacking room. Such was McNally’s flare and momentum that she went goal for goal with the League-leading Grinderford. But her companions, Rosebottom and Polly Mason, weren’t able to live with the Falcons menacing game.

The gallant Kestrels stayed close to the snitch range for the best part of four hours. But when the omnipresent Cyprian Bundy, who must surely be making the Welsh national selectors sit up and take notice, completed a man of the match performance by flooring McNally, it was game over.

Florentia Denshaw is clearly a more accomplished and faster Seeker than Oakden Mostafa and it was Denshaw who took a brilliant catch. Unfortunately it came with her team falling swiftly out of contention. For a second time this week, it was up to an unlucky and rightfully unamused Seeker to catch a snitch not for victory, but to save her team from dropping further into the mire.

Neither performance was a surprise though; no opinions will have been changed. The Falcons are a top shelf physical unit, but likely without the refined professional completeness to threaten for the League Cup. The Kestrels are still a year or two from being there yet, but clearly have the talent to make it.

Falmouth Falcons - 670: Grinderford 38, Goodfellow 18, Meadows 11

Kenmare Kestrels - 510: McNally 33, Rosebottom 2, Mason 1, Denshaw Capture

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: CYPRIAN BUNDY (FALCONS)