Shettigar catch not enough to stem Wasp tide

Wimbourne Wasps - 370 vs Ballycastle Bats - 190*

	Wasps	Bats
Keeper	Brookstanton (C)	Alford
Chasers	Aldermaston	Quigley
	Branstone	Prod
	Johnston	Thomsonicle
Beaters	Nutt	Nutter
	Oddpick	Smeek
Seeker	Hansen	Shettigar (C)

As long ago as it may seem now, it was only last year when the Wimbourne Wasps and Ballycastle Bats topped the League standings together.

The Wasps have continued where left off in 2012, well on track for a major title charge and with only a single blip to their resume.

The Bats though have looked a shadow of their admittedly fortunate 2011 selves. The nature of the friendly Top 8 finals system and the narrow pool of teams at the bottom of that eight meant that the Bats’ season was not yet completely lost, but a shock result here would help.

Fortunately, of all the lower ranked teams, the Bats are always most likely to spring such a surprise thanks to the prowess of Seeker Ajax Shettigar. The Wasps and Bats are in fact polar opposite teams to a hilarious level. Wimbourne represent a model of efficiency, with supreme quality and proven top level experience in every position except Seeker, while Ballycastle lack anyone who is able to live up to the shining light that is Shettigar.

The quality differential was certainly on display early, but the surprise came in the form of Wilhemina Aldermaston, who dominated the contest, leading from the front even more decisively than her credentialed colleagues.

With Welsh international Beating duo Nobby Nutter and Rubens Smeek starting together again, the Bats’ Bludger attacks were stronger than usual. Nutter and Smeek were the Ballycastle revelations of last year and finally seem to be back in form after a horror start to the season.

With Alexandra Alford’s return to the team as well, all seven Bats were internationally experienced, giving an insight into perhaps how they performed so well last year. But not even those qualifications are enough to stop an in-form Wasps. In an oblique but deceptively simple strategy, each Wasps’ player marked their direct opposite number, altering their usual Beater-on-Chaser and Chaser-avoid-Beater successful formula.

The Wasps Chasers were easily able to outmanoeuvre their Bats counterparts, so Erasmus Oddpick and Gaius Nutt recognised that it was Nutter and Smeek they would be most prudent in taking out, which they did with brutal force.

The destructive Wasps pulled well clear over the course of three hours, which was a good thing as the inevitably eventually happened. Replacement Wasps Seeker Sergius Hansen is clearly not up to scratch. It was farcical watching him try to compete with a frustrated Shettigar, who lazily grabbed a consolation catch for the Bats.

Wimbourne Wasps - 370: Aldermaston 15, Branstone 14, Johnston 8

Ballycastle Bats - 190: Quigley 2, Prod 1, Thomsonicle 1, Shettigar Capture

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: WILHEMINA ALDERMASTON (WASPS)