Arrows sneak past improving Catapults

Appleby Arrows - 580* vs Caerphilly Catapults - 300

	Catapults	Arrows
Keeper	Carrington	Delaney
Chasers	Gwenhwyfar	Fladbury (C)
	Lympsham	Cauldwell
	Lafarge	Croaker
Beaters	Lofthouse (C)	Flitley
	Aderonis	Belcher
Seeker	Bryson	Sapworthy

With the highly questionable Muggle McIntyre finals system in use still for the British and Irish Quidditch League, making the top four is as ever, important. But perhaps even more vital is to avoid being seventh or eighth on the table, forcing you mandatorily into no option but four consecutive wins to be champions.

Therefore this match had more riding on it than was immediately clear on paper. Victory for the Arrows would almost certainly cement a Top four place, while the Catapults could leapfrog the Tornados for sixth for a win.

There was little to speak of in terms of line-up surprises from either manager, so fourteen experienced and quality athletes lined up to see whether the experience of Appleby or the youth of Caerphilly would win out.

Initially, there was little to separate either team. Considering the presence of three of the world’s absolute finest beaters, it was little surprise to see a low-scoring contest.

One has to feel sort for Addfywnn Aderonis. She is a quality Beater, every bit the part in Britain’s professional Leagues. But in the presence of her esteemed captain Asgeir Lofthouse, not to mention the dominating Arrows pair of Ragmar Flitley and Gifford Belcher, Aderonis was made to look amateur.

Two world class Beaters is worth twice as much as one. And so that was largely the difference. The Chaser units were well evenly matched. The nimble agility of the all-girl Catapults struggled to match the physical intensity of the Arrows Chasers, but were able to fundamentally outstrip and outmanoeuvre them at times.

After two hours the Arrows were ahead, but they were far from home free. But the margin was fast growing, as the petite Catapult Chasers fatigued, handing the ascendency to the real Violetta Fladbury and dominant Katherine Cauldwell.

But Millie Sapworthy still had to finish the job, and when Flitley took our Brynmor Bryson with a brilliantly spirally banana bludger from afar, her task was made decidedly easy. Sapworthy duly made the catch and sealed a critical victory for the third-placed Arrows.

Appleby Arrows - 580: Cauldwell 23, Fladbury 14, Croaker 6, Sapworthy Capture

Caerphilly Catapults - 300: Lafarge 13, Lympsham 10, Gwenhwyfar 7

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: RAGMAR FLITLEY (ARROWS)