Falcons flatten hapless Chudley

Falmouth Falcons - 900* vs Chudley Cannons - 50

	Falcons	Cannons
Keeper	Frobisher	Morris
Chasers	Grinderford (C)	Munch (C)
	Meadows	Pringle
	Goodfellow	Thickey
Beaters	Bundy	Buttermere
	Wagtail	Wiggleswoth
Seeker	Mostafa	Prang

The Falmouth Falcons had the distinct advantage of ending their regular season with the theoretical mismatch that is any Cannons clash. Interestingly and tellingly, Mungo Poyntz chose not to rest any top players as he had against the Prides two weeks earlier, instead allowing his stars a chance to tune up in what should be a relatively light workout ahead of the finals.

For the Cannons, inspirational captain and Keeper Charlie Trimble took a well-deserved game-off. Although it gave Yolanda Morris a rare opportunity, the more notable gesture seemed to be Verity Yap’s handing of the interim captaincy to star import Xanthus Munch, showing how appreciated his little-rewarded good work has been.

Unfortunately the gesture had a rather brutal side-effect, which was exposing the unproven and tentative Morris to all the might of Marina Grinderford.

Grinderford has faded somewhat in the second half of the season. Her form has remained world class, but no-one could be expected to keep up the kind of absurd heights the Falcons captain was reaching in the early rounds.

Although the opposition was hardly of the highest standard, Grinderford’s devastating efficiency must have frightened the pants off the Holyhead Harpies, who the Falcons will face in the first week of the finals given victory on this occasion.

But even Grinderford was ever so slightly overshadowed by the energy of Gordon Wagtail, who sped around the field at unnerving speed without pause, picking off Cannons one by one.

By the fourth hour, only four Cannons were left flying, with just Munch unstruck by a Bludger at some point. It was all a rather apt summary of the Cannons’ season, and of course their century.

For the Falcons, even calling it a light workout seems overexuberant. Oakden Mostafa’s unchallenged and straightforward catch sealed victory, and booked a well-earned Top Four spot.

Falmouth Falcons - 900: Grinderford 42, Meadows 24, Goodfellow 9, Mostafa Capture

Chudley Cannons - 50: Munch 4, Pringle 1

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: GORDON WAGTAIL (FALCONS)