Ruthless Falcons compound United misery

Falmouth Falcons - 610* vs Puddlemere United - 180

	United	Falcons
Keeper	Wood (C)	Frobisher
Chasers	Lochrin	Grinderford (C)
	Blijk	Meadows
	Ramley	Goodfellow
Beaters	Blenkinsop	Bundy
	Burrows	Wagtail
Seeker	Hawthorne	Mostafa

Considering all the tedious controversy around the modern trend of top teams resting their top players for less crucial late season encounter, it was a refreshing surprise to see a full-strength Falmouth Falcons present to play the woefully out of form Puddlemere United.

Was it because the Falcons understood that unlike the Chudley Cannons, Puddlemere do have the talent to beat anyone on their day and have just been stuck in a bad patch? It is because this match presented such a crucial opportunity to re-enter the Top Four thanks to the Harpies’ loss yesterday. Had Holyhead’s upset defeat at the hands of the Wanderers spooked manager Mungo Poyntz away from playing with fire? Or perhaps Poyntz wanted to make the point that Falmouth’s last pair of scratchy efforts will not suffice and is giving his troops further work.

In reality the reason was probably a simpler and more cynical one. The Falcons’ dream run home sees them play the Chudley Cannons next week in the final round, an even more convenient rest point. Although there was some undeniable truth in the fact that Falmouth’s last two performances were well below par. They just escaped with a twenty-point win over the Catapults in Round 9 before unexpectedly falling to the Pride of Portree last week, albeit without Marina Grinderford.

Grinderford returned for this clash, restoring the Falcons to their familiar formation. This usual seven included recently dropped Seeker Oakden Mostafa. A pair of subpar efforts from Zinnia Boyle heavily contributed to Falmouth almost suffering their recent twin losses, so Mostafa was re-instated.

Philantha Beamish’s only change yet again smacked of desperation, further Chaser ineptitude handing veteran Nephele Lochrin one final chance to prove her career wasn’t over.

Lochrin at least showed more promise than earlier in the season, combining well with Alcmene Blijk in the early stages. For the first hour Puddlemere were able to retain relative parity, their first encouraging moment in weeks. The encouragement was especially exciting giving how spectacularly Hugo Hawthorne had caught the snitch last week against the Catapults. If Puddlemere could stay within 150, Hawthorne had every reason to be trusted over Mostafa.

But alas it didn’t. It was the usual story for Puddlemere. Blijk was impressive and even Lochrin showed glimpses, but there was no true cohesive Chaser trio. Beating was the noticeably bad element of Puddlemere’s game this time though. Dougal Blenkinsop took a number of backward steps just when it seemed he’d gingerly made some progress, while Bastian Burrows remains unconvincing at this level.

With a refreshed Grinderford at her merciless best, there was never any real chance for United. Even Oliver Wood was unusually anonymous, utterly powerless to stop the Falcons physically devastating Chasers.

With the match well and truly over, Hawthorne was perhaps not on the ball as he could have been, so it was Oakden Mostafa who won the snitch battle to drive home a solid victory for Falmouth.

Falmouth Falcons - 610: Grinderford 24, Meadows 17, Goodfellow 5, Mostafa Capture

Puddlemere United - 180: Blijk 13, Lochrin 4, Ramley 1

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: FAIRFAX MEADOWS (FALCONS)