Wasps cut short Catapult fairytale

Wimbourne Wasps - 440 vs Caerphilly Catapults - 300*

	Wasps	Catapults
Keeper	Brookstanton (C)	Carrington
Chasers	Pippins	Gwenhwyfar
	Branstone	Lympsham
	Johnston	Lafarge
Beaters	Nutt	Lofthouse (C)
	Oddpick	Aderonis
Seeker	Vogler	Bryson

Quidditch is a funny old sport. All those months ago now, back on the heels of February’s winter chill, the standout League Cup favourite Wimbourne Wasps faced the promising but largely unknown Caerphilly Catapult rookies.

The Wasps were clearly a far better team. On that occasion they dominated the contest, but won by less than was to be expected when Brynmor Bryson provided a late, but early surprise by catching a consolation snitch.

Now it is Preliminary Final time, and still the Wasps are clear title favourites, and still the Catapults are the little team that could. The question on everyone’s lips was whether Bryson could once again upstage rookie Seeker Venus Vogler and complete this extended late-season surprise kick.

Everyone loves an underdog. The unlikely run of the Caerphilly Catapults, overcoming the Montrose Magpies and Falmouth Falcons to come within one win of a shock Grand Final, had warmed the hearts of every neutral fan. Everyone could sense that something special might just be afoot. A triumph over the League’s ultimate reference point would represent an unforgettable and iconic upset for the pantheon of British and Irish Quidditch League history.

2012 was perhaps the Catapults’ year if you believe in arithmantic omens. Caerphilly were BIQL champions in 2004 driven by the youthful exuberance of Asgeir Lofthouse, and in 2008 under Lofthouse’s tutelage. The mass retirements that followed have left the Catapults in their recent form slump, which few expected they would come out of so quickly. 2012 represented a chance for Lofthouse to take a third championship and cement his place in the annals.

Perhaps it was their captain’s inspiration which spurred for the Catapults, for they were immense off the start line.

Half an hour into the match it was Caerphilly who led 70-40. Wasps’ fans were stunned. Deep down, the true consensus amongst the general public not just their fans was that further miracles would be just too much to ask of the Catapults’ fairytale, and that Wimbourne would dominate the contest.

But there was no panic on field. The Wasps were operating in third gear, anticipating their opponents’ firy start and wisely playing themselves into the game. The inevitability of the result didn’t feel under question, just delayed, perhaps just to heighten the tension.

But by the commencent of hour two, natural order had been restored, then accelerated in earnest. Continuing her search for retribution after last year’s errors, Delphine Branstone once again dictated the troops, while Jadzia Johnston was the strike weapon, effortlessly slotting goal after goal past a gallant but outgunned Caddock Carrington.

The Beater contest was far less one-sided, with Asgeir Lofthouse taking it to Gaius Nutt and Erasmus Oddpick. But even mighty Lofthouse couldn’t stem the tide, as the Wasps pulled well clear of any dangerous margin and into the realms of safety.

But QUidditch is a funny game. Déjà vu strikes again. Brynmor Bryson, aware that his side’s campaign was over, pounced on the snitch, catching ahead of a curiously anonymous Venus Vogler.

The final capture was a fitting way to end a stunning season that had captured the hearts of man, and the attention of all rivals.

But the Wimbourne Wasps juggernaul rolled on, with just one final stepping stone in its way. It would all come down to a juicy rematch of the 2009 Grand Final between the Wasps and the Arrows.

Wimbourne Wasps - 440: Johnston 24, Branstone 10, Pippins 10

Caerphilly Catapults - 300: Lafarge 11, Lympsham 3, Gwenhwyfar 1, Bryson Capture

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ERASMUS ODDPICK (WASPS)