QUIDDITCH: Mar 11, Match #7

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RIBBONFIN

AZURCREST

• It's clear skies, and the snow is melting from cabin roofs as everyone leaves for the Quidditch pitch for the first rematch of the season. Ribbonfin Cheer had more time to prepare a new routine, and it shows as Captain Ives leads her squad onto the field, everyone moving in perfectly executed synchronization that gets the fish fans cheering. But Azurcrest has a secret weapon on their side: warm weather cheer uniforms. Captain Ignacz orders warming charms for everyone, and it's the first time in months that the school sees short skirts and no sleeves on the field. The crowd loves it.


• Right away, it's Ribbonfin's game. Chaser Bagman grabs the Quaffle and quickly breaks away thanks to Rush and Ryder blocking the way of the Azurcrest Chasers. Morales-Tran slips through, but the Bludgers happened to rocket off to the Ribbonfin side of the pitch, and within seconds of game start, Beaters R. Delgado and Evercreech own the pitch. Evercreech snaps off a Bludger at Morales-Tran, which she has to swerve sharply to avoid, while R. Delgado maneuvers to keep the Bludgers out of the hands of Azurcrest. Keeper Flowers blocks the first shot that Bagman tries, but later misses three, all before the 15 minute mark.


• Ribbonfin is far ahead when Chaser Castillo finally gets a Quaffle past Keeper Davenport: 50–10 for Ribbonfin, 24 minutes on the clock. Davenport plays well, blocking most of the shots that come at her; although with Ribbonfin's Chasers and Beaters on an all-out offense, her hoops are getting hammered way less than Flowers'. Beater S. Delgado goes hard after her brother, and manages to steal the Bludger from him, which she sends to Hobbs, who times it just right to disrupt Bagman's flight. The Bludger hits the tail of her broom, knocking her around enough to allow Key to take the Quaffle from her. With the ball back in their hands, Azurcrest get off a few quick goals (two by Key, then one each by Castillo and Morales-Tran) but it's never enough to close the gap.


• 50 minutes in, the score is 70–50 for Ribbonfin. Neither Seeker Popplestone nor St. Clair have seen the Snitch yet, despite the bright, clear sky laying the whole pitch bare to their sharp eyes. At one point, Popplestone chases what she thinks is the Snitch, but was actually a freshman's Artificing project, a metal bird allowed to fly free for a few minutes before Coach Thorn calls for it to be disabled. Lucas Kowalski fires off the spell that finally takes out the freshman's bird, and earns 15 points for their house. (The fake bird, unfortunately, doesn't survive the fall.)


• With the Ribbonfin Chasers taking care of themselves, R. Delgado and Evercreech switch tactics, and appear to target Beater Hobbs, the less aggressive of Azurcrest's Beaters. She quickly picks up what they're trying to do, but having to focus on dodging double Bludgers leaves her with little time to help her team. Rush takes advantage of the distraction to knock out another goal for Ribbonfin, while Azurcrest continues to struggle to get Quaffles past Davenport. Beater S. Delgado also switches focus to defend her partner, and there's thrill of delight in the crowd as they realize it's turned into a Beater vs. Beater showdown, with S. Delgado obviously now trying to take out R. Delgado. Soon, there's a furious midair scuffle: both Delgados aim for the same Bludger, but S. Delgado ends up hitting R. Delgado hard in the arm with her bat. Although that Bludger shoots off towards Hobbs, Hobbs moves around it, and fires it towards Evercreech, who was distracted by the Delgado fight. He dodges too slowly; the Bludger smashes right through the handle of his broom. Evercreech, struck in the chest by an fast-flying iron ball, tumbles to the ground and also breaks his leg.


• Coach Thorn calls timeout, and gives Ribbonfin a penalty shot for S. Delgado hitting someone with her bat. Captain Davenport subs in Reserve Owsley, but R. Delgado insists on staying, knowing the last reserve isn't up for playing Beater. (Evercreech is carried to the sidelines, where he's allowed to continue watching while Healer Mufferaw fixes him up.) Chaser Bagman takes the penalty shot, and hits it past a still-struggling Flowers. The score is 90–60 for Ribbonfin, and we're an hour and nine minutes in.


• Ribbonfin has one Beater out and another bruised, while Azurcrest is still going at full strength. R. Delgado and Owsley do their best, but the pair of S. Delgado and Hobbs fly circles around them, and completely disrupt the Ribbonfin Chasers. Rush gets a close call as a Bludger whizzes right by his ear, while Ryder is hit in the ribs and drops out for Reserve Pitchford. Flowers gets a breather now as Keeper Davenport's side gets slammed by Quaffles. Chasers Castillo, Key and Morales-Tran fly unimpeded, a well-oiled machine, and rack up the points for the next half hour. Azurcrest ties the game 85 minutes in, and keeps going, all the way to 140–90 for Azurcrest. Fans in blue stand up and scream for this bravura showing by Azurcrest's Chasers.


• As Chaser Castillo scores his 7th goal of the game, Seeker Popplestone sees the Golden Snitch zipping along the ground, camouflaged against the yellow grass. If she catches it now, Ribbonfin will merely tie, so she suddenly flies straight up into the air, trying to distract St. Clair. He takes the bait and goes after her. Chaser Rush grabs the Quaffle from Key and throws it down to Pitchford, who scores the next goal for Ribbonfin. Popplestone executes a sharp 180 spin midair; St. Clair flies right past her and she heads back to the ground, after the Snitch.


• Morales-Tran has the Quaffle next, and zips around the other players to make her shot; but Davenport blocks it, and the ball lands in Bagman's hands. Popplestone took her eyes off the Snitch for too long, but she sees it again, now fleeing towards the stands. St. Clair is back on her tail, but Popplestone has a strong lead on him. Bagman passes to Pitchford; Castillo moves to intercept. Beater Owsley hits a Bludger at St. Clair, but it's too far; Hobbs dives in and directs it to S. Delgado, who sends it right in Popplestone's path. Popplestone has to pull up to dodge it, losing precious seconds. Chaser Pitchford throws the Quaffle as hard and as far as she can to where Key and Rush are jockeying for position in front of the Azurcrest hoops. R. Delgado has the other Bludger, but the Seekers are too close now for a good shot, so he hits it at Key; Rush catches the Quaffle. St. Clair and Popplestone are neck-and-neck, arms outstretched as far as they'll go. Rush makes his shot. Keeper Flowers dives towards the leftmost hoop to block, but the Quaffle skims the top of his fingers and goes in. Seconds later, a Seeker catches the Snitch.

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AZURCREST WINS
190–120

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