Welcome back to Quaffles & Bludgers! We’re happy to bring you another exciting week of matches.
Once again, we at the Daily Prophet would like to remind readers that the European Cup Final will be held in Doda Pilii, Romania. Tent rentals will be available August 14th with the Final being held on the 21st. Tickets will be offered at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class prices with seating available for each tier and they will also be going on sale August 14th.
Now then, as there are matches aplenty each matchweek, we’ll only be providing a brief summary of matches until we’ve moved out of the group stage.
| Top Five Teams |
| Varna Lamia |
| San Pietro Lupi |
| Braga Broomfleet |
| Parisian Hellhounds |
| Agincourt Axes |
Side A
Agincourt Axes [France] 300 – 20 Lisbon Rosas [Portugal]
We returned to France for the first match of the week, this time to see Agincourt face Lisbon. Both newcomers to the Euro Cup, they had plenty to prove though it was ultimately Agincourt that took the victory. The Agincourt chasers put on a spectacular display with passes so lightning fast, the omni-oculars had difficulty keeping up with them. Lisbon’s own chasers took plenty of their own shots in retaliation, but Agincourt’s Iared Lebeau was in such form at the hoops, not even a fly would have gotten through. Lisbon’s only points came from penalties issued thanks to some Agincourt blamphing. With such a solid win, though, Agincourt look set to win Group E.
Bordeaux Bludgers [France] 490 – 560 Parisian Hellhounds [France]
A continued stay in France was on the cards, this time to see a French derby in Bordeaux versus Paris. Both Top 4 residents, both sporting International heavyweights, it was sure to be an explosive match. Neither team let up for even a second, with the scales tipping back and forth in both their favours constantly. The seekers were just as ferocious as the rest of the team, with both Taumoepeau and Haydée Fabron getting fingers on the snitch on a plethora of occasions. Bordeaux pulled ahead by a few goals, only for Taumoepeau to swipe the snitch in the sixtieth minute and leave Bordeaux with their second loss of the tournament.
Bucharest Lampi [Romania] 170 – 570 Appleby Arrows [British & Irish]
Appleby were the dark horses of the British and Irish season this year, and it’s looking like they could be the dark horses of the Euro Cup, too. Unperturbed by their loss to Constanta, Appleby returned to Romania to face Bucharest with determination. Every goal Appleby scored had all three chasers behind it. They made sure to sink the quaffle whatever the cost, and were even willing to take a broken shin, wrist, shoulder and collar bone between them. Bucharest were either scared by the self-sacrificing British or baffled, as they seemed almost a stand-still for most of the match. Nicoleta caught the snitch eventually, probably just to save Bucharest any further embarrassment.
Vrasta Vultures [Bulgarian] 610 – 290 Falmouth Falcons [British & Irish]
Returning home to England, we arrived to watch two well known giants face off on the pitch. With each team fresh off a win the previous week, fans were hyped on either side, believing wholeheartedly that it would be their team to take the win. The match started off with the usual performance from Falmouth, with the team racking up fouls and penalties against the Vultures in an attempt to intimidate. Unfortunately the Vultures have been in the game long enough that even the threat of broken skulls wasn’t enough to deter them for long. Despite Daly and Baxter giving their best, Daskalov was able to keep up with them, working with his fellow beater to keep the team safe and sending a few bludgers Falmouth’s way in return. Eventually, it became quite clear that the Falcons were no match for the Vrasta Vultures. Despite a surprising catch from Falmouth Seeker, Dot Townsend, it wasn’t enough to see the birds of prey to victory.
San Pietro Lupi [Italy] 370 – 500 Ostrava Otesáneks [Czech Republic]
Back to Italy we went for San Pietro and Ostrava’s final group match. San Pietro sat high above the rest of Group A after week 2, but it seemed on the day they’d grown too comfortable; Ostrava came at the Italian side with a burning fury, scoring 300 before anyone had time to blink. San Pietro’s woes multiplied later on with their star beater taking a Red Sparking for sending a deliberate bludger at a fan waving a defamatory flag and their keeper having to play with a mild concussion after Ostrava’s chaser barged them through a San Pietro hoop. Ostrava took the snitch and secured a qualifying place, though it wasn’t enough to knock San Pietro from the top spot of their group. San Pietro will face the runners-up of Group H, with Ostrava facing the winners – which we’re sure will both be fantastic matches.
Sofia Fates [Bulgaria] 380 – 220 Varna Lamia [Bulgaria]
Returning to Bulgaria once more, fans filled the stands, eager to watch the Sofia Fates and the Varna Lamia go head to head. After their previous match, the Fates were determined to prove their worth and regain the respect of their fans. The match started out in the Varna Lamia’s favour with the team coming out of the gate with a fervour as of yet unseen though this ended when their star chaser took not one but two bludgers to the chest, fracturing three ribs and their collarbone. It seemed the Sofia Fates’ beaters had worked in unison, each securing and aiming the iron balls in a concentrated attack. From there, it was all downhill for the Varna team, as Bogdanov and Vankov continued their assault, pursuing the Varna seeker from chasing the snitch as he struggled to avoid the bludgers sent his way. It was smooth sailing for the Sofia seeker to capture the snitch, ending the match in the Fates’ favour. This wasn’t enough to see the Fates move on in the Cup. Rather, Varna Lamia will face the runners up of Group G.
Side B
Prague Flames [Czech Republic] 270 – 140 Poznan Rusalkas [Poland]
We arrived in Poland to watch the stunning Poznan Rusalkas face off against the Prague Flames. With each team determined to secure the win and move forward in the tournament, fans were expecting a fierce competition and they were not disappointed. Despite the brevity of the match, there was no lack of excitement as the Rusalkas and Flames went back and forth scoring goals on either side. Neither team seemed willing to give ground, keeping the scores fairly even. It was just as the Rusalkas began to gain on Prague, the score sitting at 140 to 120 when the chase began. Fans sat on the edge of their seats as both chasers raced after the flash of gold, though it was over in the literal blink of an eye as Prague’s seeker, Alfréd Brigita managed to secure the snitch after he and the Poznan seeker got into a midair tussle and he accidentally lowered his arm on it, pinning it in his armpit! Poznan fans were understandably disappointed when referees discovered what had happened, awarding the 150 points to the Czech team.
Bavarian Erklings [Germany] 610 – 230 Constanta Fangs [Romania]
Back in Romania, we prepared to watch the Constanta Fangs and the Bavarian Erklings on a dark and stormy afternoon. Though the match was initially postponed after a referee was discovered loopy from blood loss as a result of a supposed run in with one of Romania’s vampire denizens, eventually teams kicked off. With the Fangs having won their last match and the Erklings having come up short, most were sure they knew how this match would play out and all were surprised as the Erklings utterly demolished the Romanian team. The German keeper was in fine form and though the Fangs managed to get through a handful of shots, it was nothing compared to the multitude of goals the Erklings scored. Eventually the snitch made itself known and even the capture of it by Constanta seeker, Anghel Mihaela wasn’t enough to save the Fangs from the embarrassing loss. Fan were heard leaving the stands stating that Mihaela was allowed to capture the snitch to lessen the blow of the loss.
Pride of Portree [British & Irish] 520 – 100 Grodzisk Goblins [Poland]
After their embarrassing loss last week, Portree arrived in Poland ready to show exactly why they were considered British and Irish top four and they did exactly that. The purple and gold were in top form, working like a well oiled machine on the pitch with chasers bouncing the quaffle between one another and every goal made was a perfect example of teamwork. Despite her shoddy performance the week before, Portree Keeper Hayoon Seol barely let through a number of quaffles, even after breaking her arm and refusing to touch down to the healers’ tent. When questioned about it later, the Keeper stated she didn’t want to leave her team defenceless while she was nursed back to health. At the end of the match, Portree had led the way by 270 points before their seeker captured the snitch, increasing the points difference and leaving the Goblins utterly embarrassed.
Bergen Oars [Norway] 659 – 440 Mirto Mooncalves [Italy]
In Italy, the Bergen Oars and Mirto Mooncalves were set to play on a painfully bright afternoon. Both teams needed the win and the points to make up the points differences that had them sitting at the bottom of the league and it showed in the way they played. Fans were not disappointed as they watched the teams battle it out on the pitch, the match tight the whole way. In the end, it was the Mirto Mooncalves which secured the snitch, lessening the points difference between them, however this was not enough for either team to see themselves move on in the tournament.
Braga Broomfleet [Portugal] 100 – 520 Heidelberg Harriers [Germany]
Heading to Germany, we arrived just in time to see the two teams kick off for what would ultimately be a long played beatdown. The Heidelberg Harriers desperately needed a win, having lost not one but two matches prior and that desperation showed. While Braga arrived expecting an easy win, it was clear that Heidelberg hadn’t come to play as their team worked in a coordinated attack, demolishing the well known and well loved Portugal team. Despite their victory, it wasn’t enough to see the Harriers pull themselves to the top of their group and move in in the tournament. Instead, Braga Broomfleet remain firmly in the top five teams and will be facing the winner of Group G.
Kustavi Viikingit [Finland] 240 – 640 Naantali Nakki [Finland]
In the last match of the week, we traveled to Finland to watch two of the country’s teams go head to head. With the Viikingit having won their last match, it seems the team let it go to their heads as they hardly played with the ferocity needed to secure a victory against the Naantali Nakki. Instead, the Nakki destroyed their rival team, securing a 250 point lead before ever capturing the snitch. In the end, the Viikingit found themselves unworthy of Valhalla and the Naantali Nakki took the win.
That concludes match week 3, we hope you will all check back soon for the final week of the Euro Cup Group Stage!
