Horntail Gazette #2
From Potions to Professors, student spotlights to Quidditch, read all the latest news in this brand new issue of the Horntail Gazette! Instagram: @horntailgazette
Last Updated
07/23/22
Chapters
10
Reads
837
Inter-house Quidditch Match (Slytherin vs Ravenclaw)
Chapter 4
Hello and welcome to the third Quidditch match of the season. I am Sabrina Tabac, and I will be reporting live from the field.
As I look around the stadium today, I see that it is completely packed. It's a cloudy day, not the best conditions for Quidditch really, so maybe some fans had hoped for better weather. Madam Hooch is the appointed referee today.
The players have left the dressing rooms and are warming up. We are only minutes away from starting the match.
Here's Slytherin's lineup, then. In goal, M.J. The beaters are Georgina Malfoy and Jay Lupin. For chasers, Aila Elanor, Sage Vespertine and Kiera Malfoy. And finally, the seeker they have chosen is Liv Lestrange.
Ravenclaw have Storm Brazendale in goal today. Kathrine Spellstorm and Caroline Eldridge will be the beaters. Db, Anna Black and Everly Rosemund are the chasers, setting up Guardian Khadgar to be the seeker.
The referee gives the signal that the match can get started. And there - the Quaffle is set in motion, to the delight of the supporters from both sides.
We've had 4 minutes, and Slytherin's Aila Elanor has broken free on the left side. Elanor is outstripping the pursuing beater, Kathrine Spellstorm. Oh, the beater has botched things! Elanor makes a savage cut toward the box. One on one with the keeper...but Elanor slices the shot horribly wide. What a shocker!
Ravenclaw's are building something up nicely down the left here... A smart Quaffle is played further down the wing... This looks like it could lead to something. Several players in the Ravenclaw team are combining brilliantly, swift passing going on. Will it lead to a chance? The opposition are trying to stop it. This could be the moment they take the lead. The ball has landed into the hands of Anna Black and she's lining up a shot... She's let rip a right royal rocket! What a corker! An absolute scorcher, smashed in off the edge, the keeper had no chance: 10 - 0. Take that!
It is early in the game, and a lot can still happen, but can we already see a tendency for one of the teams to be in control of this match? I think we can. Slytherin is the more active team, they are able to hang on to the ball for longer periods, and ultimately this could shape the game to their advantage.
Slytherin's keeper, M.J., is vulnerable when Ravenclaw hits them on the counter attack. Db is demonstrating this, as they take a run into the center field, just as the opponents start moving in the other direction. The long pass finds them! It's an impressive run by Db! They fail to outwit the keeper though. The shot goes wide.
Ravenclaw strokes it around the middle of the field for a few minutes, just because they can. Slytherin sits back and lets them get on with it.
Sometimes stubborn determination is all that is needed to find that elusive equaliser, and that's what we're seeing down on the pitch below our commentary position. Nice pass... no wait, perfect pass, from the right! She's through! Still work to do, bearing down on the goal... She's done it! Goal! Goal from Sage Vespertine to bring rapture among the away fans, who are celebrating like mad right now! Sublime play. Sublime finish. 10 - 10.
Slytherin's Kiera Malfoy with the ball out on left field... who will challenge her? No one it seems... She gets plenty of time, she rounds the keeper and broadsides it into the net! Ravenclaw's crowd is dismayed! The Slytherin's are now in the lead: 10 - 20.
Sage Vespertine powers her way into the Ravenclaw goals down the left... She's one on one with the keeper! She slides it under the keeper! Wait, a last-gasp slide by a Caroline Eldridge has cleared it - the Ravenclaw fans are going wild with delight! Missed chance, but so close.
A Ravenclaw player goes brooms up on their opponent! The ball is intercepted and the direction of play quickly turns! Everly Rosemund breaks away to the right and gets a clean shot at goal... She knocks the ball past the keeper, making the score 20 - 20.
No fewer than 12 000 people came to the arena today, we were just told, staff and students.
Slytherin won’t let go of the ball at the moment, but can it lead to anything more?
Aila Elanor bulldozes her way past one Ravenclaw's beaters... and then another! She's clean through on goal now... She just couldn’t sort her broom out, the shot is pathetic and the goalkeeper claims it effortlessly.
Onto news with the golden snitch, it and the two seekers have dissapeared into the clouds of the day. We hope they'll be showing up soon.
Ravenclaw is playing catch up, but we are not seeing very creative ideas unfortunately. Here's another long ball... One of these times they may get a lucky break... No. The Slytherin's beaters continue to keep the chasers in check.
We've had 89 minutes, and Ravenclaw's Db has broken free on the left flank. Db is outstripping the pursuing beater, Jay Lupin. Oh, the beater has botched things! Db makes a savage cut toward the goal. One on one with the keeper...and Db launches a rocket past the keeper. The score is 30 - 20
Every good thing must come to an end. So it is with this Quidditch match. Right when the match feels like it needs something else, something to spice up game, a quick whizz followed by two seekers on broomsticks come flying down in front of the east stadium. All attention turns to Liv Lestrange and Guardian Khadgar as they battle for the snitch. It's 1v1. They bolt for the ground, swoop up at the last second, and fly all over the stadium. Tension is high. Everyone is on the edge of their seat. Whoever gets this snitch will make or break the game. The two are neck in neck, until one takes the lead. The snitch flyes towards the ground again then has a quick uptake. Slytherin seeker Liv Lestrange follows it easily, but Ravenclaw seeker Guardian Khadgar looses control of their broom, failing to lift up fast enough and having a small crash into the sand.
The Slytherin seeker takes one last bolt of energy, and catches the snitch! Crowds go wild all over the stadium. There's the whistle... It ends 30 - 170.
Our winner today was Slytherin.
Congratulations to all the players, and a job well done to Slytherin! Make sure to check in for the next interhouse match, Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff.
- By Sabrina Tabac, HG Founder, Editor & Manager