The New York City Titans struggled offensively in their second game against the Boston Nightriders at the 2018 MLQ championships.  The following article will explain how the Boston beaters were able to react quickly to New York’s passing and were able to take bludger control from New York’s beaters.

For ease of explanation the play has been broken into three sequences.  All directions are from the offensive perspective, looking at the hoops from the midfield line.

Sequence I

At the beginning of this play, New York brings the quaffle up on the left side of the field.  Their beaters have bludger control.  

• The far right New York chaser begins walking forward and right, drawing a Boston chaser away from the quaffle.  
• The right New York beater knocks out a Boston chaser on the right side of the pitch.  
• The Boston point defender runs at the quaffle carrier and is knocked out by the left New York beater.  

Driving Lane

When a team has bludger control on offense, their beaters try to knock out defensive quaffle players to give their own quaffle players clear paths to the hoops.  These paths are typically called driving lanes.  

The New York beater opened a driving lane on the right side of the field by knocking out a Boston chaser.  Both offensive beaters were already on the right side of the field to guard the quaffle.  Additionally, a New York chaser had shifted right to pull the other right side defensive chaser wide.  

Instead of passing to their open right chaser, the quaffle carrier held onto the quaffle, likely waiting for the back Boston beater to be knocked out.  Had they passed to the right, New York could have scored the opening goal of the game.  

Point Defender

Coordinated runs between a point defender and an unarmed beater can force an offensive bludger throw allowing the unarmed beater to recover a bludger.  

The Boston point defender’s run at the quaffle did just this, giving Boston a chance to recover bludger control by picking up the loose ball.  However, the New York beater shielded the bludger and dribbled it towards mid-field to keep possession.  

Sequence II

• Boston chaser tags back into the game.  
• New York passes the quaffle right.  
• The tagged in Boston chaser become point defender.  
• New York passes to a chaser behind the hoops.  
• The back Boston beater throws their bludger at the receiver as the quaffle is being caught.  
• The receiver shoots the quaffle at the left hoop, which is blocked by the Boston keeper.  
• The top Boston beater steals a bludger from a New York beater.  
• The back Boston beater recovers their thrown bludger.  
• The wide left New York chaser runs behind the hoops and recovers the quaffle.  

Bludger Control Reversal

Stripping the bludger is a great way to gain bludger control for one’s team.  With natural motion rules, as soon as a defensive beater has their hands on the “third bludger,” they can fling it to their own hoops while being hit with a bludger.  Offensive beaters with bludger control need to communicate closely to knock out unarmed beaters before they can strip a bludger.

After the quaffle is passed behind the hoops, the New York beaters wait around the keeper zone, watching the quaffle play.  This allows the unarmed Boston beater the chance to gain bludger control through a strip.

Instead of watching the quaffle play. New York’s beaters could have either aggressed further or retreated backwards.  

The armed Boston beater was able to force an errant shot by throwing their bludger.  An aggressing New York beater would have likely distracted or knocked out the Boston beater, at the risk of losing bludger control.

If New York valued retaining bludger control over scoring, the offensive beaters could have retreated to their own half, holding their bludgers tightly and/or knocking out the unarmed Boston beater.

Turn and Throw

When a beater wants to knock out a receiver before they catch a quaffle, the beater needs to turn to the receiver immediately, instead of watching the quaffle in the air.  The receiver must position themselves to catch, leaving a window where they can’t dodge a bludger and catch the quaffle at the same time.  

In sequence I, the back Boston beater uses this concept when the quaffle is passed behind the hoops.  Though their bludger did not hit the New York receiver, the turn and throw was good. 

This throw was made difficult by the hoops and point defender being in the way.

Sequence III

• The top Boston beater flings their bludger to their hoops as they are knocked out by a New York beater. 
• New York passes the quaffle to their keeper in front of the left hoop.  
• While the quaffle is in the air, the armed Boston beater turns to throw their bludger.  
• The New York keeper catches the quaffle. 
• The Boston beater throws their bludger at the New York keeper.  
• The New York keeper shoots at the left hoop and misses.  Boston recovers the quaffle.  
• Boston then recovers both loose bludgers and knocks out the unarmed New York beater.  

Pass Options

As explained in the post Boston and the Five-Zone Pitch, having open pass options can help an offensive dramatically.  

At the beginning of the play, the quaffle carrier has two open teammates to pass to, both in front of the hoops.  Before the quaffle is thrown, they both walk towards each other.  Had they spread out, New York could have more easily moved the quaffle around the Boston defense and given their beaters an opportunity to regain bludger control.  

Turn and Throw

This time when the back Boston beater turns, they watch the quaffle in the air instead of turning immediately to the receiver.  To avoid being knocked out, the New York receiver shot as soon as they caught the quaffle.  By the time the bludger leaves the beater’s hand, the receiver had already released the quaffle.  

Though the bludger was thrown slightly late, the threat of knocking out the New York chaser did force a missed shot.  However, a quicker release would have made the shot more difficult or knocked out the receiver before the shot was released.  

Takeaways

On this play, New York’s preference to drive to the hoops was outmatched by Boston’s beaters and point defenders.  New York could have adapted by spreading out their formation and passing to open receivers.

The New York beaters were able to create scoring opportunities for their quaffle players but neither pressed forward with their bludgers nor retained bludger control through the play.