Final Score RCRG 115 -CCR 104

Congratulations to all the skaters from both teams for a fantastic performance yesterday. Also a massive thanks to the bench managers, refs, NSOs, merch stall staff and some superb cheering in the crowd. It all added to a great day!

“For many, the question isn’t why would you play such sport, but why AREN’T you playing such a sport?”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/feb/04/roller-derby-britain-women

The Armitage Sports Centre in Fallowfield, Manchester was the setting for the first home bout of the Rainy City Roller Girls. They were to take on the Leeds Roller Dolls in a hard fought battle and aptly named “War of the Roses”. The crowd swelled to over 300 people with equal support from both sides. But the virgin Manchester crowd were quickly converted and kept on the edge of their seats by the scoreline, which for the most part was neck and neck.

Things kicked off in favour of the Rainys, but they quickly felt the pressure with 19 major penalties in the first half! Leeds weren’t far behind with 14 majors – there was a lot of passion and pride riding on this battle! Half time finished with Rainy City on 78 and Leeds on 57. But victory was no way in the bag… the gloves were off!

Both teams were on form – teamwork and tactics keeping things tight but in the end the Rainys’ discipline let them down. Leeds managed to keep their heads when passions ran high. The final score was Rainy City 127, Leeds 138. Notable performances from LRD came from Rushin’ Doll with her magical zipping through the pack, Bruise ‘Em Banshee and Riggor Morris. From RCRG the MVP award went to Belle-Istic, as dependable as ever with Missy Rascal as star jammer and Dee Mise keeping the opposition jammers at bay.

All-in-all, it was a good day for roller derby in the North of England and hopefully the first of many meetings between the two teams. Derby Love to Ex Con Vic who was injured during the game – hopefully she’ll recover in time for the re-match!

Thank you to Adam@amodelofcontrol.com for the use of the image

Upon joining roller derby i thought i had the measure of what a rollergirls job was: skate fast, hit hard, look hot… i can do that, i thought. so here i am.

I hadnt considered what happens in the eventuality that you’re a rollergirl but dont make the team selection for one reason or another. At our first home bout this weekend Sui-Cider sat out of track action, but still managed to whip us into shape between every jam in her very special position as Bench Manager.

Working as the ultimate team, Stef Mainey and Sui-Cider kept us all in check, uptodate and organised throughout the bout. The remit was very simply to make sure everyone on the team knew when there were on the track, and when to be ready. The reality on the day saw these ladies performing the most amazing juggling act with our motley crew of skaters who developed quite a penchant for the penalty box.

Despite racking up an astonishing 37 trips to the box, being the marked underdogs and having passions riding high, Sui-Cider and Stef kept us calm, collected and helped us through every jam to push us within a hairs bredth of victory.

“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all girls doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too; . . . If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same . . . Yours is the Bench and everyone on it.”

Thank you ladies <3

A very close fought battle played in front of a packed audience, but Leeds Roller Dolls came out top on the day.

Some brilliant play and awesome jamming gave the crowd an edge of the seat game.

Well played everyone and a massive thankyou to everyone who helped on the day.