Maine Drops DC, 163-82
The following recap was posted on Derby News Network.
WASHINGTON, DC — So far this season, the DC Rollergirls’ (officially #9 in the East via WFTDA) strategy of trying to overcome their unbroken home-turf losing streak by playing lower-ranked opponents at home has yet to pay off. Last month, they fell to Dutchland (#10 East WFTDA) by 28 points; on Sunday, Maine’s Port Authorities (#11 East) became the latest team to topple DC at home, with a decisive 163-82 victory.
Their roster bolstered by fresh blood from Gotham (Polly Gone and Barbara Ambush), Maine wasted no time putting their new talent on display. Polly put the first points on the board for Maine, racking up 3-0 against veteran DC jammer Free Radical. But it was co-captain Itsy Bitsy Fighter who gave Maine a firm toehold on the scoreboard, dodging her way past tenacious DC blocker Battery Operated for two grand slams, bringing the tally to 13-0. DC soon answered that challenge, thanks in part to a powerjam that allowed them to trap Maine’s Spry Icicle, freeing jammer Dr. SKabs to give DC their first and only lead of the bout, at 14-13.
It didn’t take long for DC’s chronic penalty trouble to kick in, though, and with two blockers boxed during two subsequent powerjams in their favor, DC was only able to add 1 point to Maine’s 8. For the next seven jams, Maine kept DC off the scoreboard entirely while powerhouse jammer Grim D. Mise capitalized on two key powerjam opportunities, racking up 33 points for her team and giving Maine a commanding 64-15 lead. The end of the half saw DC begin to mount a small comeback with a couple 4-0 jams from Yankee Scandal and Dr. SKabs, but Maine was up by a daunting 53 points at halftime, with a score of 78-25.
DC hit the second half with a fresh burst of energy, with jammer Sookie Slaughterhouse putting up a triple grand slam during an early powerjam, closing the gap to 82-47. DC continued to build on that momentum for the first 10 minutes or so of the half, with Free Radical and Dr. SKabs taking advantage of rare DC-heavy packs to post a few points each. A 9-4 powerjam win to Yankee Scandal over Polly Gone put DC within 28 points of the lead, at 89-61, but that was as close as they’d ever get. Maine’s tight, flexible front wall regrouped to stymie DC’s jammers, much as it had through the first half, and held DC virtually scoreless for nine consecutive jams while Maine jammers steadily piled on the points.
With 9 minutes left on the clock, Spry Icicle sealed Maine’s fate for good, nabbing three easy grand slams to bring the score to 143-64 while DC was busy trying to free jammer Dr. SKabs from the clutches of the Maine pack. The remainder of the bout saw the two teams trade hit-and-quit jams; consistently down at least one blocker, DC was never able to make any headway into that 80-point lead, and Maine finished the bout with what will likely be a rankings-shifting 163-82 win.
DC has never won a WFTDA sanctioned game at home since joining the organization in mid-2008; this year they’re 1-5 in WFTDA action after a season-opening victory over River City. DC hopes to better their record in two weeks with three consecutive bouts against lower-ranked opponents: Long Island (#17 East) on 4/8, Suburbia (#14 East) on 4/9, and Connecticut (#12 East) on 4/10. Maine has a tougher challenge ahead, squaring off against Boston (currently #4 East) on 4/23.
