MRD vs Long Island
On June 18 and 19, Maine Roller Derby ended its 2011 home season in style with back-to-back bouts, one each for the all-star Port Authorities and Calamity Janes. Accepting both challenges was the fierce and fiery Long Island Roller Rebels, who gladly made the overnight trip for the chance to test themselves against both of Maine’s squads. The Rebels were hungry as ever, coming off their first WFTDA win of the season in April in a relatively close bout against New Hampshire’s Skate Free Or Die all-stars, and it wouldn’t be long until the heat of battle boiled out of control.
June 18, 2011: Port Authorities vs Long Island Roller Rebels
Bout Recap by Milhouse Van Bouten
The Port Authorities locked in their defensive game from the first whistle, keeping the Rebels off the scoreboard for the first nine jams while Grim D. Mise, Polly Gone, Barbara Ambush and Spry Icicle combined for 34. Rebel jammer Amaretto Sourpuss finally broke a hole in the Port Authority wall by scoring 13 – 7 in jam 10, and 2 – 0 in jam 12. However, as Grim D. Mise slammed a huge 25 points in jam 13, the Rebels showed signs of coming undone as LIRR blocker Anna Tramp was ejected for blatantly shoving PA blocker Barbara Ambush twice. Undaunted, the PAs marched on to a favorable score of 103 – 32 at halftime.
As the second period began, Long Island channeled their aggression into strategy by lining up blocker walls directly in front of the PA jammer before the whistle. However, some of their strategy also seemed to defy logic, as they wasted over a minute standing still with the Port Authorities in jam 2 while in a 67 point deficit. The home crowd relentlessly booed the extreme delay until Polly Gone finally nailed a Rebel blocker to the floor behind the pivot line. Although assessed with a major elbow penalty, the crowd cheered her initiative to restart the action. Despite stubborn attempts to snatch control of the game back and sparks of offense, the Rebels couldn’t stop the PA’s momentum. Long Island star pivot Violet KnockOut earned five consecutive penalty box trips and had fouled out by jam 12. With the Rebels on their last legs, Grim D. Mise and Li’l Punisher delivered the deathblow with back-to-back MRD record-setting 34 point jams in jams 12 and 13. The Port Authorities would roll on to a decisive win in the last official bout of the MRD season, 281 – 65.
June 19, 2011: Calamity Janes vs Long Island Roller Rebels
Bout recap on the way…
