Denver (#2W) holds back Charm City (#3W) to advance to round 2

By Elle Beaux

The opening bout for the 2012 WFTDA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, matched #2 seed in the West, Denver Roller Dolls against the #3 seed in the East, Charm City Roller Girls. In the first jam, the Charm City jammer went to the penalty box, and jam 2 began as a power jam for Denver. Sandrine Rangeon put 24 points on the board, and Denver was able to hold Charm City scoreless until jam 5.

Photo by D.E.sign

Denver jammer Julie Adams went to the box for a cut track major in jam 8, and Charm City jammer I.M. Pain took advantage of it for the first lead change of the tournament, bringing the score to Denver 47, Charm City 52.

A Denver power jam immediately afterwards saw Rangeon rack up 5 grand slams in a row, and Charm City’s lead had been reversed.

Denver showed strong defense throughout the game, rarely letting Charm City have lead jammer status. Denver consistently got lead jammer, scored 4 points and called it off. The defense was tight enough to hold Charm City scoreless for the final 9 jams of the first half, ending with a score of Denver 153, Charm City 67.

In the second half, Charm City was able to step up their defense and secure lead jammer six jams in a row. The second half showed much of the same work by Denver, putting 4 points on the board at a time. Powerhouse blocking by Denver’s November James, Jes Rivas, and Monica Carson held the Charm City jammers at bay.

Although Charm City was able to put more points on the board and get lead jammer more often throughout the second half, they were unable to close in on Denver’s sizeable lead. Denver fielded jammer Shaina Serelson for the last jam, Charm City’s jammer was sent to the box on a major track cut, and Serelson rode out the period clock. The final score was Denver Mile High Club 268 to Charm City All-Stars 141. Denver will advance to play The Windy City Rollers Saturday at 2 p.m.

Denver Roller Dolls (#2W) 268
Charm City Roller Girls (#3E) 141