Boston (#7) challenges Philly (#2)

By Vile Love It

The end result of the final game of Friday evening between the Philly Roller Girls (#2), Philadelphia, PA and the Boston Derby Dames (#7), Boston, MA wasn’t a surprise, but the beginning of it sure was.

Photo by Kelli Catana

After only a few jams the score was 26-7 in Boston’s favo, and their lead continued throughout the majority of the first half of the bout.

Boston’s jammers were able to grab lead jammer more often during the first half of the game and they used it wisely to the euphoria of the pinching Boston fans. In addition, Boston’s blockers were able to contain and often shut down Philly’s jammers while Philly’s blockers began to fill the penalty box.

Ten minutes into the bout, Boston held a 20 point lead. Philly jammer V-Diva tried to play a little jammer defense on the line but it backfired and Boston’s jammer found the inside track yet again, breaking through for lead jammer status.

Halfway through the first period, Philly called a timeout before the jam started where there was one Philly blocker on the floor and Boston pulled ahead with a 23 point lead.

Then Philly continued its passage around the outside of the track, this time the jammer Antidote giving Boston their first power jam. By the end of that jam the score was 68-15 in favor of Boston.

With ten minutes left in the half Boston’s lead began to dwindle when their jammer Lil Paine went to the penalty box giving Philly a power jam. But the Boston blockers did a tremendous job at killing off the penalty knocking Philly’s jammer out twice and recycling her to the back of the pack.

But then the Boston side of the penalty box started to fill up including a double trip to the box for jammer Lil Paine. In short order, Philly had closed the gap and the score was 75-58 still in Boston’s favor.

With five minutes left in the first half, Philly jammer V-Diva took the jammer line with a Philly pack advantage. She darted through the pack and brought Philly to within eight points of Boston. Two jams later, with a quick jump of the apex she tied the game with just under two minutes left before halftime.

And then the see-saw began. Philly had lead for one jam and grabbed a few points, and then Boston earned lead and grabbed a few more. At the half, the score was 88-85 in Boston’s favor.

Early in the second half, the lead changes swung back and forth including a couple of jams that ended with the teams tied.

And then Boston’s jammer Lil Paine went to the box followed by two of her blockers and Philly was able to rack up the points. At the end of that jam Philly had a 25 point lead.

With Boston constantly skating short they were unable to answer that power jam and Philly continued to pull away.

By halfway through the second half, Philly had put up a 60-point lead, but Boston kept fighting to pull themselves back to within striking distance.

Philly continued to pile on the points and increase their lead, and Boston continued its rotation in and out of the penalty box. Philly had their fair share of penalties as well, but by this time in the game they were able to capitalize on their power jams and minimize the effect when their jammer was sitting in the box.

Philly Roller Girls (#2) 225
Boston Derby Dames (#7) 106