Salem, OR

Bay Area holds back Victoria

By Lois Slain

The B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls (1 Seed) set the tone early on in their match against the scrappy team from Melbourne, Australia, Victorian Roller Derby League (8 Seed), coming out with an 11-0 first jam. While VRDL’s defense made the Bay Area jammers fight hard for their points, in the end the ladies from San Francisco, California, validated their seeding and took home a 311-127 win.

After struggling to get their jammer free on the first jam, VRDL’s jammer headed to the box in the next jam and gave Bay Area another big scoring opportunity. While they picked up 2 points early on due to a late call-off by Bay Area, VRDL was not able to get lead jammer status until more than 10 minutes until the game. While that seemed to motivate the team, allowing them to get lead more often, solid walls and big hits from the Bay Area defense kept the point totals low.

Penalties were also a factor in the first period. VRDL, playing in their second game of the day, often found themselves with two defenders facing a fully staffed Bay Area. Conversely, VRDL made the most of Bay Area’s trips to the box when they could, but their gains were not enough to close the gap. At halftime, Bay Area led 153-39.

Jules Doyle

Not to be deterred, Victoria came out swinging in the second period, capitalizing on a first-jam penalty on Bay Area’s jammer and a 9-0 jam in the second jam of the half to bring the score to 157-76. Bay Area was quick to regain their footing, however, as brutal defense from the ladies in black and gold swarmed VRDL’s jammer while Bay Area’s Chantilly Mace slapped 32 points on the board.

Despite some fierce defensive walls when all four VRDL blockers were on the track, and strong jammer performances from the likes of Mad Mel Arena, the more experienced Bay Area continued to build their lead as the second period wore on. Bay Area hit 300 points with 9 minutes still left in the game, just as stalwart VRDL blocker Tui Lyon accrued her seventh penalty and fouled out.

VRDL finished strong, as Bay Area lost blocker Dolly Rocket to penalties in the third to last jam. Bay Area’s Nock Nock got lead in what could have been the last jam, but VRDL’s Swish Cariboom landed a hit as the two were coming around on a speed lap, forcing Nock Nock to call the jam and allowing VRDL to call a time out. In the final jam, VRDL was able to nab lead jammer status and add a few more points to their total, leaving the track with smiles on their faces.

Final score

B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls 311
Victorian Roller Derby League 127

Bay Area goes on to play the Detroit Derby Girls (4 Seed) in the semifinals, at 2 p.m. PDT Saturday. Victoria will play the winner of Sacred City Derby Girls vs. Charm City Roller Girls at 6 p.m. PDT on Saturday.