Evansville, IN

by Shelly Shankya

In a near roll-away, Toronto Roller Derby (seed 6, rank #23) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, defeated Houston Roller Derby (seed 9, rank #36) of Houston, Texas, USA, in Game 8 of day 2 at the international WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs in Evansville, 220-140.

Photo by Steve Jurkovic

Both teams struggled with jammer penalty problems throughout the first half of the game: Houston accruing five and Toronto six. The multiple jammer penalties resulted in long jams, with more than a handful going the full two minutes. Being able to capitalize on jams, however, was fully in favor of the ladies from Canada, as they scored 53 points on five power jams, whereas Houston scored only 32 points on six power jams. Making scoring difficult for the Houston skaters were the blockers from Toronto. Notably, Mega Bouche and Mia Culprit managed to hold Houston jammer Hot Assets for over 1:30 as Toronto’s Dusty scored 19 points in the twelfth jam of the first.

Houston rallied in a few jams, especially as jammer Freight Train scored 15 points during two consecutive jams after she got a high block in jam 7. The half concluded with Toronto in a comfortable 67-point lead, 122-55.

Making positive adjustments during the half, Houston successfully acquired lead jammer status eight times in the first 10 jams of the second half, holding Toronto to a mere eight points in as many jams. While Toronto readjusted to Houston’s shifts, Houston pulled off 31 points. Toronto’s lead dwindled to 40 points.

The momentum shift that Houston started in the opening minutes of the second half seized after jam 13, however, as Toronto’s defense knuckled down. The points went back and forth until the 6:50 minute mark, as one of Houston’s consistent jammers, Death By Chocolate, was expelled for gross misconduct, forcing Houston to rely more heavily on Freight Train and blocker-turned-jammer Mistilla. Houston suffered a second loss as captain Betty Watchett was expelled at 2:19 as she accrued her seventh penalty.

The last jams of the game were a bit of a mess, as the penalty box was a revolving door, but Toronto had little to worry about as the team skated away with a win over Houston, 220-140.

Toronto Roller Derby (seed 6, rank #23) moves on to play Arizona Roller Derby (seed 10, rank #39) in on Saturday at 6:00 pm.

Houston Roller Derby (seed 9, rank #36) continues in the consolation bracket to play the loser of Ohio Rollergirls (seed 5, rank #20) on Sunday at 10:00 am for ninth place.

Final Score

(9) Houston Roller Derby 140
(6) Toronto Roller Derby 220