Liverpool Roller Birds (A) vs. Manchester Roller Derby
We traveled over to Manchester to see our mates at Manchester Roller Derby. Our A team were playing
their A team, The Checkerbroads. We’re frenemies, but not really, well just for 60 minutes once a year.
These guys were serious.
To warm us up for the game we watched MRD’s lads B team Chaos Engine playing
Hades Roller Boys. We’d had the chance to see Chaos Engine play recently at the
mens sur5al and were well impressed with them so it was good to see them all
playing. We all love Jim Jams, so we were cheering on Chaos Engine. I could only
get my child to spend time with me that day with the promise of Jim Jams. We’re all
mega fans of his awesome footwork and his ability to outrun everyone!
So some good gentlemanly bashing aside, The Birds were ready for action. Led by
newly appointed captain Yolanda B. Cruel, it was a formidable line up of amazing
ladies. But of course The Checkerbroads roster was equally formidable. So it was set
to be a great game.
Atomic Boom. This is how she hits us at practice, too!
Last time these two played MRD took a decisive win of 273-80. The Birds had been
training hard and learning from that, even getting MRD’S own Tori Bee in for a
session during the summer. This time they were prepared to fight for it.
The Birds were off to a great start, Killamandjaro jamming first, getting lead, hitting
and quitting to put the first points on the board with Tink, Daria and Corey following
suit. It was a fast paced and tough game, each team equalling each others blocking
and jamming abilities, tit for tat for the first half of the first half. The Birds rookie
jammer Becky Ruckus doing some gutsy aggressive jamming and racking up a few
points with her non stop feet. We saw beautiful jammer footwork from both teams
and apex jumps apiece from Tink and Tori. Amazing tight walls all round and non
stop recycling of jammers. Just when they thought they were out, they pulled em back
in!! Just before half time saw a few power jams against The Birds which brought a
lead change and the points gap widening. Still within touching distance of each other
however and still a very tight game LRB 86 to MRD’s 93. So close!
We get by with a little help from our friends.
Second half kicked off with MRD gaining lead a fair bit and putting up the points,
usually with a yellow jammer not far behind. MRD’s blockers Kate Push, Iko, Kerried
Alive and Psychosis hammering our jammers and sparking off some serious derby
crushes! There was a power jam that saw the Birds kill the penalty time perfectly,
minimising point scoring by recycling and reforming. Metal Alchemist seemed to just
be doing it with one shoulder for most of it. It was absolutely text book. Seeing a team
kill penalty time so well is one of my favourite things ever and it was really wonderful
to see.
We love you, Tinkerhell!
Then the crap thing happened and our brilliant Tink got herself hurt. Broken hurt
Though we didn’t know it at the time because she’s made of the stuff of Scottish
legends and hobbled about not wanting a fuss. She found out later (much later! After
gin and chicken!) that her ankle was broken. Get well soon Stinky!
The team battled on with Tink watching from the bench and kept up a tough fight
to the last jam, some last minute leads and quick call offs the game ended LRB 134
MRD 199. Very different to last year and a rankings boost for The Birds.
No doubt we’ll meet again next year. Until then why not head over to Preston on 4th
October to see our B team take on Preston Roller Girls.
All photos courtesy of Joe Ehlen Photography.
