Dirty & Jerzey: 6/15/19 Derby Bout

The Jerzey Derby Brigade (JDB) was back on its home track in Morristown last night for a bout against the Dirty Jersey Roller Derby based in Metuchen, NJ. Dirty Jersey jumped to an early but modest lead as jammers #3 Babe Brutality, #902 Lady Speedstick, and #21 Jacked Up showed skill at evading or penetrating firm defenses. Jams by #138 Incindyous, #3684 Californikate (in her final bout for JDB), and especially a 16 point power jam by #8 Lil Mo Peep kept the JDB competitive. The game was notable for a much used penalty bench, which is a common signifier of hard blocking. Blocking strategies have evolved over the past decade with a 3-wall becoming commonplace; it is hard to break through and encourages the opposing jammer to take a particular path around it where the fourth blocker is waiting. Both teams used the formation a lot, though it can be (and was) defeated by nimble-footed skaters. The first half ended with the score at 50-87 in favor of Dirty Jersey.

 As is often the case, the second half was more rough-and-tumble than the first as each team struggled to overtake or maintain the lead. Takedowns were frequent with #221 Det. Sure-Block Holmes and #63 Raven Rage getting in their usual solid hits. Despite strong efforts by JDB including a few star passes to #64 Madeleine Alfight, the overall pattern of the first half continued in the second. Strong jams by Lady Speedstick and Babe Brutality were only partly offset by similar jams by Lil Mo Peep and Incindyous. Dirty Jersey expanded its lead with Thiza Glory taking the team over the 100 mark. The lead expanded as the minutes counted down. In the final jam Babe Brutality as lead jammer, pursued by Lil Mo Peep, ran out the clock. Dirty Jersey won the match with a final score of 99-175.

MVPs:

Dirty Jersey

#3 Babe Brutality (jammer)

#306 Pink Medusa (blocker)

JDB:
#3684 Californikate (jammer)

#206 Bow Chicka Pow-Pow

[For regular readers, yes I missed the 5/18 JDB v. Assault City home bout. Sorry about that. The final score for that game was 134-304 for the Assaulters.]