"EAST SIDE" WINS FIRST SCDG SCRIMMAGE
by JEN PHILON (AKA 'LADY SHATTERLY')
The Salt City Derby Girls (SCDG) combined into two teams to allow all skaters a chance to play in the season's first bout. Bomber Babes and Death Dealers made up the "East Side" team, while Leave It To Cleavers and Sister Of No mercy were the "West Side" team.
The bleachers were packed, with all available space inside the rink occupied by sitting spectators, while others stood to watch near the entrance. Roller Derby is growing more popular and drawing more fans every year. Regular groups of fans come in character costume; holding hand-made signs cheering on their favorite skater or team.
The bout, or game, showed that no one has rusted in the off-season.
Powerful jammers and solid team defense led the “East Side” to a 90-47 victory over the “West Side” in the SCDG pre-season exhibition scrimmage at the Taylorsville Recreation Center Feb. 21.
East Side had the league’s two leading scorers on their roster. N.O.S. and Lady Shatterly scored 30 and 26 points, respectively, in the win.
For the West Side, a combination of the league’s most feared hitters took the track. Toots Sweet and Queen Anne’s Revenge dealt bruising blows, and speedy pivot Dr. Pain formed a one-woman wall at the front of the pack.
In the first 20-minute half, the East Side jumped out to an early lead, holding the West Side to just two points in the first four jams. But Queen Anne’s Revenge led a West Side comeback, scoring a 5-0 grand slam against East Side rookie Deefacer to pull within two points, 22-10.
The East Side countered with a power-play lineup to close out the half, focusing on shutting down West Side rookie jammer Violence Vicksen while N.O.S. found her way through the pack twice for nine points, bringing the halftime score to 35-24.
In the second half, the East Side jammers hit their stride, as Lady Shatterly and N.O.S. each had 13-point jams, Honey DeLunatic scored 10, and Medusa Damage chipped in with a seven-point effort. Defensively, East Side blockers Movin* Violation and Gunnin* Geisha covered the gaps, leaving West Side jammers little breathing room.
“We’re not even thinking about you guys out there,” pivot Movin’ Violation told her jammers. “You’ll find your way through. We’re focused completely on stopping them.”
Both teams piled up penalties, as the West Side tried every tactic to get back into the game and the East Side got more physical in response. Toots Sweet picked up two major penalties for refusing to allowing West Side jammers by when she was legally out of play.
As each team repeatedly took the track shorthanded while players served penalties, jammers on both sides found room to maneuver and score. But the game was well in hand for the West Side, and players took their victory lap in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Fans are also part of the show at a bout, and both fans and players are looking forward to the 2008 season.
The Salt City Derby Girls are Utah’s first all-women, flat-track roller derby league, helping the sport of roller derby continue its national resurgence.
The 2008 SCDG schedule will feature more than a dozen bouts, including the league’s all-star team, the Salt City Shakers, playing its first full interleague season as a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the national governing organization for roller derby. All home bouts are played at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns. Visit slcderby.com for more information on the league and the upcoming season.
2008 Season Schedule
April 9 SCGD Shakers vs. Treasure Valley Roller Girls (at Boise)
April 19 Bomber Babes vs. Leave it to Cleavers
May 24 Death Dealers vs. Sisters of No Mercy
June 7 SCDG Shakers vs. Angel City Derby Girls
June 28 Leave it to Cleavers vs. Sisters of No Mercy
July 12 SCDG Shakers vs. Fort Collins Girls Gone Derby
July 19 Bomber Babes vs. Death Dealers
Aug. 16 Death Dealers vs. Leave it to Cleavers
Aug. 30 SCDG Shakers vs. Reno Battle Born Derby Demons
Sept. 6 Sisters of No Mercy vs. Bomber Babes
Sept. 20 Doubleheader: SCDG Shakers vs. Rocky Mountain Roller Girls
and Pikes Peak Derby Dames (at Colorado Springs)
Oct. 18 League Championship Bout
Oct. 25 SCDG Shakers vs. Sacred City Derby Girls (at Sacramento)