Central City Rollergirls

Saturday 19^th May saw Central City Rollergirls’ Centrinnians take on London Rockin’ Rollers All Stars at Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre, Birmingham. The last time these teams met for a full bout CCR were victorious, but earlier in the year when they met in the final of the UKRDA Tournament at Tattoo Freeze, LRR came away with the win and the 2012 Tattoo Freeze Trophy. Going into the bout CCR were eager to settle the score, while LRR wanted revenge for the defeat CCR inflicted on them a year ago in London.

Both teams lined up with vastly different teams when they met on May Day 2011 and the game started cautiously with LRR taking lead jammer in the first few jams but with CCR’s jammer exiting the pack not far behind, there were a few ‘hit it and quit it’ jams. The scores crept up slowly, with LRR picking up a point per jam making it LRR 3 – CCR 0 a few jams in. 8 minutes into the game LRR took the first decisive lead of the game eking out 13 – 2 lead, a testament to the tight pack work and impenetrable walls being displayed by both teams.

Then came the first power jam of the day… both teams received one each in short succession and the scores jumped up to CCR 21 – 35 LRR. Scores remained close for the majority of the first half, with no team taking a decisive lead until CCR gained another power play just before half time with the half ending at CCR 88 – 45 LRR.

LRR started the second half strong, and looked to be clawing the deficit back scoring 14 unanswered points but shortly after CCR used a power jam to bring their lead back and then some, dominating the score line for the entire second half. LRR made the most of their power plays when they came, but it wasn’t enough to regain the lead and CCR kept pulling away until the bout closed at CCR 223 – 109 LRR.

Power jams, which are currently proving so pivotal in the game, yet again proved to be a deciding factor in this bout. When either team had the advantage, stationary packs meant that blockers made it easy for their jammers to rack up a huge amount of points and exploit these to their full potential. On the day, CCR had the edge and came away with the win but we can’t wait to see what happens when the two teams next meet on track.

ROSTER: 82 Hustle’Her (Captain); 3 Tinchy Slider; o4 Lex Brawl; 10 Bunny Massacre; 20 Billie Whizz; 42 Agent Dana Scurry; 54 D’Elusive Del; 69 Verry Cherry; 84 Tenacity; 85 Lethal Sizzle; 100 Dynamite Bo; 119 Scarlett McCabre; 333 Rubix Crude; 666 Tragic Wrath. Bench Manager: Barry Fight. LUM: Block Star

Awards:- MVP: Tinchy Slider; Best Jammer: Hustle’Her; Best Blocker: Tragic Wrath

Photos courtesy of Scott Jones.

The next home bout CCR have will be their intra league final on Saturday June 2nd where Bad Apples will take on reigning Champions Disco Beaters. Further details to be released soon!

CCR play hosts to London Rockin Rollers for the first time at Cocks Moors Woods Sports Centre on Saturday 19th May will see – and although it’s the first time LRR will enjoy the warm Brummie welcome from CCR, this is certainly not the first time the two leagues have met on track.

CCR and LRR have met 3 other times on track competitively (and some derby oldies may even remember some mixed scrimmages held in Milton Keynes back in 2008!  Sigh… beautiful derby memories.. but back to the report!) The first time CCR’s A team, the Centrinnians, met LRR’s All-Stars was at the second Tattoo Freeze tournament in Telford, January 2011.  It was the final bout in a derby-filled weekend, and LRR emerged triumphant, with a scoreline of 116 to CCR’s 55.

Well, any fan of CCR knows that the league motto is ‘Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger’ and it is something that we take very seriously.  The next few months were spent working on our fitness, tactics and teamwork.  By the time we boarded the party bus to London, the Centrinnians were ready to bring everything they had and leave it all on the track.  And that it exactly what we did.

The bout started off the way it meant to go on- tight and fast!  Scores went back and forth until two powerjams against LRR sent the score rocketing into CCR’s favour.  In the second half,  both teams came out fighting, with LRR making a good effort at closing the points gap, but as time ran out, CCR was victorious at 123 to LRR’s 101.

CCR had a much needed rest over the summer and came back fighting fit for the 2011/2012 season.  The Centrinnians opened their season with an away win in Sheffield at the incredibly festive Circus themed ‘Cirque de Slay’.  Then they ventured to Stuttgart for an away loss to the German hostesses with the mostests (sparkling wine in the changing rooms! And never forget the surprise engagement of our very own Incredible Hulse!)

Finally, it was time for the Centrinnians to play one at home and hosted our very first WFTDA sanctioned bout against the Sioux Falls Roller Dolls.  It was a loss, but we made CCR history by taking the first major steps in becoming a full-fledged member of WFTDA.

After a bit of mince pie fun, it was time for the first UKRDA tourney at Tattoo Freeze 2012.

CCR played admirably, posting up wins against long-time local rivals Birmingham Blitz Dames and old friends, the Glasgow Rollergirls.  Then it was time to play LRR, who we had not seen since May. LRR took an early lead, and they held onto it for the rest of the bout, finishing with a decisive win.

February saw the Centrinnians travel to Rainy City and their new warehouse, the Thunderdome (more like Snowdome- BRRRR!!!) where CCR left with another away win.  The Centrinnians came back home to take on ARRG’s Twisted Thistles and finally, finally emerged with a victory against our long-time Edinburgh friends.

Since then, our ladies in black have been training hard for our season finale against LRR.  Both teams have won and lost to the other in the past, but what will happen this time?

Will history repeat itself in the form of a CCR loss at Tattoo Freeze and a CCR win in interleague play?  Or will LRR repay the favour of a home loss to CCR?  Either way, it’s going to a hard fought bout between two experienced leagues with an uncertain outcome right to the very last jam!

Words by Block Star

You can find more information about the bout including directions to the venue on the facebook event here or buy tickets at a discounted price for Saturdays bout here.

Photos courtesy of Scott Clifford and In-Depth Photos.