Port Authorities thrill fans with win

Maine Roller Derby’s ‘Port Authorities’ (Rank 77th in WFTDA) came in to Saturday nights game the favored to win.  3-0 on the season, Maine has put up convincing wins in each.   Saturday nights match-up put them against a potentially underrated Roller Derby Quebec team “Les Duchesses” (90th  Ranked in WFTDA).New England Roller Derby Report

1st Half

The first twenty one minutes of the game went in RDQ’s favor.  The circular style blocking they used resulted in a lock up of Maine’s jammers.  The unified movement of the blockers also allowed them to rotate either left or right as needed, effectively covering the track.  This gave RDQ’s  jammer’s time to work on Maine’s defense and slowly build a lead. They built a 23 point lead and held on to it very well, opting for the quick “Hit it and quit it” at 4 or less points at a time.

On Maine’s side,  Hard Dash, Captain of the team, had shown the most consistency and scored the majority of their early points when they were at the 39-62pt mark.  Something talked about early in the broadcast was the depth of the MRD toolbox. We (on the broadcast) wondered at what point they would make any changes to their offensive lineup in order to find a weak point.

Before Les Duchesses could get to far away with the score, we assumed we’d see that tool box open up.  The first change we saw was the transition of Jamazon from being a blocker to now taking the jammer star.  It only took Maine roughly 6 minutes to break down RDQ’s defense  and finally retake the lead before the half closed 89-73.

2nd Half

Maine dug further into the toolbox and swapped jammers. At 3:00 in to the 2nd we saw Bergeron take the star for the first time;  we’d continue to see her regularly in the jammer rotation.  As a testament to just how impressive Maine’s options were, the jammers moved to blocker positions would become instrumental in how the rest of the game played out for Maine.

Maine had clearly found the right pieces.  They predominantly owned the first part of the second half.  With 12:51 left in the game the MRD Port Authorities built what looked like an insurmountable 52 point lead.

In jam 12 of the second half, Jamazon picked up a late penalty and would be in the penalty box at the start of the next jam.  Making this worse, Jamazon picked up yet another penalty just after entering game play.  This allowed RDQ to gain its first foothold of the half; one it would make good use of.

MRD would pick up a couple more penalties that RDQ took full advantage of as well.  Trips to the box by Jamazon, Zelda and Dash would provide RDQ all the opportunity they needed to regain the lead.  With 3:19 left in the game, RDQ lead 168-166.

Veteran jammer, Bergeron would string together an excellent jam and MRD retook the lead 176-171.  This set up the game for what would likely be one final jam.  One final CRAZY jam.   Hard Dash would take the star for the Port Authorities, FiFI would carry the star for Les Duchesses.

Dash was out early and claimed lead jammer status and only needed to hold on and call off the jam once the game clock ran out.  The crowd, on its feet and sensing a victory was in reach, began to count down.  Just as they reached 1 however… Dash drew a penalty.  Now, unable to call the jam off we would end under the time left on the jam clock.  For the remaining minute and a half or so the crowd kept the crescendo going.

Down 10, RDQ had a chance but a penalty call on Booty Allen would all but seal the deal for Maine.  Hard Dash was able get back out on the track and keep the points tipping in Maine’s favor.  Final Score 189-179

Port Authorities most valuable players, MVJ – Hard Dash   MVB – Meow’n Em Down

Roller Derby Quebec most valuable players MVJ – Fifi     MVB – J Ail Joe

Watch the full game below!

Chad Nute

About Chad Nute

On April 12th, 2014 I attended my first roller derby bout. My wife had wanted to go and suggested we make the trip over. I had the pleasure of watching Bangor Roller Derby take on Pair O' Dice City rollers. Bangor took the win 287-50. This blog will be covering not only bouts here in Maine but also New England and New Brunswick.