Auckland Roller Derby Victorious at First Home Clash

Auckland’s newest and bluest roller derby league showed the world what they’re made of last night by taking out Dead End Derby – the South Island’s most experienced league – 203-64 at the YMCA in Auckland City.

This was the first time Auckland Roller Derby League (ARDL) has played to a home crowd, and the skaters did not disappoint, showing off the sport’s new level of tactical, strategic play and proving that they have what it takes to take on the world.

The game started out well matched up, with both Auckland and Christchurch playing it safe and attempting to keep the score margin close. Auckland and Christchurch sent out strong packs – Auckland’s led by smart and hard-hitting Elicia Nisbet-Smith and Christchurch’s run by swift and strong Rocky Rogue. Both teams displayed a huge amount of knowledge in “now” derby, with strong slow walls when needed and fast-paced sprints when required.

On the jammer line, both teams showed off the speed and finesse of their team’s most agile skaters. Dead End Derby’s Evil K. Neevil lived up to her name with some gravity-defying jumps and one-legged balancing, while Auckland’s newest jammer Rainbow Crash galloped her way through some tough Christchurch defence to rack up some points for the home side.

Auckland jammer Anna Wong proved the most useful jammer in the first half, scoring an amazing 24 points in a power jam that saw her team take a 40-point lead at the half.

The second half was characterised by carefully thought out strategy from both teams, who were trying to maximise their points and minimise their opponents’. However, from a game that was neck-and-neck in the first half, Auckland was able to pull away after making the most of a few crucial errors from Christchurch jammers that saw Christchurch’s point-scorers sent to the penalty box. Auckland’s Leisa Lumby was often on the track alone, allowing her team to slow the game down while she zipped through the pack to rack up some points

Christchurch’s defence did not quit, providing strong walls and great in-pack assists between blockers. Getting through these packs was no cakewalk for Auckland, whose jammers spent a lot of time knocked to the ground as the game progressed.

In the end, the home side pulled away and ended on a comfortable 203-64 win for Auckland. Both teams played extremely hard to the final whistle and made their home cities proud.

See these two teams when they face off again later this year. It will be another home turf battle, with Auckland travelling to Christchurch to take on Dead End Derby again on October 13.

ENDS

© Scoop Media