2017 International WFTDA Championships Philadelphia Game 11: Victoria vs. Denver

Victorian Roller Derby League (#1) vs. Denver Roller Derby (#2)

Victorian Roller Derby League of Melbourne, Australia (Seed #1, WFTDA #1), made roller derby history Saturday night as they earned their place in the final game of the 2017 International WFTDA Championships in Philadelphia, PA, after taking a commanding win over Denver Roller Derby of Denver, Colorado, U.S. (Seed #2, WFTDA #5), 287-65. Victoria is the first team from outside of the USA to advance to a WFTDA Championship game.

Victoria set the tone for the game early when Christy Demons earned a fast lead jammer status in Jam 1. As her blockers locked down Denver’s Wilhelm, Demons made several quick laps to collect 24 points in two minutes, holding Denver to 4. Denver’s Scald Eagle responded with a lead jammer status and another 4 points of her own in the next jam.

2017 International WFTDA Championships Game 11: Victoria vs. Denver
Photo by Donna Olmstead

It would be the last lead designation that Denver would see for another 15 jams, however, as Victoria jammers managed to quickly escape the pack time and time again. In the first half of the game, Denver would only earn lead jammer status twice, both times awarded to Scald Eagle.

Both teams had powerful blockers that laid heavy hits and locked down their opponents. Denver’s Blackman, Akers, Watson-Siriboe and Brawn Swanson helped to slow Victoria at times and sent effective offensive clears that helped spring their jammers from the fierce hold of Victorian walls. Meanwhile, Bicepsual, Dani Darko, Shaina Serelson and Lorrae Evans punished Denver jammers with long run backs and immobilizing catches all game long.

Victoria went into halftime with a 173-35 lead over Denver. They picked up right where they left off with another powerful run of jams that left Denver scoreless for several minutes.

2017 International WFTDA Championships Game 11: Victoria vs. Denver
Photo by Adina Butler

Scald Eagle was finally able to put more points on the board in Jam 9, taking advantage of a power jam in their favor to add 9 points. Denver jammer Gypin followed suit on the power start in the next jam by aggressively tearing through Victoria walls for lead jammer status and another 3 points before calling the jam, bringing the score to 232-47 in Victoria’s favor.

Gypin earned another lead jammer designation in the very last second of the game after relentless defensive from both sides locked down jammers for two minutes.

Victoria’s Christy Demons was the high scorer of the game with 84 points, followed by her teammates IvyK’nivey with 67 and Sarah Chambers with 59. Scald Eagle and Cotten both scored 26 points each for Denver.

Victoria will go on to play for the Hydra at 6 p.m. Sunday night against the winner of Game 12, the Rose City Rollers of Portland, Oregon, U.S. (Seed #1, WFTDA #2) or Gotham Girls Roller Derby of New York, New York, U.S. (Seed #1, WFTDA #3). The game will be on ESPN3 in the United States and on WFTDA.tv in the rest of the world. Denver will play the loser of that matchup at 4 p.m. to battle for third place.

FINAL SCORE

Victorian Roller Derby League (Seed #1, WFTDA #1) 287
Denver Roller Derby (Seed #2, WFTDA #5) 65

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