2017 D1 Playoffs Malmö Game 2: Helsinki vs. Charm City

Helsinki Roller Derby (#5) vs. Charm City Roller Girls (#12)

In the second game of the 2017 International WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Malmö, Helsinki Roller Derby of Helsinki, Finland (#5) handily won over their first opponent, the Charm City Roller Girls of Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. (#12). Final score was 308–144.

Charm City earned the first lead jam, the first points, and the first jammer penalty of the game. Nevertheless, at the end of the jam, Helsinki was ahead and they never let that lead go.

It was clear from the beginning that Helsinki’s offensive blocking was going to be decisive for the outcome of the game. They employed it almost non-stop throughout each jam, often managing to effectively distract Charm City or clear the way for their jammer.

Helsinki pounded the scoreboard in the first four  jams, assisted by two power jams in which the Charm City pivot-turned-jammer Raven Darkhold caught two penalties in a row and Helsinki turned in two 18-point jams. By the end of the first four jams Helsinki held a commanding lead 65-15.

A few jams later it seemed that Charm City found a way to ignore or avoid the Helsinki offensive blocking and were able to reform their pack despite it. Then it was Charm City’s turn for a power jam, with Dottie Deathwish going on a much needed 13-point jam, the first significant scoring jam of the period. However, the jam turned out to be a glimmer of hope for Charm City instead of a tide turner.

In total, Helsinki had six power jams and they capitalized on every one of them. Charm City had seven power jams, which often turned into power kills for Helsinki. But Helsinki didn’t need a power jam to put up a lot of points. Their defense cycled and held Charm City’s jammers while their own jammers circled the pack. At the half Helsinki held a strong lead: 177-71.

Charm City did a strong reset at the half and scored 15 points in the first jam of the second period and held Helsinki to only four points. The American team locked down their defense as well and held Helsinki’s jammers to only four or five points a jam for several jams. Throughout the second period, Charm City’s defense was more successful and they held Helsinki to 131 points,but it wasn’t enough to come close to closing the point differential.

Charm City’s top-scoring jammer Dottie Deathwish earned 74 points while Helsinki’s Malou put up 113. Both teams kept penalties to a minimum. Helsinki had 20 penalties and Charm City had 19.

Helsinki moves on to play Crime City Rollers (#4) tonight at 8 p.m. Central European Time. Charm City will return on Sunday at 2 p.m. in a consolation game against the loser of game 7, either the London Rollergirls or Rainy City Roller Derby.

FINAL SCORE

Helsinki Roller Derby (#5, WFTDA #15) 308
Charm City Roller Girls (#12, WFTDA #38) 144

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