2017 D1 Playoffs Seattle Game 2: Rat City vs. Madison
Rat City Rollergirls (#6) vs. Mad Rollin’ Dolls Roller Derby (#11)
The second game of 2017 International WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Seattle matched up the Mad Rollin’ Dolls Roller Derby (#11) of Madison, Wisconsin, USA and the Rat City Rollergirls (#6) of Seattle, Washington, USA in a game where the score and the intensity of play were often at odds. The final score of 225–83 in Rat City’s favor was a commanding win but the Mad Rollin’ Dolls took as much as they could out of Rat City along the way.
Mad Rollin’ kept the score close for a good stretch of the first period and led for the first three jams. This lead was helped by a double jammer penalty incurred by Alyssa Pray of Rat City. Mad Rollin’s Darkhorse was able to pick up 14 points during that power jam but soon after, Rat City’s Evergreen Jean returned the favor and grabbed 18 points on a power jam, pulling her team into the lead. Mad Rollin’ was able to come within six points of Rat City twelve minutes into the first half, but were never able to overtake them.
For the last 18 minutes of the first period Rat City illustrated the difference between the teams’ ranking points with slippery line work by their jammers and a solid defense that seemed to endlessly hit out of bounds and draw back the opposing jammers. Mad Rollin’s jammers sat in the box seven times to Rat City’s four in the first period. One of the power jams in favor of Rat City was a triple power jam in which Black Velvet took two forearms and a track cut. It is to Mad Rollin’s defensive credit that Rat City was only able to collect 30 points in that minute and a half, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying a comfortable lead
by halftime: 147–44.
Mad Rollin went into the second period after a significant adjustment. They cut into Rat City’s lead jammer status (61.9 percent in the first and 44.4 percent in the second) and the teams tied for lead jam status in the second half at 8 points a piece. Most importantly, Mad Rollin’ cut Rat City’s points nearly in half and the home team only picked up 78 points in the second period. This was aided by the serious penalty trouble Rat City’s jammers encountered. Two of their jammers (Bento Boxer and Alyssa Pray) had double penalties in the second period and Evergreen Jean and Luna Negra picked up two penalties in one jam. Mad Rollin’ Dolls was only able to capitalize on one of those double power jams with 9 points however, as Rat City’s defense shut them down each time.
Mad Rollin’s defense did not make things easy for Rat City’s jammers either. Mad Rollin’s blockers weren’t able to close up the lines quickly enough to prevent Rat City’s jammers from sneaking through often. However, ten minutes into the second half, both teams’ defense held onto the opposing jammers for a solid two minutes. Rat City’s Bento Boxer managed to squeak through for lead jam but Mad Rollin’s blockers recycled her and then held on tight. On the other side, Rat City’s defense was also holding onto Mad City’s jammer and neither team scored.
The pace didn’t let up on either side until the final whistle blew. Rat City’s Renegade Ruthie, their second top scorer during this game with 51 total points, collected 20 of those in her final jam of the game and Madison’s Mack the Knife cut through the Rat City pack in the final jam of the game to get lead. She grabbed five quick points but was not able to build momentum, as Luna Negra caught up to her and forced her to call it off with just another two points on the board.
Rat City moves on to play Jacksonville Roller Derby (#3) tonight at 8 p.m. US Pacific Time and Mad Rollin’ Dolls will play Montréal Roller Derby or the Charlottesville Derby Dames in the consolation bracket on Sunday at noon.
FINAL SCORE
Rat City Rollergirls (Seed #6, WFTDA #16) 225
Mad Rollin’ Dolls Roller Derby (Seed #11, WFTDA #37) 83
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