2017 D2 Playoffs Game 21:
Dublin vs. Naptown
Naptown Roller Derby (#12) vs. Dublin Roller Derby (#16)
The lowest-seeded team coming into the tournament, Dublin Roller Derby of Dublin, Ireland (#16, WFTDA #58), is undefeated in the 2017 International WFTDA Division 2 Playoffs Pittsburgh after winning their third upset game in two days, a 161-158 nail-biter against the Naptown Roller Derby Tornado Sirens of Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. (#12, WFTDA #53).
Dublin had advanced to Saturday’s game with Friday upsets of top-seeded Auld Reekie, 200-183, and No Coast Derby Girls (#9), 166-165. Naptown had also dished out upsets over the Oklahoma Victory Dolls (#5), 235-174, and Jet City Rollergirls (#4), 218-129, to meet Dublin.
Throughout the game Dublin would take a commanding lead, only to have the Naptown Tornado Sirens stay on their heels, leading to a wild final jam that could have gone in favor of either team.
Dublin went into the final jam with a 12-point lead but jammer Bloody Harry standing in the penalty box. Naptown jammer Cherry-oto-Fire took advantage by earning five points, but Bloody Harry was quickly released and both jammers raced to rack up points. Cherry-oto-Fire held a 14-5 lead in the jam, but it wasn’t enough to give Naptown the victory.
At the start of the game Naptown had jumped out to a quick lead, going up 21-8 after an 18-point jam from Maiden America. But Dublin started sprinkling that #16-seed pixie dust and went on a 36-4 run thanks to jammers Bloody Harry and Dashing Trudy Snow.
Dublin controlled the pace of the game by earning lead jammer status 15 times, and held Naptown scoreless for 14 of the 24 jams in the first half.
Dublin was up by 20 points with less than a minute to play in the first half, but Naptown had a short surge in the last jam. As two Dublin blockers sat in the box, Dublin jammer Bloody Harry committed a penalty giving Naptown jammer Scorpiopathic a power jam. She picked up 10 points and called the jam off, cutting the lead and ensuring Bloody Harry would start the second half in the penalty box.
Dublin started the second half with a 85-75 lead, but Naptown continued to chip away and flipped the scoreboard with a lead change after six jams.
Dropping behind lit a fire under Dublin, which then went on a 30-8 run, thanks in part to a 10-point power jam by Bloody Harry. She and fellow jammer Thea both put up big jams in the second half for the Irish team. Naptown came within five points but was ultimately held off by Dublin in the exciting final jam.
Dublin’s Bloody Harry led all scorers with 78 points, while Thea had 35 and Dashing Trudy Snow had 32. For Naptown, Maiden America had 59 points while Cherry-oto-fire had 46 and Scorpiopathic had 33.
Dublin advances to semifinal Game 25 at noon Eastern Time on Sunday to play the Paris Rollergirls of Paris, France (#3, WFTDA #42).
Naptown will face Boston Roller Derby of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. (#7, WFTDA #47) in the semifinal at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday. These Sunday semifinal games represent the first time in the tournament teams from different tracks will meet.
FINAL SCORE
Dublin Roller Derby (Seed #16, WFTDA #58) 161
Naptown Roller Derby (Seed #12, WFTDA #53) 158