2017 International WFTDA Championships Philadelphia Game 9: London vs. Montreal

London Rollergirls (#3) vs. Montréal Roller Derby (#3)

After a tight score and back-and-forth leads to start the game, the London Rollergirls of London, England, (Seed #3, WFTDA #8) were able to run up the score and secure a 231–152 win against Montréal Roller Derby of Montréal, Québec, Canada (Seed #3, WFTDA #9) in the first consolation game of the 2017 International WFTDA Championships Philadelphia.

When the two teams last faced off at the 2016 WFTDA Playoffs in Montréal, London came away with a commanding 325–58 victory. Montréal seemed determined to keep the matchup more competitive this time around and came out of the gate with great intensity. Tight blocking walls kept London’s jammers on lockdown for the first few jams of the game as Montréal ran quick scoring laps for an early 15–0 lead.

A power start for London’s Rogue Runner in jam 5 gave the U.K. team the advantage they needed for the first lead change of the game; Rogue Runner collected 14 points to earn a 27–18 lead. A few jams later, Montréal’s Falcon Punch quickly escaped a diminished pack of two London blockers and took control of the scoreboard once again, swinging the lead to 29–27 in Montréal’s favor.

Montréal’s luck took a turn, however, when a truck broke off of jammer Miracle Whips’ skate early in jam 14. She was able to complete a star pass to her pivot, Mange Moi El Cul, but Montréal blockers began to cycle to the box, allowing London powerhouse jammer Rogue Runner to rack up an additional 34 points on the jam and increase the team’s lead to 109–61. Rogue Runner was the highest scorer of the game with 97 points overall.

Montréal managed to chip away at London’s growing lead throughout the game with brief four- and five-point jams, but when London was able to take control of the track, they ran long jams, accumulating 15 to 20 points at a time to undo the progress Montréal was making.

Both teams had formidable blocking walls that successfully locked their opponents down, with several jams going a minute or more before a lead jammer was called. London walls, which featured Shaolynn Scarlett, Onyeka Igwe and Katie Block, often proved impenetrable. Montréal’s Mange Moi El Cul, Cheese Grater, Labrosse and Cracker Jass answered with big hits and long run backs of their own.

This was the final game of the weekend for both teams. London had previously lost to Arch Rival Roller Derby of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. (Seed #3, WFTDA #7). Montréal won against the Crime City Rollers of Malmo, Sweden (Seed #3, WFTDA #12) and lost to Victorian Roller Derby League of Melbourne, Australia (Seed #1, WFTDA #1). The championship game takes place Sunday night at 6 p.m. EST.

FINAL SCORE

London Rollergirls (Seed #3, WFTDA #8) Total Points 231
Montréal Roller Derby (Seed #3, WFTDA #9) Total Points 152

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