2018 Championships New Orleans Game 8: Texas v. Arch Rival

Texas Rollergirls (Atlanta #1, WFTDA #7) vs. Arch Rival Roller Derby (A Coruña #1, WFTDA #4)

Texas Rollergirls92

Arch Rival Roller Derby 122

Despite featuring the two MVP jammers of the 2018 WFTDA Playoff cycle (Bricktator for Arch Rival Roller Derby from A Coruña Playoffs and Freight Train for the Texas Rollergirls from Atlanta Playoffs), game 8 of the 2018 International WFTDA Championships was a battle of the defense.

2018 International WFTDA Championships Game 8: Texas vs Arch Rival
Gif by Chainsaw

Blockers were often mixed together in tight but frenetic packs that, rather than using standard tripods, smothered the jammers with full-body contact and fast recycling. Multiple jams went two minutes with neither team completing a full scoring pass. Ultimately, in this low scoring grinder of a battle, Arch Rival was victorious, taking the win 122-92 after 60 minutes of jammer halting action.

Texas, however, should not be disappointed. When these two teams met this summer, Arch Rival took the win, 253-78. This showing was a definite improvement and demonstrates how far this relatively new team (ten of the Texecutioners’ skaters were new to the charter this year) has come this season.

Standouts for the game include Bolt Action, Cloak N’ Drag-her, and Smarty McFly for Arch Rival and Kris Rago and Debella Deball for Texas. The game saw great performances from jammers-turned-pivots Olivia Shootin’ John and Vicious van GoGo, for Texas and Arch Rival respectively.

2018 International WFTDA Championships Game 8: Texas vs Arch Rival
Gif by Chainsaw

This was the final game of the tournament for both teams. Arch Rival goes home 1-1 and Texas 0-2.

2018 International WFTDA Championships Game 8: Texas vs Arch Rival
Keith Bielat

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