2019 Championships Game 12: Victoria v Arch Rival

Victorian Roller Derby League (Seed #3) v Arch Rival Roller Derby (Seed #4)

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The third-place medal game of 2019 International WFTDA Championships in Montréal featured Victorian Roller Derby League of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Seed #3, WFTDA #2) against Arch Rival Roller Derby of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. (Seed #4, WFTDA #5). Although clichéd, both teams certainly had something to prove as they fought for bronze in the third place game. For Arch Rival, which has accelerated through the rankings over the past two years, this was their first WFTDA Championships medal game—the last three years they had only made it as far as the quarterfinals. VRDL came into the game having medaled the past four consecutive years, including winning the Hydra in 2017.

Although both teams were tied 2-2 in Jam 2, VRDL clinched lead in Jam 3. Despite numerous attempts from Arch Rival, they were not able to gain control of the scoreboard, allowing Victoria to win the bronze medal, their fifth consecutive WFTDA Championships medal, with 119 points to Arch Rival’s 107.

From the third jam of the game, VRDL maintained their lead position. Lauren Foote shot straight out of the pack for lead jammer status, pulling ahead of Arch Rival and putting 12 points on the board for VRDL, 14-2. The following jam, VRDL jammer Spinach took advantage of the first power jam of the game as Arch Rival’s jammer Jedi Knight-n-Gale went to the box for a cut track penalty, scoring 10 more points for VRDL and taking them to a 20 point lead, 22-2.

Victoria jammers consistently gained lead jammer status while their strong blockers halted any points for Arch. Showing the incredible strength of both walls, it took jammers Bricktator and Anna Pave-U’Ova more than a full minute to exit the pack in Jam 6, Anna Pave-U’Ova was able to take lead, but was followed closely by Bricktator was forced to call off the jam with neither team scoring.

After VRDL’s domination of the first 10 minutes of the game, Arch Rival turned the tables and, after five scoreless jams, Arch’s jammer Swanson took lead, scoring 10 points. Strong defense headed by Arch’s Cloak N’ Drag-her prevented VRDL from scoring any points despite a successful star pass.

The incredible strength of both teams’ blockers was showcased once again in Jam 21, as the blockers held the jammers for the full two minutes, with neither jammer gaining lead. VRDL blockers Bicepsual and Slamazon thwarted Bricktator’s attempts, hitting them off track as they tried to take the edges.

Despite some successful jams from Arch Rival—including Jedi Knight-n-Gale’s amazing apex jump followed by an impressive straightaway jump—VRDL extended the lead, ending the half 72-37.

Arch Rival came back from halftime strong and held VRDL scoreless for the first four jams, bringing the points difference to 14, with 72 for VRDL and 58 for Arch. VRDL maintained their lead, however, and every time Arch would inch closer, VRDL would shoot ahead.

Arch Rival jammer Loki Doki took advantage of a power jam and VRDL’s blocker penalties to bring the score to 102-85. Blocking from Arch’s K. Woodward held Lauren Foote scoreless.

In Jam 14, Arch’s Swanson was up to jam against VRDL’s Curly Burly. Dad Bod hit Curly Burly off the line, allowing Swanson to take the lead and using some ballerina-esque footwork on the inside line tore past Arch’s blockers, scoring 12 points, taking the score to 106-96, a mere 10 point difference.

Arch Rival held this low point difference for three more jams, fronted by the strong defense seen throughout the game from K. Woodward, Thestral, Cloak N’ Drag-her and Dad Bod.

In one of the last jams of the game, VRDL, aided by Arch Rival’s penalty troubles, was able to use their pack advantage. Sarah Love took lead jammer status and took advantage of Arch’s slow switch from offense back to defense. VRDL’s strong defensive wall, consisting of Bianca Sciarretta, Bicepsual—who both played in VRDL’s first WFTDA Championships appearance in 2014—and Slamazon, held Arch’s Loki Doki at zero points, allowing Love to take 11 uncontested points.

In the last jam of the game, and potentially her last competitive jam ever following the announcement of her retirement to focus on her studies, Sarah Love lined up against Loki Doki. Love took an instant lead and called off the jam, securing the win and the bronze medal for her team. After calling off the jam, she pulled Arch Rival’s, Loki Doki, into a hug, before celebrating with her team.

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