Montreal roller derby

Tucson 117, Montreal 108

An estimated 200 fans were turned away from Tucson Indoor Sports Complex due to the building reaching its 1,100-person capacity. In what was the finest interleague bout seen in Tucson since the Saddletramps’ fall from national prominence, the hometown team jumped out to an early lead on the first jam and never let it go, but Montreal’s New Skids on the Block did not make it easy. The Tramps won the contest by a modest nine points, 117-108.

More than half of Tucson’s points were scored by marquee jammer Sami Automatic, and she dropped 20 of them in the first jam of the night. Georgia W. Tush was uncharacteristically sent to the penalty box before even finishing her first lap and the Tramps romped 20-0. Sami would end the night with 75 points and a +40 point differential in 16 jams, earning lead in 10.

Tush would redeem herself as the night went on. Discounting the 20 scored against her in the first jam, she would finish 38/25 on 11 other jams, earning lead in 6.

Montreal closed the score to 37-26 by the 15-minute mark, but fell back again by the half, 74-45.

Jammer/blocker Beater Pan-Tease owned the game’s most exciting jam in which she twice lept over a sea of fallen skaters on her way to a 21-0 power jam that brought her team back into striking distance, 74-66. Those eight points were as close as Montreal got however. Despite not being outskated, Montreal’s youth, innocence and neon colors were beaten by TRD’s age and guile. The Tramps demonstrated superior pack control all night and it proved to be the difference. That, and an absolutely tremendous defensive performance by Helen Wheels of Tucson, who often took sole responsibility for stopping Montreal’s jammers long enough for the Tramps to eke out lead jammer status.

Montreal won the second half, 63-43, but it was not enough to pull ahead, despite the 14-2 final jam heroics of Georgia W. Tush.

The Tramps remained unbeaten at 2-0, while Montreal fell to 0-2 on 2010—though they’d get their first win of the year the following day against Arizona.—Julius Plaesar
photo by vassilios lanaris