Big second half runs key wins for Rhode Island, Britches

Hookers, Butchers fall after holding halftime leads

In bone-crunching Philly Rollergirls action at the 23rd Street Armory on Saturday, the vising Rhode Island Riveters used a 15-point second half jam to knock off the Heavy Metal Hookers, 82-73. In the second game of a doubleheader, the Philthy Britches went on a 24-point run to break open a close game, beating the Broad Street Butchers 119-112.

The Hookers (0-2) and the Riveters, the Providence Roller Derby all-star traveling team, played a tight, back-and-forth first half. The Hookers led most of the half until the Riveters (1-1) went up 28-24 late. But the Hookers went into halftime 34-28 after ringing up 10 points on the final jam of the half.

The Hookers pushed the lead up to 12 at 42-30, the Riveters needed only six minutes to regain the lead. With penalties against the Hookers jammers limiting their scoring opportunities, the Riveters went ahead 45-42, then delivered a backbreaking 15-point jam go up 60-42 with 14:10 to play.

The Hookers looked like they had a chance for a big run of their own after the Rhode Island jammer was sent to the Sin Bin, until Riveter blocker Hot Sauce was knocked unconscious after hitting her head on the floor. Momentum lost, the Hookers couldn't get closer than six and the game appeared all but over when the Riveters expanded their lead to 82-63 with 1:08 to play.

The Hookers got a break when the Rhode Island jammer was sent off and Ivana Rock went on a furious rally, but could only score 10 on the final jam before time expired.

In the second game, the three-time defending Warrior Cup champion Philthy Britches (2-0) survived a late run by the Broad Street Butchers (1-1) to remain undefeated on the season.

The Butchers were down 25-17 in the first half when a referee injured her right ankle, causing a 30 minute stoppage in play. When the game resumed, they roared back to take a 58-48 lead into half.

The Britches clawed their way back to hold a 69-66 lead, then erupted to score 24 unanswered points. The fat lady was warming up her chops by the time the Butchers scored again to make it 93-70.

But it's roller derby and everybody makes a late run in roller derby. The Butchers took advantage of a penalty against jammer Mo Pain to cut the lead to 12 at 107-95 on the strength of Persephone's 20-point jam. Persephone made it a two-point game at 114-112 with another big jam and the Britches faced the very real possibility of experiencing their first loss in PRG history.

But the Dread Queen of the Undead ran out of magic and Mo brought the Pain (ed. note: Wocka-wocka) with five insurance points on the final jam to end the match at 119-112.

Final tally: One serious concussion, one hospitalized referee, one face-plant apiece for Robin Drugstores and Mo Pain (self-induced), one jammer (Rhode Island) knocked into the crowd, several potentially felonious bodyblows by Wreckin' Eyes, innumerable contusions and cases of road rash and one damned fine night of roller derby.