The second-half of the six-event regular season begins for the Arch Rival Roller Girls and GateKeepers Roller Derby this weekend and flat-track fanatics are eagerly anticipating continued progression of an extremely competitive campaign for both.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
In the women’s main event this Saturday at Midwest Sport Hockey (570 Weidman, Ballwin, MO), the Smashinistas tangle with the defending ARRG League champion Stunt Devils while the GKRD “Turf Wars” battle pits the Central West Friends against the Raiders of Forest Park. The double header’s first whistle blows at 6:30 p.m.
The first half of Arch Rival’s three-team local campaign resulted in a stalemate as the Smashies, the Stunts and the M-80s each reached the midpoint with identical 1-1 records. Saturday’s tilt breaks the deadlock and the victor gains an edge in the standings
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
When the two women’s teams met in November, the Smashinistas topped the Stunt Devils, 178-173, with the deciding points figured in the final minute of play. Smashie jammer Harmony Killerbruise notched 89 points in the victory while EnYa Nightmare, Hakuna Renata and Flash contributed imperative points down the stretch.
Scoring will aided by the precision Smashie blocking of Shimmy Hoffa, Fletch-A-Sketch, Chewblocka, Party RockHer, Cloak N’ Drag-Her, Party McFly, Girl Fawkes, Bad Mutha T and KannabisKorpse. The team also gained two additional skaters via a local draft held last week: Salty, who previously skated with Cape Girardeau Roller Derby, and Blink, who skated with Roughneck Roller Derby of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Looking to pick up its second straight win Saturday night are the Stunt Devils, who evened its record with a 152-148 triumph over the M-80s two weekends ago. Veteran jammer Bricktator notched 61 points in the victory and both CupQuake and Psychokid d Freakout collected totals in the high-30’s.
Blockers Ninja Sass ‘Em, Shear-Ra Powers, Aceta Menacin, Cruella Belle-Ville, Pegasass, Sound-Proof, Danisaurus Rex , Momentum Mori, Stormin Norma and Midnight Smack are ready to lay down the foundation for scoring. An equally impressive mid-season draft adds Sue Bob Fight, formerly of Cape Girardeau Roller Derby and the Southern Illinois Roller Girls, and Violet Opposition, previously from Confluence Crush Roller Derby, to purple-passioned mix.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
On the men’s side of the ledger, the Central West Friends (2-0) aim to clinch automatic entry to April’s Turf Wars Championship finale with a Saturday victory over the Raiders of Forest Park (1-1). CWF churned a 184-138 duke over the Creve Coroners earlier this month to keep its franchise’s record unblemished.
In the victory, jammer Mailbox delivered an eye-opening, 128-point performance while co-captain Fruit Wallup posted 27. Critical to its third straight win will be the precision teamwork executed by blockers Monster Jam, The Great Stromboli, SoGo, Perc In Boots, Cpt. Kramerica, Red Rider, Poppa Choppa and Blue Suede Bruise.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Standing in the way, and looking to force a two-way tie in the standings with victory, are the Raiders, who only fell by 24 points to its Saturday opponent in their previous meeting in November. In its inaugural launch, Forest Park pushed the Friends mightily and only trailed by single digits with under eight minutes left.
Raider jammers A. Black, Mouthful and Porter look for productive point totals and blockers Spin Diesel, Dr. Dredd, Bower, Wrecking Bill, Slammin’ T. Killa, Atom Bomb, Hamilton and Arty Panimal plan on laying down the sturdy foundation. A weekend win, and two-team topper in the GKRD hierarchy, are the missives this weekend.
All tickets are $10 either at the door or online AT THIS LINK. Children 10 and under are free.
For more information on the Arch Rival Roller Girls, go to archrivalrollergirls.com.
For more information on GateKeepers Roller Derby, go to stlgatekeepers.com.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
