Double defeat but Sheffield‘s still smiling after an impressive debut

Nail biting finish for Sheffield’s first male roller derby team

Sheffield’s two roller derby teams, Sheffield Steel Rollergirls and The Inhuman League, held their first bout of 2012 on Saturday to a home crowd of over 600.

TIL made an impressive debut losing to Newcastle team, Tyne & Fear, by just one point. In a nail-biting finish, a late unfortunate penalty for TIL’s Jammie Dodger gave Tyne & Fear the advantage and the win, with the final score at 110-109.

Despite the loss, Captain Jerry Attric was proud, explaining, “For our first game as a team, we couldn’t have asked for better. We played our hearts out and after a difficult start, brought it back to a very even game. Can’t wait for the rematch”.

SSRG All Stars prove it is always a game of two halves

Sheffield’s losing streak continued when the Sheffield Steel Rollergirls’s A-team (the All Stars) took on High Wycombe’s Big Bucks High Rollers.

SSRG are known for being second half players and Saturday was no different. A penalty heavy first half left them trailing Big Bucks by 74 points.

They returned in the second half with some great tactical work and high scoring jams, particularly by Mia Malice. Their comeback, however, came a little too late and Big Bucks took the win with a final score of 144 to Sheffield’s 113.

SSRG have a history of being unlucky at home, winning just two of their six home matches. Conversely, they have won seven of their last eight away bouts and are known as a highly competitive team.

Roller derby

Roller derby is currently the world’s fastest growing sport, with over 70 teams in the UK. The game involves one skater from each team lapping members of the opposition for points, with a lot of bumps and bruises along the way.

Roller derby bouts are known as family fun days and this one was no different, with cupcakes, face painting, circus skills and Pin The Moustache on Poirot. The charity raffle raised over £300 for Bluebell Wood’s Children Hospice.

Would you like to watch the games?

The day was livecast online by by John Popham with Celebration 2.0 and is available to view here.