WFTDA Bout Preview: (9) Philly @ (5) Gotham Girls

In the wide world of sports, fewer rivalries run as deep as the one between Philadelphia and New York. Women’s roller derby is no exception to this rule. Philly and New York will meet once again on the track as The Liberty Belles hope that third time is a charm in their quest to topple their sisters from the Big Apple, the Gotham Girls.

The Philly Roller Girls think of the Gotham Girls as their big sisters. Gotham generously helped Philly get started by training PRG's skaters how to play roller derby when the sport's revival was still new to the East coast; Gotham was also instrumental in Philly’s induction into the WFTDA in 2005. This close relationship is one of the reasons Philly chose New York to be their first interleague bouting opponent in October, 2006. The change of pace from intraleague to interleague WFTDA action was a rude awakening for the Belles, as the final score was 103 to 69 in Gotham's favor can attest.

However, in the months following that experience, wins against Charm City, Boston, Providence, New Orleans and the TXRG Hustlers propelled Philadelphia to the 4th slot in the Eastern rankings - one spot above Gotham - just in time for the Heartland Havoc tournament in August of 2007. This seeding meant that after a first-round bye for Philly and an easy 206-47 Gotham win over Grand Raggidy, the teams would met for the second time on the day two of the tournament. Improved as they might have been, the 139-81 decision in Gotham's favor showed that the Belles were still no match for their sisters to the North.

On the strength of the win over Philadelphia, Gotham qualified for the 2007 WFTDA Nationals tournament - where the team subsequently fell to the Kansas City Roller Warriors in the first round - while Philly’s run in the Eastern tournament came to an abrupt close. Thus, to say that this weekend's bout is a grudge match would be a gross understatement.

With several newer skaters making big strides in Philly, the Belles hope to tap into some previously unused talent for their all-star line-up. Captains Mo Pain and Teflon Donna are looking to add more depth to their roster, especially on the jammer line, and have learned from their experience in August to incorporate new strategies into their game. The key to Gotham’s win at the Heartland Havoc was rock-solid defense, especially the team's ability to wall-off opposing jammers and hold them in the pack for long periods. If the Belles have developed the means and methods to steal away this pack control, it will be a whole different game - and one they hope to dominate.

Gotham's "All-Borough" B team, the Wall Street Traitors, will take on the Connecticuit Roller Girls' Stepford Sabotage in a 30-minute WFTDA-expo bout to start the evening. The Sabotage are coming off a tough 36-123 loss to PRG's Philthy Britches this past Saturday, and are looking to get back onto the right track. The Traitors last skated together at the 2007 East Coast Derby Extravaganza where, interestingly, they were defeated by the same PRG Britches team in a 52-22 decision after 30 minutes of Challenge Bout action.

Tickets are available for this event through the Gotham Girls’ website: www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com.

7 Annie Christ // 67 Dara Licks // 77 Dotti Horror // 11 Ivana Rock // 33 Mandawar // 8 Mo Pain // XXX Nina Knockout // 668 Olivia Face // 79 Racey Intent // 714 Robin Drugstores // 305 Shenita Stretcher // 85 Teflon Donna // 06 Violet Temper // 13 Wendy Whiplash

GGRD All-Stars: 00 Ana Bollocks // 7 Anne Phetamean // 42 Beatrix Slaughter // Top 40 Beyonsláy // 340 Bonnie Thunders // 2¢ Cheap Skate // 2 Donna Matrix // 241 Fisti Cuffs // i4i Hard Anya // 31 Hela Skelter // Perfect 10 Kandy Kakes // 75 Scarlett Rage // 55 Suzy Hotrod // 201 Sweet Sherry Pie

C4 (4) Black Cherry // ZZZ (222) Ether Bunny // 110R (110) Luciana PULVERotti // 40oz (40) Milla LowLife // AS33 (3) Parker Poison // GO! (60) Pearl Jammer // 1-2-3-4 (123) Revengela // "Metal Fist" (2) Syd Rock // B52 (52) Tina Colada // 9-1-1 (911) Violet Riot

GGRD Wall Street Traitors: 23 Ariel Assault // 666 Aunti Christ // 1600 Barbara Ambush // 5 Bluebonnet Plague // 15 Daizy Chainz // 3 Gogo Baibai // 404 Hyper Lynx // 667 Lemony Kickit // 19 Lil Red Terror // 29.5 Luna Impact // 67 Raggedy Animal // 34T Sassy Hipsaw / 99 Surly Temple // 9mm Uzi Sioux