NEW YORK, NY -- In the 2008 Gotham Girls Championship bout on October 25, the Queens of Pain dominated the Bronx Gridlock by a score of 161-113 to take home the coveted Golden Skate. Previous matchups between these league rivals were close games, with almost every one of their past four duels coming down to the final jam. Both teams went into this bout knowing it would be a tough battle, especially with Bronx missing all-star jammer Beatrix (“Bunny”) Slaughter due to a collarbone injury suffered in the last clash between these titans.
This bout, however, was all Queens. The only time Bronx led was after the very first jam, with Bonnie Thunders winning a quick 2-0 jam over Suzy Hotrod. In the next jam, retiring jammer Scarlett Rage faced off against the Gridlock’s Luna Impact. Luna broke through the pack first for lead jammer, but on her scoring pass she received a hard block to the inside that sent her sliding across the apex and back onto the track, leading to a major cutting the track infraction. Scarlett eclipsed Luna 14-4 before the two-minute jam clock elapsed. Bonnie Thunders returned against Suzy Hotrod again in the third jam, quickly obtaining lead jammer status and adding four points to the Bronx total to make the score 14-10.
Then the Gridlock began to reveal their true depth at the jammer position, filling the hole left by Bunny with Kandy Kakes, usually known for her prowess at pivot. In this rare jamming appearance, Kakes went up against Queens’ Cheapskate, cutting through the pack first for lead jammer and scoring 2 points before smartly calling the jam as Cheap approached the pack. With the scoreboard reading 14-12, it looked like the Bronx was ready for a comeback, but it was not meant to be. The Queens of Pain enforced their unique brand of blocking discipline, systematically tearing apart the Bronx blockers and forcing jammers into submission as they went on an 82-25 run, closing out the first half by a score of 100-37.
Although the Gridlock was beaten in score at the start of the second half, they were not beaten in spirit. With Bunny providing enthusiastic vocal support from the sidelines, the Bronx cabbies were visibly energized. The Gridlock hit the gas from the start of the second period, with yet another Bonnie Thunders-Suzy Hotrod face-off at jammer. Bonnie sliced through the pack in her signature style, scoring an 8-4 jam over Suzy and giving hope to the Bronx fans in the sold-out crowd. The Bronx would continue to make things interesting, with Luna Impact busting out a 9-1jam over Cheapskate to start chipping away at the Queens lead.
A couple of jams later, it was 109-72 in favor of Queens, with the Bronx almost equaling their entire first-half output in the first five jams of the second half. Queens wasn’t going to let the Bronx take the wheel that easily, though. A 14-0 jam by Hyper Lynx over Bonnie Thunders capped off a 32-3 spanking over the next 8 jams. Luna Impact reversed the trend with an 8-2 win over Scarlett Rage, but the Gridlock still trailed, 143-83.
Not letting the small amount of the time left on the clock dampen their spirits, Bronx played hard until the end, with a 20-0 jam by Bonnie Thunders over Hyper Lynx causing the crowd to go wild and helping Bonnie set a league single-game scoring record with a total of 72 points.
For the last jam of the game, both teams fielded retiring rollergirls, with Cheapskate taking the star for the last time for Queens and Daizy Chainz, usually a blocker, wearing the checkered star with pride. The Gridlock held back Cheap as Daizy broke through the pack for lead jammer, pumping her fist in triumph and scoring a 4-0 victory before calling the jam and getting mobbed in adoration by her teammates. It was a storybook ending to her career, but overall, the Queens of Pain lived happily ever after, winning the 2008 Gotham Girls Championship, 161-113.
Bonnie Thunders was a no-brainer for the Gridlock MVP, scoring 72 points in 17 jams. Luna Impact also got a workout with 32 points in 14 jams, with blockers Kandy Kakes (5 points, 5 jams), Ginger Snap (0 points, 2 jams) and Daizy Chainz (4 points, 1 jam) filling out the jammer rotation for the Bronx.
Queens MVP Cheapskate led the way with 53 points in 14 jams, with Scarlett Rage setting a personal record with 46 points in 6 jams. Suzy Hotrod scored 43 points in 16 jams and Hyper Lynx scored 19 points in 3 appearances at the jammer line. Blockers of note for the Gridlock were Ginger Snap and Beyonsláy, who both made trouble for Queens jammers while Kandy Kakes proved deadly at both jammer and blocker. For Queens, Cheapskate was the double threat at jammer and blocker, and “most amazing pivot ever!” Ana Bollocks proved to be a tough last line of defense (quote courtesy of a breathless fan post-game).
With this win, Queens proves their domination within the Gotham Girls, having won the championship 3 times in total. Prognosticators for the 2009 season indicate that it will be anyone’s game, with the Manhattan Mayhem looking like a threat with their crew of fresh and hungry no-longer-rookies. The Brooklyn Bombshells will be healthy and sporting a few new faces, and the Bronx Gridlock and Queens of Pain will continue their storied rivalry with their veteran lineups and a few new faces of their own.
The Gotham Girls home season may be over, but the Eastern Regional Championship travel team will be in action at the WFTDA National Championship in Portland, Oregon the weekend of November 14, competing with the best of the best from across the country. Keep your eyes on Derby News Network for all the most up-to-the-minute results!
Photos: BrendanMC
