In a historical game, the Manhattan Mayhem beat the Queens of Pain for the first time in last Saturday’s bout. It looks like it might be Manhattan’s year for roller derby. Not only did they win last month’s game against the Brooklyn Bombshells, but they have a kinetic flow in their teamwork, which clearly shows when they play.
The first jam put Queens’ star player Suzy Hotrod (No. 55) against Manhattan’s Em Dash (No. –), who took over the league record for “most points scored in a game” last month by gaining 81 points. Despite Dash’s history and the great defense by Manhattan’s Polly Gone (No. >2), Queen’s took the lead with eight points to zero.
Second jam had the Queens’ cat-eared Hyper Lynx (No. 404) vs. Roxy Gibrawlter (No. 426). Roxy scored lead jammer and three points after Polly scooted in, bumping Lynx out. In the third jam, Hotrod was against Dash again, but this time she used another technique. Instead of trying to gain the upper hand, she blocked Dash from going past her, looking back, almost in a teasing sort of way. But, Dash broke free and became lead jammer as the crowed cheered her on.
A terror on wheels, Polly showed her skills as jammer when she played against Lynx. Small and slightly round, Polly moved like water through the players, almost as if they didn’t exist. I have never seen someone look so natural on skates as she took the lead and scored 10 points for Manhattan.
The end of the first half tied the teams at 49 points. Keeping true to the theme of violence and wheels, the crowd was treated to a short, but serious game of Murderball by the NY Warriors. As the players aggressively slammed their metal wheelchairs into each other in an attempt to block and gain control of the ball, the crowed gasped at each move. I never knew wheelchairs could be so brutal, and I liked it.
The second half of the bout started the same way as the beginning. But, where Dash seemed to be letting Hotrod get the better of her in the first half, this time she was ready, using her speed to gain the upper hand. Dash scored four points as lead jammer, pushing Manhattan ahead.
Back from a back injury, Manhattan’s captain Sweet Sherry Pie (No. 201) made her way onto the floor, a little stiff, but she played hard. Also with Manhattan, co-captain Fisti Cuffs (No. 241) took her turn against Lynx. Despite Cuffs’ fluid motions and the blinding flash of her red bloomers, Lynx pressed to the front.
With seven minutes to go, the top players of the night finally came skate-to-skate. Hotrod vs. Polly was underway with the Queens trailing Manhattan by 24 points. Watching Polly work her way around the other players, I couldn’t help but cheer her on, even though through the exertion of the Queens’ blockers, they kept her back. Hotrod took the lead, scored four points, and then called off the jam just as Polly was about to make a pass. Hell of a play.
The last jam was between Dash and Queens’ rookie Steel Magnolia (61). This was the first time I saw Magnolia in as a jammer and she did well, but not as good as Dash who swept the floor as if doing a victory dance. Manhattan beat the Queens 120 to 73, a good solid win. This was the last game for Manhattan’s Julietta Vendetta (No. 11/05), who truly went out with a bang, matching smiles with her teammates.
This is part of New York Press’s coverage of Gotham Girls roller derby, season 2009. Next game between Brooklyn Bombshells and Bronx Gridlock is on Saturday, July 11 at Hunter College’s sportplex.
