Photo by Derek P. Opdyke
The Santa Cruz Derby Groms have impressed derby fans all season with their exciting halftime scrimmages and Saturday night’s scrimmage was no exception as the Groms took to the track for their final halftime scrimmage of the season. The Bumper Scars came into the evening with two wins under their belt this season versus the Sugar Skulls’ one. The Groms were pumped as they prepared backstage with their fellow teammates, applying face paint and arm numbers while talking strategy and checking their equipment for their last half-time bout of the season. They have been preparing each week with sweat inducing practices that have been focusing on positional blocking, building walls and awareness.
The game began with Bumper Scar jammer, Bella Con-Strict-Her and Sugar Skull jammer, Flower Power both scoring 4 points and setting the tone for what would be a close match to the last jam. The blocking on both teams has hit a new high and getting through these packs is not as easy as it once was, with players being sent to the box for penalties from cutting the track to back blocking. Bumper Scar, Dirty Die Anna was the first jammer to go to the box in jam 2, allowing Skull jammer, Jackie Skellington the opportunity for a grand slam followed by Partna who brought their lead up with another grand slam. Bumper Scars came back strong with their wall of blue as great defensive playing by pivot, Waffles and her crew, helped jammers, Roadkill Ruby and T-N-Tink even up the score.
The score remained close as each jammer battled to get lead and the groms showed their derby skills with some awesome positional blocking and teamwork. Penalties sent Bumper Scar, Vicious ViKing to the box in jam 7 and Sugar Skull, Kenny the Shark in jams 10 and 11. But you just can’t keep a good Grom down and with only a Bumper Scar jammer on the track, the Skull defense led by pivot, Lainie N. Sainie, sped up the pack and kept the Scar jammer from getting through just long enough for Kenny the Shark to tear out of the penalty box, clear the pack a few times to score a grand slam, bringing the Sugar Skulls lead back 30 to 29.
With only a few jams left in the game, the score remained close as each team seemed to be working their defense relentlessly on the opposing jammer by building walls and pushing to the outside. Many jammers, like Betty BiteMe, Dirty Die Anna and Slambi stepped back into the pack to block, showing their skill in all positions. With the Bumper Scars ahead by one going into the last jam, Skull, Jackie Skellington worked her way through a tough pack to take lead jammer before scoring the final 4 points of the game and strategically calling off the jam before T-N-Tink could score, giving Sugar Skulls the win 44 to 41 over the Bumper Scars. The Santa Cruz Derby Groms 2010 halftime bouts end with a few tears, many cheers, a few injuries, many triumphs and two wins for each team. Thanks Groms, for some amazing derby!
The Santa Cruz Derby Groms will be playing their first ever full hour bout on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at Santa Cruz Derby Girls Stadium (Civic Auditorium). Doors open at doors open at 2:30 pm, first whistle at 3:00 pm. Tickets are available at the only at the door, $10 for adults and $5 for children (cash only). There is a limit of 300 people at this event.
Santa Cruz Derby Girls - THE Rollergirls of Santa Cruz
