While they tried their best to keep the crowd energized, a more dejected atmosphere permeated the Roll-A-Dome on the weekend night as the Rated PG Rollergirls failed to notch another win.
The fast and feisty Raggedy Rollers pushed the P.G. women to their limits in a decisive 194-76 loss - their first of the season.
The visitors from the Okanagan Shuswap Roller Derby Association (OSRDA) out-skated and out-strategized the home team, who fell into early penalty trouble and never recovered the home-track advantage.
The Raggedy Rollers had experience and speed on their side, with a coach - 8-Mean Wheeler - who plays for Team Canada and blink-and-you-miss-them, lightening quick jammers in Harren Mahkeester, Dixie Drift and Killer Bee Kini.
The bout got off to a promising start for the home squad. Making her return to the track for the first time since last summer after being sidelined by an injury, Prince George's Cruely Sue grabbed the lead position in the game's opening jam to put a point on the board for the Rollergirls.
But that success was shortlived as jammer Edie Sedgewhip was sent to the penalty box in the very next jam, sending the Raggedy Rollers on a 21-point run.
Four jams later, Sedgewhip was done for the game, getting knocked to the ground hard enough to require the assistance of first-aid attendants to leave the track.
The Rollergirls spent the remainder of the first half chasing the Raggedy Rollers, skating to the penalty box and getting caught behind the visitors' seemingly impenetrable defence. Even Sistah Viberosis, normally a wrecking ball of a jammer, got caught in the Rollers' walls.
By halftime, the P.G. team was visibly frustrated, the score 90-24 in the Raggedy Rollers' favour.
But there were bursts of life in the second half as the Rated P.G. team started to rise to the challenge. Sarabellum added her speed to the jammer rotation and team captain Lockdown helped make major blocks to give the Rollergirls an edge.
But the bout ended much as it began, with Cruely Sue back in the penalty box for the final seconds of the last jam.
"The last 15 minutes, I felt we played a lot better," said Rated PG coach Whitney "Uncle Daddy" Warren. "We cracked the code and figured them out - we just ran out of time."
The Rollergirls' bout was the second of a double header event. In the early game, the Candy Strykers, also from the OSRDA, took on the Gold Pain City Rollergirls, which was made up of the Prince George sister squad in Quesnel and the Rated P.G. B-team.
The Candy Strykers defeated Gold Pain City 183-49, but the mixed team put forth a good effort despite not being as experienced as their competitors.
The joy of playing in a competitive bout was clearly indicated, especially by the smile on the face of Gold Pain City jammer Masterkater whenever she broke through the pack to the cheers of the packed Roll-A-Dome.
"I'm so proud of our girls, they played some good derby," Warren said. "They say you learn way more from a loss than a win. We learned we have a lot to work on."
The Rated PG Rollergirls take on the St. Albert Heavenly Rollers March 31 at the Roll-A-Dome. For more information, visit www.ratedpgrollergirls.com.
