Duke City Derby: Albuquerque's All-Girl Roller Derby League

HoBotic Uprising Squelched; Dames and DIA Move To Championship

For the second time this season, the HoBots found themselves in a do-or-die situation. With the final game of regular season, the HoBots needed a win against the undefeated Doomsdames in order to earn a spot in the championship game. And for the second time in as many games, the HoBots again put together one of most exciting games in Duke City Derby’s short history.

The game opened with the Doomsdames and HoBots trading points during the opening period. The jammer cores for each side looked solid, but the skill of Kamikaze Kim, Doom Dee Doom, Reece Lightnin, and Miss L Command aided the Dames in maintaining the lead jammer advantage and the points lead throughout the period. However, the HoBots were not to be outdone, nipping at the Dames' heels to close the period with a score of 31 - 28.

The second period found the HoBots slipping in their defense by giving up several penalties. Even notoriously clean players such as R2BeatU could not escape penalty woes, who ended up representing the HoBots in the penalty round; her first trip ever to the penalty wheel in her three year roller derby career. Despite these woes, the HoBots managed to keep the Dames in their sights, leaving them a 14 point advantage going into the final period.

The HoBots again brought the crowd to their feel with an electrifying third period, this time leading the come from behind charge. Betty Blastoff and Punchkin Pie put together huge scoring runs, grabbing lead jammer status several times while R2BeatU, Vixenator, and Miss E annihilated the Dames' jammers. The rally erased their deficit and even put the HoBots briefly in the lead by a single point late in the game.

With four minutes remaining, the 90 - 89 score in favor of the Dames provided an exciting two jam shootout to determine the winner. Betty Blastoff and Doom Dee Doom squared off in the first jam, with Betty getting lead jammer status while Doom Dee stayed tucked behind her tail.

As they approach the pack, the Dames blockers quickly surrounded and took down Betty Blastoff, forcing her to call off the jam. However, the damage had been done with Doom Dee Doom picking up a couple of points before Betty could end it.

For the final jam, the Doomsdames loaded up their silver (and red) bullet, Death Ro, to close the game. Death Ro shot past Betty Blastoff from the start and quickly made their way through the pack. Before the HoBots could catch their breath, Death Ro had amassed four points and clinched the ninth-straight victory for the Doomsdames by a score of 96 - 91.

The loss ended the HoBots' season, putting DIA in the championship by virtue of having a higher point differential than the HoBots (more points scored for than against). DIA, crushed by the Dames in their last game, are looking for revenge by ending their dynasty on Duke City Derby's grandest stage. Stay tuned to www.dukecityderby.com as we prepare for this championship match on October 20th.

Duke City Derby is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)