Kent Roller Girls newly formed B team – known as the Knightmares – travelled to Ipswich on Saturday for a showdown against Suffolk Roller Derby’s Bees.

Many of the players had only recently passed their minimum skills test to be approved to play the full contact sport on quad skates. For most of them it was their first outing in the ghoulish Black and Gold kit with the KRG logo on their chests.

Kent got off to a flying start, taking control of the game and were 37-8 up after the first few jams. Jams are periods of two minutes in which the game is played, over the course of an hour. The Jammers are the point scorers who wear a star helmet cover to identify them and they get points by passing the opposing blockers, of which there are four on the track at anyone time.

Considering it was their first outing the Kent team looked very professional  – Lawrence and Abi (two of the blockers) made an almost impenetrable human wall which stopped the Suffolk jammers in their tracks. Abi, captain for the day said “I was super nervous before as it was my first game for Kent but I’m so proud to be part of this group of skaters, and to represent the county at the sport I love.”

There were many great performances – such as the booty blocking of Fear Khan which helped in slowing Suffolk’s scoring and Tenacious, was awarded the games Most Valuable Player for playing excellent offence every time she was on track.

Jo-Commotion, a jammer returning from injury didn’t show any signs of impingement  as she stormed through the opposing pack ten minutes before half time to help The Knightmares put up the 100 on the score board. There were several jammers of note including Kim, Chip and the aptly named Speedie who put up 17 points in just one jam.

The second half got off to a slightly shakier start with Suffolk scoring in first three jams, and denying opportunities for scoring which put Kent put on hold.

However, the Knightmares dug in and their teamwork steadily overpowered the Bee’s. Mama Mohito was outstanding lifting blockers of their feet with powerful shoulder barges, Lawrence’s famous butt to the gut manoeuvre knocked many a player off track and she repeatedly forced Suffolk to star pass (to use their relief jammers). All this combined with the ever nimble star Jammer Chip springing through the inside lines on her toe stops to secure yet more points meant the victory was swiftly and soundly wrapped up with a final score of 256 to 160.

The Knightmares now have a ranking of 138 in Europe and are looking for opponents to take on at home or away.

Kent Roller Girls train each week at Herne Bay Arena and teach new skaters each Sunday 4-6pm look for the team on Facebook of you fancy a role as a skater, official or superfan!

Their next game is away with the KRG All Stars vs North Wales Roller Derby in Wrexham on November 25th.

Picture supplied by Martin Quadling Photography.