The Harbour City Rollers were double winners to start the season. The Nanaimo roller derby team won a bout Saturday, and also expanded its brand to a neighbouring community.
The Harbour City squad defeated the Alberni Valley Roller Girls 232-103 in front of nearly 300 fans at Parksville’s Oceanside Place.
“It went really well. It was an awesome event and we had a lot of people come out which was great,” said Melissa (Holly Go Blightly) Morrow, Rollers player.
She said both teams played hard and were evenly matched, both in skill and strategy.
“There may have been a difference in the score, but on the track both teams came out very strong, and AVRG definitely made HCR fight for it.”
The bout gave the Rollers’ rookies their first opportunity for game action, and let some new fans experience the sport.
“The crowd got really into it,” Morrow said. “As soon as they learned the rules, they started to cheer and boo at the calls ... it was a really good energy. It was a lot of fun.”
DERBY DETAILS … To read an expanded version of this article, please click here … The Harbour City Rollers don’t have another home bout until Aug. 18 at the Vancouver Island Exhibition … The city’s other roller derby team, the Nanaimo Nemesis, is holding a beer and burger fundraiser June 15 at the Courts Pub. Tickets are available at Culture Craze.
-files from James Clarke