Amazing; was the first word to pop in my head at Bradentucky's inaugural, intraleague Furies vs Sirens. In that it's amazing how just a few years ago, there'd have been only a few leagues there providing support. Tampa, some Sintral girls, maybe a couple marauders from Molly. Now everyone in the crowd was either: in a league, dating someone in a league, or related to someone in a league. Even the kids outside were complaining about uniform costs. The kids!
With that said, one word that didn't pop into my mind last night was: disappointment. Kudos to whoever had the unenviable task of splitting up the Nuclear Bombshells and the Bomb Squad up, and then mixing the constituent parts into something "equal." That experiment was a success; as neither team, the Furies or the Sirens, would hold a lead for long in the first half, and even when the Sirens rolled off with a 209-171 win; victory was uncertain until the last jam.
Security was so tenuous that throughout the bout's first half it was truly anybody's game. The Sirens taking an early lead due to their defensive walls (5-0), and, eventually, a huge Canadia powerjam. Defense reared its head again as the Furies were doubly hurt by having jammer Signal 20 in the penalty box, along with key blocker Miss AhRee (27-7).
While the Furies inconsistent use of defensive walls would ultimately hurt them, when they did manage to pull one off, the payoff was huge. So when Signal 20 was released from the box into a powerjam of her own, things turned around fast. The Furies (in this case Freak Show, Miss AhRee, Coupon Clipher, and Rocksey Balboa) set up a wall and Signal scored more in one jam than the Sirens had all night (31-39). Followed by a Skate Invader powerjam (31-47). The Furies would build upon this lead with a strong Signal 20/Ducati Hottie rotation (57-66).
Things changed quickly once the Furies' T-Recks Her backblocked Malice in Rollerland, leaving Crash Test Barbie with a powerjam. The pack slowing down; putting the Sirens back in the lead (106-97). The bout's half ending with a controversial finish, as the Sirens' Abby Slambach was trapped by Blaque Jac, allowing Ducati Hottie the opportunity to do nothing but score. Until a piece of skate was found on the track, so the jams was called off.
Naturally, this brought up a question of whether the jam should've been called, or if the offending piece could've been quietly removed without affecting the jam's outcome. Naturally, safety reigned supreme, and the jam was called, with the make-up jam (an on-fire Gigi RaMoan vs Ducati) was decidedly less in the Furies' favor (106-97).
The Sirens opening the second half with a Canadia jam didn't offer the Furies any chance for respite. The Furies, learning the hard way that they do best when they dedicated a blocker to take care of Malice in Rollerland (120-97). Between Canadia, Gigi RaMoan, and Crash Test Barbie, the Sirens quickly expanded upon their lead (152-101). The Furies not really returning into the mix until Ducati Hottie piggy-backed a powerjam off of Crash Test; at which point Malice and Guiness the Menace fouled out, leaving Signal 20 to skate free while jammer AK was held back by Skate Invader (152-144).
The Sirens pressed their lead to 20 points (176-149), before Blaque Jac brought the Furies one final, triple grand slam, rally (176-164). Unfortunately penalty troubles made the Furies unable to capitalize off of their turn of luck, especially since Ducati, Guinness, Canadia, and Menace were still laying waste to their opponent both offensively and defensively. The Furies, defiant to the end, with T-Recks Her taking the final jam as the Sirens skated off victorious (209-171).
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