DRR Allstars looking for victory against Liverpool Roller Birds

The Dolly Rockit Rollers Allstars will be looking to bounce back from their 131-196 reversal against the Sheffield Steel Rollergirls next weekend, facing off against a Liverpool team they last met in a 111-68 DRR win back in February 2011.

The Leicester team may well fancy their chances of a win in their second home bout of the season, bringing a roster that combines the jam line firepower of Rogue Runner, Gob Stop’Her and Nitro Noush with a battle-hardened pack that has already played five bouts in 2012. Their opponents are a league that loves to be the underdog, however, a point neatly illustrated by Liverpool’s heroic second half comeback against Manchester Roller Derby in March, and any underestimation of the Birds’ fighting spirit could prove costly for DRR.

The event will be a double header, with Leicester’s first ever men’s roller derby game also taking place on the day. London’s Southern Discomfort will take on the Cocked Tails, an exhibition team made up of male skaters from around the Midlands. Famed for their swashbuckling style of play, Southern Discomfort are commonly held to be the best men’s team in the UK and are expected to draw a big crowd to Parklands.

With the Dollies looking to establish their position as one of the UKRDA’s power teams, the early part of the season has seen the Allstars face off against some of the giants of the European game in the form of WFTDA members Auld Reekie (Edinburgh) and the London Rollergirls.

“We’re ready to step it up this year”, says Allstars captain Onya Case. “We’ve learned that we need to play our game no matter what team we’re playing and not let a team dictate to us”.

DRR’s Ireland international Holly Sheet agrees: “It’s made us bring our game up”.

Liverpool are expected to bring a roster featuring a mix of experienced skaters and fresh talent to Leicester, with several of the team that faced DRR last year remaining. “Sissy Breakneck is a big hitter so I’ll be looking out for her” said Holly Sheet “and Daria Dynamite, who can just go right through your legs!”.

The game will be a bittersweet moment for the Dollies, as Total Freyhem skates in her last bout for the A-team before joining the London Rollergirls. One of the Dolly Rockits’ most consistent all-rounders, she made the transition from B-team captain to A-team star with ease in 2011 and will be a tough act to follow.

“It’s really hard to say [what DRR will miss most about Freyhem] as she does so much.” said Onya Case. “I’ll really miss her offensive play when I’m jamming because she has the ability to floor everyone on track. I’ll miss her jammer killing, definitely, and her enthusiasm, she’s always joking on the bench and lifting morale.”

DRR need to remain focused on the job at hand, however. With two very tough-looking away games (against High Wycombe’s Big Bucks High Rollers and the currently unbeaten Brighton Rockers) coming up next, the team will be looking to avoid any mistakes and notch up a victory in their last home game for a few weeks.

The bout takes place on April 21st at Parkland Leisure Centre in Oadby, Leicester.