The Sea to Sky Sirens roller derby team weren't only touched by an angel on Saturday (July 2).
No, they were also bumped, bruised and abused by the visiting Anarchy Angels squad, who beat the hometown team by a score of 152-69.
Unlike past bouts, the Sirens actually got off to a decent start in the first half, but the more experienced Angels seemed to take over in the second half.
"We were so strong in the first half," said Kristi "Roxie Shocker" Anderson. "We played them at the Cloverdale Rodeo and they kicked our a--. I think we definitely played a lot better this time out."
The Sirens lost to the Angels 157-69 back on May 21 in Cloverdale and the Angels' "Combat Blondie" said the visiting team noticed the improvements.
"They definitely did surprise us in the first half," she said. "Our jammers just weren't getting through but we made some adjustments in the second after we figured out what the refs were doing."
Trailing 54-38 after the first half, the Sirens got some decent production from Genevieve "Honey Badger" Madrano, who scored eight points, but it was Shannon "Mala Justed" Handley who dominated key moments in the first half. Handley picked up 22 points on her own to keep the score close.
"I remember telling the girls during half time that the Angels are going to be really and to be prepared for it," said Sirens head coach "Full of Hot Blair."
But the Sirens simply couldn't stop the jams of Angels' star "Rolla Sassin." She picked up 29 points in the second half and the Angels cruised to the victory.
"We called her Barbie because she looked so perfect and was so tall," joked Anderson. "And 'Combat Blondie' is a beast out there. She hit me so hard in my chest that I got winded."
Anderson was no slouch in the second half, leading the Sirens with 10 points, but it simply wasn't enough. She added that the team still needs to work on defence.
"We just have to learn how to stop their jammer better," she said. "We can score points but we can't seem to do a good enough job stopping them."
The opposition was a little more kind in their assessment of the Sirens.
"They've just got to stick with it," said Combat Blondie. "They've got a great group of girls over there and if they stick with it, I think they can go far."
After the Sirens' bout, members of both teams, along with the Vancouver Murder men's team, competed in a co-ed bout. The action was hot and heavy, with several thunderous hits, and in the end the red team defeated the black team by a score of 102-89.
The Sirens' next home bout is set for July 16, when the Sunshine Coast Roller Girls come to town. The beer gardens and halftime entertainment will return for the bout, which takes place at 7 p.m. at Brennan Park.
For more information on the team, visit www.squamishrollerderby.com.
