Roller Derby: Hell's Wives rolled by Crew

Motley Crew's Primevil (left) and Hells Wives' Daisy Chainsaw compete during the Sulphur City Steam Rollers Motley Crew versus Northland's Hells Wives roller derby match. Photo / Stephen Parker

When two teams named Motley Crew and Hell's Wives come together for a sporting fixture, chances are you're watching a game of roller derby.

The Northland Hell's Wives team rolled out with a smaller than usual team in Rotorua on Saturday, with just nine players instead of the ideal 15.

This reflected on the scoreboard as Rotorua's Motley Crew undid Northland 285-98.

The Sportsdrome in Rotorua was turned into a roller derby arena on Saturday night - featuring colourful costumes, skilful footwork, hard hits and, of course, roller skates.

More than 500 people packed into the Sportsdrome to watch the fixture.

"It was harder than the scoreline reflected," Motley Crew player and coach Layla Robinson, aka Primevil, said.

"We were pretty exhausted by the end of it, and last year we played them and they absolutely thrashed us."

She said most of the sold-out crowd had never seen a game of roller derby before, so they were happy to put on a good show.

"We had 518 people this year, with 60 more seats than we had last year, and that easily sold out.

"About 70 per cent of the crowd had not seen a roller derby game before."

The basics of roller derby matches see two teams skate around an oval track with most of the players functioning as blockers.

One player in each team is called a jammer and they try to make their way through the pack - full of blockers - to score points. Meanwhile, the blockers try their best to stop the opposition jammer, while making space for their own to score points.

Robinson said Motley Crew's performance on Saturday was excellent.

"I think it is absolutely our best game by far.

"The crowd was absolutely pumping as well, it was packed out, and that helps being on your home court.

"It is a lifestyle for us, you can't have any other hobbies really. It is work, home, family and roller derby pretty much."

Earlier this month, Northland's Hell's Wives played Auckland's Pirate City Rollers Broadside Brawlers, winning 208-144.

In May, they beat Tauranga's Mount Militia Derby Crew, 394-153.

The next game for Hell's Wives' is on July 18, in a triple header in Auckland against Auckland Roller Derby League and Nelson's Siren of Smash.

They then head south to play Napier Bay City Rollers on August 22.