Roller Derby: Nightmares celebrate home victory

Northland jammer Jem Baker (red helmet and black star) tries to break through the Tauranga defence during the Hell's Wives home game on Saturday. Photo / Matt Hudson

There's no greater glory than celebrating a massive victory over an opposing team on home ground - which is exactly what the Northland Nightmares' (Hell's Wives) roller derby team managed at the first home game of the season on Saturday, when they thrashed Tauranga's Mount Militia Derby Crew.

The Northland side took a healthy 241-point lead over the visiting skaters with a final score of 394-153.

The Wives dominated the first half with strong defence and strategy, but Mt Militia came back with fire in their bellies in the second half and were determined to put up a good fight - which they did, making Northland's defence work harder.

Northland Nightmares head coach Wendy Baird said the skaters from the North had worked hard in the run-up to the game with tighter strategies and game plays and a stronger team development overall.

"We have lost players this year to overseas travel and injury so our challenge this year involved that restructure to the team. We have still played hard, though, and Saturday was the culmination of hard work and training. It came together for us on the track."

She said the addition of Raelene Butters as assistant coach had also paid off this year with the coaching team being more empowered.

Northland's Most Valuable Player (MVP) jammer, voted by Tauranga's team, was deservedly won by Tanya Hyde, a strong and fit jammer who didn't hesitate to get back out and jam, bout after bout.

Meanwhile, the MVP blocker for the North was Haylee Thorne, who whipped up some on-track terror for Tauranga and provided some strong defence and offence for her side.

Baird said the Tauranga team had shown incredible consistency and had come back fighting in the second half.

"Their strategy was better ... there were no weak links on that team. But their jammers struggled to put points on the board due to our defensive walls."

-The Northland Nightmares play Auckland Roller Derby League in Auckland on June 6.