The South Grand Slammers defense established dominance over the Dogtown Rockets early in a match that was chippy from the start and included some extremely physical play by both squads.

The Slammers and the Rockets both entered the evening with something to prove. The Slammers historically had not fared well against the Rockets and looked to take control of the standings while the Rockets looked to prove that this was not a rebuilding year with the influx of new talent. By the end of the night, the Slammers showed that they are the team to beat and are firmly in control of their own destiny in the 2014 Turf Wars campaign. The bout started off with Gnat King Kill on the line for the Slammers against Magnum, p.i.m.p. for the Rockets. The Slammers defense held Magnum in check long enough for Gnat to draw first blood with a three point jam. The second and third jams of the first half gave us two of the five scoreless jams in the entire game. Spin Diesel grabbed lead jammer for the Slammers, but was then quickly sent off for a track cut allowing Magnum and the Rockets an opportunity to strike and strike they did. Magnum put up thirteen points before Spin returned to the track and then Magnum was sent off for a track cut allowing Spin to put up nine points of his own making the score 13 - 12 in favor of the Rockets. The lead would be short lived however, as the Slammers defense put James Mueller on lock-down allowing Handrail to rack up a twenty point jam to make the score 32 - 13 Slammers over Rockets. Shanego Fett and Magnum combined for nine points over the next two jams to bring the score to 32 - 22, but then Slammers defense went to work on Mueller again allowing Gnat King Kill to rack up twenty-seven points bringing the score to 59 - 22 with seventeen minutes to go in the half. The Rockets then went on a 20 - 0 run over the next four jams to close the gap to 59 - 42. The Slammers then went to work not allowing a single point for the next seven jams while putting up forty-eight points of their own to make the score 107 - 42 with 2:30 left in the half. The final two jams of the half saw each team take a jammer penalty and when the final whistle of the half blew, the Slammers had a comfortable 125 - 55 lead.

The Slammers defense came out of the break swinging allowing their jammers to go a 27 - 0 run over the first five jams of the second half bringing the score to 157 - 55. Magnum grabbed the first eight points of the second half for the Rockets on the sixth jam, but the Slammers responded with twelve of their own on the following jam. A track cut call against Indecent Exposure of the Slammers allowed Shanego Fett to put up fourteen points to make the score 169 - 77 with around sixteen minutes to play. The Slammers defense then shut the door going on a 69 - 0 run over the next seven jams to take a 235 - 77 lead with less than six minutes remaining. The Rockets would manage to put twenty-three more points on the board over the next four jams to break the century mark, but the Slammers would almost pace them with twenty of their own making the final score 255 - 100, Slammers over Rockets.

Scoring (Official):

Slammers: Handrail - 93; Gnat King Kill - 71; Jagged Little Will - 43; Indecent Exposure - 24; Spin Diesel - 13; Neil Death Experience - 11

Rockets: Shanego Fett - 49; Magnum, p.i.m.p. - 48; Specs Offender - 3

MVPs: Gnat King Kill (Slammers); Shanego Fett (Rockets)

With the win, the Slammers take sole possession of first place and they did it with authority. The game featured a test of a potential rule-change in which all penalties will be reduced to 30 seconds (from one minute). Its hard to really say after one game, but the change did increase the time that teams were at full strength and it kept powerjam scores down in the low teens. The big scoring damage was done by the Slammers during even strength jams as the Slammers’ defense really brought their “A” game. The Rockets have a lot of work to do if they want to turn things around and make a run at a championship this year. The Slammers look to be the team to beat, but as we saw last year, anything is possible.

Come join us this Saturday in Soulard for the Mardi Gras festivities! The GateKeepers along with the Arch Rival Roller Girls will be in the parade!

The Turf Wars continue on March 22nd at the Midwest Sport Hockey Complex in Queeny Park as the South Grand Slammers take on the RiverFront Crimes.

See you at the bouts!

Star-Spangled Hammer

Star-Spangled Hammer is the announcer for the St. Louis GateKeepers!

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