Wiltshire Roller Derby (WRD) took to the track in their inaugural appearance at the Five Nations Playoffs, formerly known as the British Championships, since the pandemic disrupted the sporting world.
The event unfolded over the weekend of 9th and 10th September, resulting in WRD’s triumphant ascent to Tier 2 for the upcoming 2024 season.
Prior to the pandemic’s unwelcome intrusion, the team had their sights set on Tier 1 competition. However, due to a tournament restructuring, they found themselves in Tier 3 at the outset of the 2023 season.
Undeterred, WRD demonstrated their mettle by clinching victory in three out of four regional fixtures, earning them the privilege of journeying to Sheffield for the playoffs and the prospect of promotion.
In their playoff debut, Wiltshire faced off against London’s formidable Batter C Power, a team that had emerged victorious in all four of their pre-playoff regional encounters. This clash marked their first-ever meeting, and WRD wasted no time establishing their dominance.
They seized an early advantage, which they were able to hold onto, culminating in a resounding final score of 243-142 in favour of the Wiltshire side. This pivotal win propelled them into day 2 of the playoffs and the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, Wiltshire locked horns with Manchester Roller Derby, another fresh encounter on their roller derby journey. Despite Manchester’s spirited offensive efforts, WRD’s adept containment of Manchester’s jammers led to a final score of 194-103 in favour of the determined Wiltshire team.
The grand finale saw Wiltshire pitted against Sheffield’s formidable Hallam Hellcats, and in a fiercely contested match, they ultimately settled for the silver medal, with a final score of 155-135 in Hallam’s favour.
Reflecting on this achievement, Wiltshire’s head coach, Nathan Pithers, commented, “The team has worked so hard to reach their goal of promotion this season. It’s been a pleasure to coach them, now the hard work starts for 2024”.
Wiltshire’s next showdown is scheduled against Team Iceland in Reykjavik on 14th October 2023.
If you represent a business with an interest in supporting women in sports, Wiltshire Roller Derby is actively seeking sponsors for the upcoming 2024 season. Get in touch via email at wiltshirerollerderby@gmail.com.
For those curious about the world of roller derby, delve deeper into the sport by visiting www.wiltshirerollerderby.co.uk for more information.
Photographs courtesy of Paul Jones Photography Cardiff
