Today’s game is led by HR Dr. Warlock. HNSO is Sticks. Officials you may know are Razor on FIPR, Julius as OPR, Maimed’ is scoreboarding. There are also some skaters in white and black. This game is apparently a Big Thing, but has not yet started. Bear is being very loud as announcer

Jam 1
White 7 gets lead. Called one point. Black jammer in box

Jam 2
White 7 lead. Black 4 re-enters and gets through pack nicely. 13 points to white

Jam 3
Two 81 skaters on track. White 81 lead. Lovely pointing by Killer Bite. Black jammer sent to box. White 21 points

Black jammer sent to box

Jam 4
White 273 jammer on track. Encountering strong black walls. Gets lead. Jam called 23 points

Jam 5
White 5 black 16. White jammer having hard time in wall. Black lead. Great observation by Anton on OPR. White 5 still stuck in wall. Pack definition very good. White pass to 88 Black team 7 points

Jam 6
White 7 black 020. White recycled. Black lead. Great footwork by Hay Maker on Jam ref. White 7 through. Fast pack to avoid points. Black 10 white 23

Jam 7
Black 42 white 81. White 81 sent to box, but forgot which end it was at. Black lead through strong white wall. Nice apex jump from black. Star pass to white 316. Black 17

Jam 8
White 273. Black 4. Ooh exciting official timeout. Track repair.  There is very nice vegan cake here, always appreciated. Quick lead by black. Followed by white. Black 21

Jam 9
White 7 black 16. White cut track to box. Good call ref. Black out and lead. White back on track. Flagrant direction by black skater on white 417. Black 33 white 23. Team timeout / Ooh lovely smart officials in the centre

Jam 10
White 5 black 81. Very strong white walls. Quite impressive. White lead. Star pass to black 9. White 26

Jam 11
White 81 black 4. Black 4 recycled. White lead. Side surfing by white 81. Lovely clear penalty signals from Anton. White 35. Black 33

Jam 12
Black jammer in box. White 7 on track and quick lead. Black jammer 4. Black pivot in box. Nice call Razor. White on 43. Black team timeout. 

Jam 13
Black 42 white 81. Quick lead by white 81. White 46. OT. NSOs in discussion

Jam 14
White 273 black 16. Quick lead by 273. white 77 recycles jammer back. Strong walls not moving much. Anton getting low to look at pack. Lovely forearms call white 77 from Razor. White 50. Black 33

Jam 15
White 7 black 020. Black goes forward recycled. White lead. White cut track, thank you Killer Bite. Black cut too, thanks Hay Maker. Nice transitions by black skaters. Black 37 white 58

Jam 16
White 5 black 42. White 77 looks strong. White lead. Nice three wall with 77, 6955, and 11. White 62. 7 minutes left

Jam 17
White 81. Black 4. White 81 lead with neat footwork. Black held back star pass to 9. White 70. Official Review White. Lots of discussion in OR. Skating officials looking intense yet smart. Bear is quiet, and wearing very loud clothes. Ok… Now Bear is singing OR result. White looking for out of play block. Was issued to black

Jam 18
White 273 black 81. Quick jam. White lead. White 74. Black 37

Jam 19
White 7 black 42. Very strong walls. White lead. Black managed to get to 41. 4/4 jam Official review black, possibly about white jammer. Skaters relaxing, managing not to look at cake. Very strong willed. Cake looks huge. OR decision reached. Don’t think it was upheld.

Official Review important discussions and decisions

Jam 20
White 5. Black 16. White recycled. Black lead. White 417 in box. Walls slow and strong. Black jammer making very slow progress. White pass to 88. White 78 black 49. Official review white. 1:44 on clock

Jam 21
White 81 and black 020 lined up. Black bench appears to be dancing, or maybe showing odd tactical move. Killer Bite with whistle at the ready

Jam 22
Lots of crowd excitement. 81 white lead. White 81

Jam 23
Black 81 white 273. Quick lead by white. White walls holding back black. White 88 sent to box

Half time. White 81. Black 49. Officials now relaxing and checking in. Looks v professional. Go team stripe and clipboard!

Period 2. It’s very warm due to swimming pools. Hydrate everyone.

Jam 1
Black 42 white 7. Black lead. Pack moving fast, OPRs had to shift. Black 52 white 81

Jam 2
White 81 black 16. White lead. White 82 points. Two separate walls, inside pack refs would have to take note

Jam 3
Black 81. White 5. Black lead. Nice recycle by black. White walls holding back black. White star pass to 316. Black 50 white 82

Jam 4
White 273 black 42. Many attempts to pass and recycle. White 273 in box. Black lead. Lovely footwork by black to get past white walls. White star pass to 88 smoothly done. Very very long white recycle. 6955/77/45 wall proving effective. White 86 black 72

Jam 5
Black 4 white 7. Very quick lead by white. White 90

Jam 6
White 311 jamming for first time. Black 020 white recycled and stuck behind wall. Black lead. White recycle again. White star pass 88. Black jammer behind wall. Out again but not calling it off. Black jammer in box. Black 80 White 94

Jam 7
White 7 lead. Black scores points though. White 102 black 84

Jam 8
Black 7 white 273. Black quickly lead. Black recycled whilst white scoring points. Seems tactically unusual but maybe it’s a skater thing. Black 86 white 106

Jam 9
White 81 black 16. Black lead. White takes a while to get through wall. Pack shifting. Lots of good inside pack definition. Lovely backwards skating from Razor. Black 94 white 110

Jam 10
White 5 black 81. black lead slips round wall. 5 stuck in wall. White out scores points Black 100 white 114

Jam 11
White 7 – lead. Black 42 jammers. Nice out of play block penalty White 118

Jam 12
White 81 black 4. Official timeout, track?  White lead nice footwork closely followed by black. White 121

Jam 13
White 273 black 42. Black 42 in box – forearms. Nice forearms call Julius to black pivot 84. Black on track being held back by white 316 but now sent to box White 125 Ten minutes left. Time to start changing for game two

Jam 14
White 81 black jammer being held back. White lead. Black jammer 020 Black star pass to 9 White 125. Black 102

Jam 15
Official review. Black 16 white jammer in box. Black jammer lead but cut to box. White out scoring points. Very nice hands behind back move by white jammer to avoid forearms. White 139 black 114. 5 minutes on clock. Team timeout black

Jam 16
White 7 black 81. Black 81 lead. 7 outpaces 81. 81 does not call jam. Back block on white 7. White 143 black 121. Team timeout black. 4 minutes left. Official review white. Black 42 lined up to jam. White asked to overturn back block – rejected.

Jam 17
417/11/316 wall not effective long enough. Black lead. White 77 in box. White 7 stuck in pack. Then chasing. Black recycled. Does not call it off but then escapes. White 150 black 129. 2 minutes left

Jam 18
White 5 black 16. Multiplayer white 5. Black lead. White 5 back on track. Stuck in wall with 84 etc. Black 136 white 150. OR London. OR as timeout. 31 seconds left. Probably last jam

Jam 19
White 81 black 42 white lead. Final score black 139 white 153.

This has been the official commentary. Thank you and good night. Now to officiate game 2…

Photography credit: all John Hesse