2023 was an incredibly busy year for Norfolk Roller Derby’s premier WFTDA team, the Norfolk Brawds. Nine public roller derby games – four of which took place on international soil – gave the team little time to rest on their laurels; and while only three of these games resulted in wins, the Brawds were repeatedly able to climb the rankings due to consistently outperforming the predictors. They ended the year comfortably in the European Top 40, according to Flat Track Stats.
By comparison, then, 2024 has been quiet. The year is nearly up, and with only four public games under their belt, it may be fair to assume that the team has been having a well-deserved rest. However, this could not be further from the truth. Behind closed doors, the Brawds have been working hard, gaining strength, perfecting strategies – and this is beginning to show in their results, with three quarters of their games this year being sizeable wins.
Much of the year for Norfolk Roller Derby has been spent in the north of the UK, with the Brawds having faced three Scottish teams – Auld Reekie, Dundee, and Glasgow – and Rainy City’s Reckoning. So far, only Auld Reekie has been able to halt the Brawds’ relentless desire for victory, having handily bested them in a game in Edinburgh in March with a score of 210 – 90. Since then, the Brawds won against Reckoning in May (143 – 111), Dundee in July (152 – 113), and most recently, Glasgow in October (280 – 71).
It makes sense, then, that they hope to finish the year strong in their final games of the year, and it is fitting that both of those games will take place locally. November 30th will see the double threat of Bristol Roller Derby and Kent Roller Derby descend upon the UEA Sportspark in Norwich for a triple header to finish the year with a bang.
But how do these teams size up against our local legends, the Norfolk Brawds? Bristol Roller Derby is currently ranked 38th in Europe, just a few spots shy of Norfolk, who are currently 32nd. Their year has been tumultuous, with several of their Five Nations Roller Derby matches ending in close, hard-fought losses. In May, they lost a game against the Liverpool Roller Birds by just 17 points; similarly, Auld Reekie bested them by 12 points; and in October, Wiltshire was able to claim victory over Bristol by a mere four points!
While this may seem like the game on November 30th is Bristol’s to lose, it is important to look at the bigger picture. Not only was Bristol’s points differential against Auld Reekie in May significantly closer than the Brawds’ in March, Bristol also beat Zurich Roller Derby in February this year (143 – 116), which Norfolk was not able to do when they played against Zurich in November 2023 (99 – 191). When we also factor in that the last time Norfolk and Bristol faced off against each other in 2023, Bristol won, it becomes clear that their game on November 30th has the potential to be hotly contested.
In stark contract to Bristol, Kent Roller Derby appears to be on a winning streak, having not lost a single game this year. Not only have they netted six wins in 2024 so far, but four of those wins were with a points differential of at least 80 – meaning Kent will have a well-earned confidence heading into the November 30th triple header.
Once again, though, it is important to consider contexts to these games. Many of Kent’s wins this year came from their participation in Five Nations Roller Derby, and from their dominance, it could be concluded that they have been under-ranked by being positioned in Tier 3 East, rather than, perhaps, in Tier 2, where they may have faced opponents closer to their current position of 48th in Europe. In addition, when Kent and Norfolk last played each other in 2022, Norfolk was able to claim victory (176 – 150), meaning they could either approach November 30th on the back foot, or hungry for vengeance and hot off their 2024 win streak.
There is only one way to see the games unfold, and that is to be there on the day! The UEA Sportspark in Norwich will be home to three exciting games of full contact roller derby. Tickets are just £8 per person (under 12s are free!), and the doors open at 10:30am. There will be entertainment, stalls, refreshments, and a raffle, so it is a great opportunity for a day out! Tickets are available here; and we have a Facebook event with relevant information here. We hope to see you there!
Photos by Mark Harris Photography.
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