Sean Allen
BRANT NEWS

The Belles of the Brawl have something to prove in their final bout of the season on Saturday.

“This is a rematch,” team member S.S. Sativa said. “We beat them by one point earlier this season. They beat us both times we played them last season, so we want to prove our victory wasn’t a fluke.”

The Belle City Roller Girls club will welcome Toronto’s Derby Debutantes back to Lions Park Arena on Saturday, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the bout starting at 7 p.m.

The Belles team will be looking to close out its sophomore season with a victory.

“We showed big improvements from last year,” skater Justine Sane said. “We definitely had more points scored and our loses were not as big this season.”

The loses were also fewer.

After posting a 1-6 competitive travel record in their debut season in 2011, the Belles of the Brawl are 5-3 heading into this weekend’s matchup.

Assured of better than a .500 record, Sane said the team is looking forward to continuing building in 2013.

“We are getting a reputation as a hard-hitting team,” she said. “All our opponents are telling everyone we are big hitters.”

The Belles were busy in 2012 with nine matches. Most clubs tend to average closer to five.

The work has paid off, as the club has climbed from near the bottom of RollerGirl.ca’s Canadian rankings to No. 44 on a list of 91 travel teams.

“We’ve done a great job,” Sane said. “There are different levels within the rankings and it’s not like we are aiming to be top five anytime soon. We are happy with how we are doing and we are ranked higher than a lot of the teams we play locally.”

Even a 151-133 loss to the Hamilton City Roller Girls Harlots in their last match propelled the Belles of the Brawl up the rankings because the Harlots team is Top 25 in the country.

Tickets for the final match of the season are available online at www.ticketscene.ca. Sativa said the event is themed after Stephen King’s Carrie, so there will be some blood and prom elements.

The team is trying out hosting a dry event and will have a kids activity area and face painting.

The Belles of the Brawl will also be accepting donations for their team’s entrance in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure.

As the season winds down, Sativa said the Belle City Roller Girls are always welcoming new members interested in the 2013 season.

She said roller derby is a great way to socialize, have fun and stay in shape.