THE exciting sport of roller derby is coming to Urmston this March, in the first game to be held in the area.

After hosting a number of highly successful games, commonly referred to as ‘bouts’ in the city centre last year, Manchester Roller Derby is set to bring roller derby to Trafford for the first time.

Ticket holders will be treated to not one but two games of the full-contact sport. The double-header sees Manchester’s 'B' team, the Furies, go up against Evolution Roller Girls from Shrewsbury in the warm-up bout.

The main event, however, will be Manchester's 'A' team, the CheckerBroads, versus Kallio Rolling Rainbow from Finland.

Roller derby is a fast-paced, hard-hitting sport, which has been described as ‘like rugby on roller skates’. The full contact sport is played on quad roller skates and has seen an influx of interest in the UK since the release of Drew Barrymore’s movie Whip It, which hit cinemas in 2009.

Two teams skate together on an oval track and points are scored by one individual from each team, known as a jammer. The jammers must fight to get through the pack against hard defensive play from the opposing team and with the help of their own team. Each jammer scores points by passing members of the opposing team.

Shantelle Gaston-Hird, a 25-year-old skater from Altrincham, said: “I always look forward to our home games and as this is the first of 2013 it will set a benchmark for us to work to throughout the year. Kallio Rolling Rainbow is a tough team and it’s going to be a mega battle.”

The ‘A’ team captain, also known as Sirenide on the track, added: "The great thing about roller derby in my opinion is that it attracts fans from every walk of life. The sport combines that childhood memory of skating, with the speed and adrenaline of more extreme sports."

The bout is being held at George H Carnall Leisure Centre, Urmston on March 2 2013. Doors open at 1pm and first whistle will be at 2pm. Children are welcome as this is a family friendly event. There will be cakes, merchandise stalls, DJs and a raffle.

Tickets cost £6.50 in advance and can be bought from Manchester Roller Derby’s official website http://www.manchesterrollerderby.com.