The turn came sharp and fast, but it was Peg Legs who threw her hip and sent White Thrash of the Poison Apples to the hardwood floor.

Peg Legs, aka Bethany Smoker, and White Thrash, aka Alexis Biondi, are members of the Dutchland Derby Rollers, a newly established roller derby team in Lancaster.

The 40-member team put on an exhibition bout Saturday night before a packed house of 1,000 at Overlook Skating Rink in Manheim Township.

This is not the scripted roller derby of yesteryear, where women squished each other into banked walls and used uppercuts to knock opponents down.

"This is a sanctioned sport," said Laverne N. Surly, aka Valerie Stephan, the team spokeswoman. "We emphasize the athleticism and empowerment of the sport."

The nonprofit organization is expecting to compete in six bouts next year and the championships, against teams from Harrisburg, Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley, she said.

"We are by the skaters, for the skaters, meaning we do everything ourselves, from advertising to skating."

Dutchland Derby Rollers has enough members for two 14-person teams and the required referees. They are hoping to recruit more members so they can build to a four-team league.

While the rules are different from when managers were out to make money by scripting bouts, the costumes are not.

With names like Rott Waler, Fatal Plus, Mary Queen of Scotch, Swoop Deville, Hamburglar and Spawna Skatin', the gals were decked out in miniskirts and fishnet hose.

Some sported dog collars, while others wore horns and heavy metal.

Every participant is required to wear head gear, elbow, knee and hand padding and a mouthpiece.

A roller derby bout is fought during three 20-minute periods. During each period, five contenders from each team run two-minute jams.

The fast-paced sport requires each team to have a pivot, who leads the pack and determines its speed; three blockers; and a jammer.

It is the jammer who scores. The jammer for each team starts two seconds behind the pack. She must pass the pack and lap it once before scoring begins. Once she gets by the pack, she gets a point for each person from the other team that she is able to get by in the two-minute period.

The lead jammer is determined by which jammer breaks through the pack first.

Penalties for using hands or forearms, grabbing, holding, pulling, pushing, blocking from the rear or throwing elbows result in the player spending 30 seconds to a minute in the penalty box.

"You can only block from your shoulder to your elbow or by a direct hip hit," Stephan said.

The Poison Apples made a giant comeback during the final period to win Saturday's bout in overtime, 131-129 over the Harvest Moonshiners.

Christie Cooper, aka Wicked Weasel, who plays as a jammer and pivot, said she got interested in roller derby after being recently separated.

"I was trying to find a family of girls. This is great exercise and it got me off the couch," she said.

The bout was the first for all team members, although many have been skating since childhood. Stephan said there are a few members of the team who were not strong skaters when they joined, but they are doing well now.

Sunday News staff writer Maria Coole is one of the team members.

Smoker, who moved to Chicago recently, said teammates sent her the money to fly back to compete Saturday. "This gives you great friends and a lot of action," she said.

Ali Youtz, aka Fatal Plus, joined to do something different. "I was never really athletic, but I thought it was something to get into. I'm glad I did. I really love it."

While all the skaters take hits and fall, it is the blockers who take the brunt. After the jammer gets by, the pivot works with the blockers to slow down and create a wall that, hopefully, will slow the jammer down.

Suffragette Cindy, aka Claire Smith, had other ideas. During the second period, she broke loose and tore up the floor, scoring 10 points during one jam.

"Infiltrate them," her teammates yelled as the Poison Apples encouraged their team to "Lock it up."

Smith was not to be locked up.

"I learned to skate when I was 6 because all my friends had skating parties," she said.

"Everyone is doing an amazing job. They are all focusing really well," she said during a short break from the action. "I'm just happy I haven't fallen yet."

The Dutchland Derby Rollers will meet at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at Senorita Burrita, 227 N. Prince St. For details, contact Spawna Skatin' at Spawna@dutchlandrollers.com.