By sjj_admin 
Originally published on GameOnAus.com in Apr 2023
World of Tanks has returned! ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 1 rolled into action last Friday night. With a new team and team players, it is sure to be an exciting split!
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 1 Game 1
South Sydney Skorpions vs Melbourne Matildas
You couldn’t have had two more different teams in their off season. The Matildas brought in a heap of new players while the Skorpions made no changes to their line-up. Would the unknown quantity of the Matildas triumph or would the Skorpions’ consistency get them the win?
Murovanka
The Skorpions started on defence of their map pick. They sent Night in his IS-7 towards the 2 flag for any sneaky plays in that direction. He spotted Joeattora in the town providing support for his teammates moving onto the 1 flag. Putting two tanks on the cap, Joeattora found himself in a 2v1. After one of the Skorpions’ went down getting reset shots the Matildas left the cap. They found a two-for-one trade giving themselves a 3v2 take advantage. The Matildas pushed on and took the opening win.
Moving to attack the Skorpions needed a win. Night took a shot at the 1 flag from two high Matildas’ tanks. He found a ridge to hide behind as all of the Matildas were spotted around the 1 flag. The Matildas pushed into the 1 flag and a brawl ensued. Teams traded two kills each until the Skorpions found a single kill. That gave them a 3v2 tank advantage which they were able to make the most of to take the win.
Prokhorovka
The action moved to the Matildas’ map pick with the scores tied up. They started on attack and moved to the 1-2 line. Joeattora was spotted and took some fire as three of his teammates snuck further north. The Skorpion’s JT had bled a lot of health as the Matildas’ group was spotted. Shots were traded and it was the Matildas that came out ahead but the Skorpions struck first as Joeattora went down. JT quickly followed and another kill trade resulted in a 3v3. The Skorpions set a trap with Russian but great focus fire from the Matildas defused it. They rolled on to take the win.
Needing a win to send the game to a tie breaker, the Skorpions started their attack by sending two tanks to the eastern side of the train line. Auzzie was spotted out in the CS-63, taking a shot. The Matildas committed to an eastern defence, with three tanks going to the hill at F0. Bolognaise from the Matildas took a lot of damage on the hill but aid from his teammate Magic_Shells saw them win that battle. The other tanks had started a brawl at E6. Despite being out-gunned, the Matildas were able to bleed the Skorpions down and take the second match on their map pick.
The Melbourne Matildas defeat the South Sydney Skorpions 3-1.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 1 Game 2
North Sydney Sentinels vs Wellington Wolverines
It’s a tough introduction to the ANZPL for the Wolverines. Coming up against the reigning champions, the Sentinels, they had a mammoth task ahead of them.
Prokhorovka
Starting on attack of their map pick, the Wolverines brought a couple of unconventional tanks in the Strv 103B and T-100LT. The Sentinels had a massive HP advantage before the match even started. Wym0 from the Sentinels found himself in trouble early on but their HP advantage absorbed that, especially when they struck back with shots into the Wolverine’s Flaming. The Wolverines moved towards the 1 flag with the Sentinels having taken full control of the eastern side of the train line. Time was with the Sentinels though and the Wolverines needed to do something. Eventually Saxon from the Wolverines started the 1 flag cap, hoping to draw the Sentinels into the open where his teammates could farm. Wym0 and fellow Sentinel Saffe were able to get the reset. When Saxon went down the dominoes started to fall. The Sentinels found two quick kills and marched onto the remaining two tanks to take the win.
Moving to defence of their map pick, Sir_Robin from the Wolverines copped a shot on a scouting run. The Sentinels were methodical in their scouting, waiting for the moment when they would strike. Sir_Robin took a shot at a passing TheReturned that only succeeded in getting himself killed. Now with the tank advantage, the Sentinels closed the net. The Wolverines were backed into the 1 flag corner. With a 3 cap on the 2 flag, the Sentinels had the Wolverines on the ropes and took the win.
Cliff Sents
Already 2-0 up, the battle moved to the Sentinels’ stronghold of Cliff. They started on defence as Speed in a CS-63 met Saxon on the hill. The rest of the teams met at the foot of the hill as the Sentinels demolished three Wolverine tanks for the loss of only one of theirs. All that was left was to mop up the remainders and take the win.
The Wolverines moved to defence in their last match of the night. Taking up positions along the B line, they sent Saxon forward to the hill for scouting. For their attack the Sentinels took full control of the hill and all the surrounding area. They sent two tanks around the back of the hill towards the 2 flag, looking for a way in as Soltarian from the Wolverines snuck up to the donut. The Sentinels pulled the trigger and took a 2 for 1 trade. Bringing back to a 2v2, the Wolverines looked to take the timed win. Toddy339 went down but with Soltarian on full health the Wolverines were able to wait out the clock and take the win.
The North Sydney Sentinels defeat the Wellington Wolverines 3-1.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 1 Game 3
Adelaide Action X vs Perth Panthers
In the match of the night Action X took on the Panthers. The Panthers’ line-up under-performed last season and would be looking to make amends for missed opportunities. Action X were looking to get a leg up in this single round robin.
Himmelsdorf Panthers
Starting on attack of their map pick, the HP was already against the Panthers. Action X had brought a double Maus and double E100 line-up, giving the Panthers a lot of HP to chew through. The Panthers started pretty standard, scouting the 1-2 line with two tanks along the 8 line and one tank moving to B0. Action X spotted two of the Panthers tanks around the courtyard as they rotated back towards the 2 flag. The Panthers found shots onto Action X and isolated Gloster. He was removed but Panthers found themselves trapped at C5. Action X’s CJ found a kill onto KritaKil before turning his attention to Bailes. Meanwhile the other Action X tanks had been whittling away at the Panthers. Action X pushed on and found another kill. The Panthers had lost too many tanks as Action X took the win.
Action X brought the double Maus and double E100 line-up to their attack as their pushed up the 0 line. The Panthers’ JS spotted them coming around the corner at B0, forcing Action X to detour from the 2 flag. With such a heavy line-up, there was no way for Action X to rotate effectively. The Panthers chipped away at Action X’s HP. Action X ran as a group to E7 looking for shots onto their opponents. Trax from the Action X found his way onto the 2 flag but the Panthers had plenty of time to respond. Action X found two quick kills to have some hope. They moved a second tank to the two cap. JS was able to get the reset preventing the cap win. In the end the clock gave Panthers the win to level the game 1-1.
Prokhorovka
Action X took the defence first on their map pick. CJ took a couple of shots looking for a scouting Bailes from the Panthers. The game settled with both teams looking for a way in. CJ found Bailes at J0 without being spotted, allowing his teammate Dongerlord to rotate and eliminate him. That forced the Panthers into action along the train line. The trades were favouring them but when Dongerlord and CJ joined the fight it turned the tide towards Action X. With a stellar first pick Action X take the win.
Needing a win to send the match to the tie breaker, The Panthers started with a heavy 1 flag defence. They sent Dastardly in his IS-7 to watch the 2 flag. Action X responded by spreading along the F line on the western side of the train line. Bailes had joined Dastardly as Action X crossing the train line. He acted as the bait drawing in Action X. Dastardly sprung the trap too late as he went down first closely followed by Bailes. Action X had a two tank advantage and they were totally in control. They hunted and found their targets to take the win.
Adelaide Action X defeat the Perth Panthers 3-1.
Fantasy League
Action X’s CJ (330.5) topped the Fantasy League for the start of Split 1 2023, joined by his teammate Rowendy (260.4). The Matildas’ Magic_Shells (303.3) and the Skorpions’ Russian (293.2) starred from their match. Lastly Rainbow (245.4) from the Sentinels rounded out the ANZPL Fantasy Team Of The Week
Next Week
Both having wins in Round 1, the Sentinels and the Matildas face off to open Round 2. On the opposite end of the scale the Wolverines take on the Panthers with both teams searching for their first win. And for the last game of the night the Skorpions take on Action X in my pick for game of the week.
With only a single round robin before playoffs teams need to fire now, making for an explosive round 2! Tune in from 7pm AEST Fridays at https://twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz!