By sjj_admin 
Originally published on GameOnAus.com in Apr 2023
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 1 has joined the ANZPL in starting the season! With some ANZBL players heading to the ANZPL, there have been some big roster changes. How did round 1 go? Read on to find out!
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 1 Game 1
Hawthorn Hellcats Vs Brisbane Bulldogs
The Hellcats are the reigning champions, so it was always going to a challenge for the Bulldogs. Will the ANZBL newcomers up to the task?
Cliff
Things did not start well for the Bulldogs with EBR_Assassin losing almost half his health on the hill climb. He took hill control as the Hellcats’ hubewa found himself in trouble against two Bulldogs’ tanks around the donut. He went down but the Hellcats found two kills themselves. The Bulldogs equalised, bring the game back to even numbers. Finding the picks, the Hellcats managed to get the win with two tanks standing.
Moving to defence, EBR_Assassin made the hill climb again. A 2v2 fight broke out at E2 with neither team finding a significant advantage. The Bulldogs took the initiative and pushed onto the Hellcats. Kiwi_Dynamite from the Hellcats went down first, followed by his teammate hubewa. The Hellcats traded back by eliminating EBR_Assassin. Having the tank advantage, the Bulldogs looked to circle around the remaining Hellcats tanks. They pressed and found the kills to level the series 1-1.
Himmelsdorf
Moving to Himmelsdorf, the Bulldogs made an attacking push to the 1 flag. The Hellcats were caught out of position and scrambled to rotate. Hubewa and Negativestyl were able to cross the courtyard without being punished. This allowed them to sneak down the K line to get resetting shots in. The Bulldogs persisted with the cap perhaps a little too long before pushing onto the Hellcats. Unfortunately for them the Hellcats were ready. They made the most of their shots and took the win.
Needing a win to send the game to a tie breaker, the Bulldogs brought a fairly standard line-up into their defensive match. As they set up in the north-west, the Hellcats sent Negativestyl to the hill to spot while the rest of his team ran the 8 line. The Hellcats were able to get onto the 2 flag without being spotted, forcing the Bulldogs into action. Sending two tanks to the 2 flag, the Bulldogs were able to get the resets but the rest of their team was staying a long way back. Taking advantage of the lack of support the Hellcats were able to bleed the Bulldog’s HP. Eventually the Bulldogs rotated in forcing a brawl. When the dust settled the Hellcats had emerged victorious.
The Hawthorn Hellcats defeat the Brisbane Bulldogs 3-1.
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 1 Game 2
Canberra Centurions Vs Bundaberg Badgers
The Badgers had gone through some significant roster changes with a couple of their players heading to the ANZPL. Their opponents for the night are the consistent Centurions. Would it be the Badgers or the Centurions that came away with the win?
Himmelsdorf
The Badgers quickly pushed the 0 line in their attacking match while the Centurions pushed aggressively into the courtyard and south of the map. Not spotting any of the Badgers, the Centurions rushed to the 2 flag where the Badgers had already started the cap. The Centurions managed to isolate The_Gmaing_Lord but a quick call from the Badgers saw them leave the cap and come to support. Both teams traded kills as the match was reduced to a 3v3. The Centurions had the healthier tanks and that HP advantage proved the difference. The Centurions take the opening win.
Moving to attack, the Centurions took a page from the Badgers playbook as they went up the hill. Instead of dumping all the way over, Mine_Turtle1234 stopped on the hill looking for vision. After that brief pause the rest of the Centurions pushed down the 0 line. They were spotted as they turned into the B line. The Badgers rotated towards the 2 flag. Unable to start the cap, the Centurions pushed towards the Badgers at D6 while Mine_Turtle1234 took shots from the hill. The Centurions came away with the kill and backed off. Choosing their fights carefully, the Centurions whittled down the Badgers, allowing them to go up 2-0.
Ruinberg
Our first match on the new map of Ruienberg kicked off with Badgers on attack. They moved quickly south to the 2 flag. They started the cap but the Centurions were able to get shots in easily. Realising the situation, they moved off the cap and pushed into the houses. The Centurions’ Gardyy was able to find a lone CS-63 and punished it. Finding themselves pushed back into a crossfire, the Badgers were in trouble. The Centurions closed the net around the Badgers to take the win.
Looking for a clean sweep the Centurions also looked towards the 2 flag. They had two tanks in the middle to keep the Badgers at bay as the rest of the Centurions took positions at K0. The tanks at K0 slowly moved up to F0, setting up cover for a 2 flag cap. Continuing their aggressiveness, the Badgers dumped into F0. While they had the tank advantage, the Centurions had a slight HP advantage. It was guns in the game that prevailed, with the Badgers taking the last match of the game.
The Canberra Centurions defeat the Bundaberg Badgers 3-1.
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 1 Game 3
Lismore Leopards Vs Auckland Archers
The Leopards didn’t have the easiest of runs last season. Coming away with only two wins and placing 5th overall means they will be looking to improve. The only team below them was their round 1 opponents, the Archers, who did not win a single match in Season 4. Would the Leopards extend the Archers’ losing streak? Or would the Archers find a way to win?
Ruinberg
Our second round of the night on Ruinberg saw the Archers start on defence. Like the Centurions vs Badgers match the play centred on the 2 flag. Forsaken and DeadeyeDazNz from the Archers found themselves in the open around K9 and were punished for it. The Leopards made the most of it and eliminated Forsaken. Dark from the Leopards then ran the 0 line looking for shots but couldn’t find any and lost half his health for the trouble. It was a comedy of errors as the Leopards found a 3v2 battle. The Archers’ Road_Riot went down as the brawl broke out. When the dust settled the Leopards found themselves with an early lead in the series.
Breaking the trend, the Leopards made a 1 flag push with the Archers set up to defend the 2 flag. With plenty of time to set up the Leopards were in control. The Archers were also slow to respond. Taney_Local found a desperate reset for the Archers but when Forsaken and DeadeyeDazNz went down they were in trouble. The Leopards made the most of their opponent’s confusion to go up 2-0.
Tundra
Moving to Tundra the Leopards took a ton of map control on the defensive side. The Archers searched for a way in, favouring the 1 flag approach. Slow and steady was the Archers’ manta but time was against them. Eventually the push came but the Leopards had ample time to prepare. A 2v2 battle at A4 went heavily in favour of the Leopards as the Leopards bled down the Archers tanks at D5. The dominoes continued to fall as the Leopards took another win.
In the last match of the night the Archers moved to defence. Forsaken was spotted early and took a shot for his trouble. The Leopards started their push towards the 1 flag, sending two tanks to meet the Archers’ one at A4. A couple of bounced shots meant that GDOG337 lived but was low on HP. Reinforcements arrive for him but the Leopards held their own. Dark from the Leopards won his 1v1 battle against DeadeyeDazNz without taking a shot as the Leopards pressed their advantage. The Leopards took the win and continued the Archers winless streak.
The Lismore Leopards defeat the Auckland Archers 4-0.
Fantasy League
The Leopards shined this week with Dark (364.3) and Ribbit (330.8) topping the Fantasy League Team Of The Week. JimmyGroken (310.1) and Negativestyl (260.3) featured from the Hellcats’ win as well. Rounding out the Team Of The Week is Mine_Turtle1234 (261.2) from the Centurions.
Next Week
Round 2 sees the Hellcats taking on a very aggressive Badgers roster and the Bulldogs coming up against the Archers. The night is capped by a showdown between the Centurions and the Leopards.
The ANZBL continues to provide entertaining games. Round 2 returns on Monday. Tune in from 7pm AEST at https://twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz!