By sjj_admin 
Originally published on GameOnAus.com in Apr 2023
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 2 is done and dusted with a pretty big upset. Read on to find out the winners and losers.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 2 Game 1
North Sydney Sentinels vs Melbourne Matildas
Taking down the Skorpions last week, the Matildas now faced an even bigger challenge. In their way was the Sentinels. Would the Matildas claim another big scalp? Or would the Sentinels show why they’re one of the best teams in the league?
Sand River
Starting on the attack of their map pick, the Matildas spread their scouting, sending two into the river, two to the south and one to towards the 2 flag. A fight broke out as the Sentinels’ Wym0 and Syndy found themselves under fire. The Matildas’ Whippet also found himself in trouble, losing half his health in the river. His team mates found good bleed damage onto the rest of the Sentinels though. Speed from the Sentinels was the first casualty as he searched for Whippet and found himself in an overmatch. The Matildas made the most of this tank advantage. Focusing on their targets the Matildas took the opening match.
Moving to attack, the Sentinels were looking for revenge. Looking towards the 2 flag, the scouted the ridge at D6. Finding themselves against a couple of Matildas’ tanks, they pulled back to assess their options. The Sentinels’ Del rotated along the K line to the 1 flag but was spotted. With that rotation exposed, they sent Wym0 and Speed along the A line. Meanwhile the Matildas found a kill onto Del as the Sentinels moved three tanks onto the cap. Seeing the tanks coming for them, they pushed off and removed Whippet, creating a 3v3 brawl. When the dust settled the Matildas sound themselves up 2-0 on their map pick.
Prohorovka
Desperate for a win, the action moved to the Sentinels’ map pick. Del scouted the 2 line as the Matildas send four tanks on the eastern side of the train line towards the 2 flag. The Sentinels were able to hold the Matildas in the town at E7. They dumped over the train line and lost a tank for their trouble. The Sentinels found the kills quickly and took the win.
Looking to win the game, the Matildas took control of the eastern side of the train line for their defence. Meanwhile the Sentinels spread with an eye to the 1 flag. They found an early pick onto Whippet and removed him from the game. With the tank advantage the Sentinels took it slow, waiting for their opportunity. They spotted the Matildas’ RavioliAldente crossing to the east of the train line and put a lot of damage into him. Wym0 went down, bringing it back to a 4v4. With time running out the Sentinels put on the cap pressure. The Matildas were winning the brawl at E6 but they couldn’t get the reset shots off. The Sentinels take the second win on their map pick, sending the game to a tie breaker.
Cliff
Cliff as a tie breaker map favoured the Sentinels. They chose the attack. The Matildas drove straight to the middle of the map. Bubbles from the Matildas completed a partial hill climb. The Matildas rolled around the donut and immediately removed Del. With that overmatch the Matildas went next and found a 2-for-1 trade. With more guns in the game the Matildas took the tie breaker with 3 tanks alive.
The Melbourne Matildas defeat the North Sydney Sentinels 3-2.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 2 Game 2
Wellington Wolverines Vs Perth Panthers
Newcomers the Wolverines had a hard introduction to the ANZPL last week, coming up against the Sentinels. The Panthers were also looking for their first win of Split 1 2023. Who would walk away with the victory?
Himmelsdorf
The Panthers started on the attack of their map pick. They looked to the south as KritaKil took hill control. The Wovlerines settled into a 2 flag defence with one set of eyes on the 1 flag. After much scouting, the Panthers pushed the 5 line into the 2 flag. Seeing what was waiting for them, they didn’t push all the way out and pulled back to the 8 line to support KritaKil. The high MP of the double Maus setup was proving an asset for the Wolverines. But even with losing the first tank the Panthers found their marks. With a great assist from a dead Maus, the Panthers took the cap win.
Now on the defence, the Panthers set up aggressively around the courtyard. Shots were traded with the Wolverines doing some damage. The Panthers’ JS rotated south looking for the 1 flag push. Switching tactics the Wolverines left Toddy339 spotted and snuck three tanks down the 7 line to set up for the 2 flag cap. With only 1 tank on the cap, the Panthers had time to respond. The Wolverines put another tank on the cap to pressure their opponents. Godmode got the reset as the Wolverines tried to block damage onto Flaming. When he was reset their attack fell apart. The Panthers go up 2-0 on their map pick.
Murovanka
Moving to their map pick, the Wolverines started on the defence. They sent three tanks to the east and spotted the Panthers’ push there. The Wolverines’ Mud_Garde took a beating and was forced to pull back. Sir_Robin from the Wolverines found himself deleted, quickly followed by Mud_Garde. With minimal damage to their tanks the Panthers pushed towards the south of the town, looking for more kills. They found their kills and took the win.
Looking to salvage some pride, the Wolverines also pushed east on their attack. KritaKil in the CS-63 scouted that push and stopped it in its tracks. The Panthers found a 4v3. They won that engagement with no losses. MadHouse found himself in a 2v1 and he went down, but with his teammates finishing up their fight they cleaned up the remaining Wolverines’ tanks.
The Perth Panthers defeat the Wollongong Wolverines 4-0.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 2 Game 3
South Sydney Skorpions Vs Adelaide Action X
Both the Skorpions and Action X have formidable line-ups. This match is so close that trying to call it may as well come down to a coin flip. Read on to see who came out on top.
Ruinberg
Action X started on the attack of their map pick. They pushed hard to the 1 flag in the north. The Skorpions had taken defensive positions around the field and were able to bleed Action X on their cross. Action X pushed through to the 0 line without putting out a lot of damage onto the Skorpions. They found an overmatch against the Skorpions’ Night but with their health low the Skorpions had the advantage. Action X brought it back to a 3v3 but the Skorpions were in control, taking the opening win.
Moving to defence, Action X’s Dongerlord took a lot of very early damage. The Skorpions didn’t waste time as they quickly moved tanks onto the 2 flag. They took a 2-for-1 trade to have the tank advantage. With more guns in the game the Skorpions made the most of their advantage and went up 2-0 on their opponents’ map pick.
Himmelsdorf
Moving onto the Skorpions’ map pick, they spread out around the courtyard on the defence. Action X sent three tanks up the hill with two at the base of the banana at G7. They came down the hill into the arms of the Skorpions. The Skorpions found the overmatch onto Dongerlord at E7. He went down as Action X removed Night. Two Action X tanks chased down Russian before rotating to support their teammates in a 2v3. They made the most of their shots to take the win.
Action X moved to defence as they looked to send us to the second tie breaker of the night. They sat three tanks around D7 with the other two tanks to the north west. The Skorpions sent one tank to the hill as the rest were on the southern side of the courtyard. Auzzie from the Skorpions made the courtyard cross but was spotted., as was his teammate Night. But for the knowledge Action X were the ones taking damage. The Skorpions JT started the 1 flag cap but was easily reset. He repositioned and started the cap again, this time with support. The Skorpions found a rotating Gloster on his own and removed him as the Skorpions came off the cap looking for a fight. Kills were traded but it came down to 2v1 in favour of Action X. Raspberry from the Skorpions struck back as Dongerlord ran. They found themselves chasing each other around a building at B1. It came down to one shot of HP each. It was Raspberry that found the angle to give his team the win.
The South Sydney Skorpions defeat the Adelaide Action X 3-1.
Fantasy League
The Matildas’ Magic_Shells (389.7) found himself on top of the Fantasy leader board this week, closely followed by the Panthers’ KritaKil (384.3). Russian (304.7) from the Skorpions and LightningMan (285.5) from Action X. Rounding out the team of the week was the Sentinels’ Wym0 (249.0).
Raspberry (303.2) from the Skorpions score more Fantasy Points that some members of the Team of the Week but due to star rating limits he was not included in the best possible roster.
Next Week
Keen to continue their winning ways the Matildas take on Action X in the first game of the night. The winless Wolverines battle the Skorpions. Then the Sentinels take on the Panthers in the last game.
Tune in for more ANZPL action from 7pm AEST Fridays at https://twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz!