By sjj_admin 
Originally published on GameOnAus.com in Apr 2023
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 2 brought some surprising results. Who are the winners? Read on to find out!
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 2 Game 1
Hawthorn Hellcats Vs Bundaberg Badgers
The Badgers were searching for their first win. But last season’s champions, the Hellcats, were in their way. Who would prevail in the fight ahead?
Prokhorovka
The Badgers started on attack of their map pick as they sent all their tanks west. For their part the Hellcats took full control of the east. They sent Negativestyl on a big scouting run along the J line to peak over the train line. When he couldn’t see the Badgers they knew their opponents must have been running the 2 line. The Badgers were looking towards the 1 flag as they spread out to provide support for the inevitable cap. Rupor from the Badgers was that tank but was spotted in his cross and took a couple of shots. The Centurions also found shots into Sety and he went down. The reset came in and the attack fell apart, giving the Hellcats the opening win.
The reverse leg saw the Centurions looking west on their attack. After a period of scouting and knowledge seeking, the Centurions put Oreos on the 1 flag cap. There was a few exchanges of fire with the Hellcats coming out slightly ahead in the HP stakes. It seemed like the Hellcats were making the most of their shots as the both teams dealt chip damage. The Hellcats pushed in but they were the first to lose a tank. That was traded as the Hellcats struck back again and again. With three tanks on the cap the lone Badgers tank tried for a reset shot but was unable to connect. The Hellcats the take win.
Murovanka
The Hellcats started on defence of their map pick as they took up positions around the 1 flag. For the attack the Badgers were able to get two tanks on the 1 flag, forcing the Hellcats to act. The Centurions’ Hubewa found the reset as the Badgers tried to take advantage of a 4v3. It went against them though, with the Hellcats removing two tanks there without loss. Oreos from the Hellcats eventually went down but it was too late for the Badgers as the Hellcats go up 3-0.
Desperate for a win the Badgers spread in the south with an eye towards the 1 flag. The Centurions tried something different and sent a tank to scout the 2 flag instead. Sety from the Badgers took big damage early. The Badgers decided to take the fight to the Centurions as they pushed aggressively to the C line. It was the Badgers that found first blood as they were able to isolate Negativestyl. The Badgers found a two-for-one trade and pushed forward with the tank advantage. They used that advantage to take the win.
The Hawthorn Hellcats defeat the Bundaberg Badgers 3-1.
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 2 Game 2
Brisbane Bulldogs Vs Auckland Archers
Both the Bulldogs and the Archers were searching for their first win of the split. For the Archers a win would mark the end of a 4-0 streak that has lasted too long. For the revived Bulldogs it meant a chance to make their mark in the ANZBL.
Sand River
Starting on attack of their map pick, the Archers sent three tanks to the ridge at D6. The Bulldogs were standing by to receive them as the match settled into a stalemate. Forsaken from the Archers scouted around to J0 looking for knowledge. He was spotted as the Bulldogs looked to move over the ridge. They forced the Archers back as DeadeyeDazNZ was deleted. Having thoroughly routed the Archers on the ridge, the Bulldogs pushed forward and found themselves the opening win.
Moving to the attack, the Bulldogs looked to extend their lead. With the dual CS-63s they crossed the A line but found themselves suck at A7 when they were spotted. They retreated and looked for another way in. While the Archers’ attention was looking toward the 2 flag, the Bulldogs snuck two tanks over to the 1 flag. The Archers had tanks in that area and a quick rotate found the Archers with the advantage in a 5v3 brawl. When the Bulldogs’ last tank arrive it made the battle a 3v2, which quickly became a 3v1. The Archers closed in and took the win to level the game 1-1.
Tundra
The Bulldogs started with a fairly standard defence of their map pick. Meanwhile the Archers fully committed to the 1 flag attack. They pushed three tanks along the A line to A3. The Badgers found themselves on the wrong end of a 4v2 but Auzzienoob survived longer than he should have, but they also know that they could take their own 1v3 battle. It came down to a 3v3 but the Bulldogs had the HP advantage. They made the most of their shots and took the win.
Hoping for their first win of the split, the Bulldogs also looked to the 1 flag. On the defence the Archers were spotted early giving the Bulldogs the knowledge. ToasteD from the Bulldogs rotated to the 2 flag. Road_Riot from the Archers was positioned at G2 forcing ToasteD to hold off the cap. Fire was traded in the north without a lot of connection. The Bulldogs rotated through the river and found the collapse onto Gdog337, removing him. They then found the overmatch in the town. The Archers struck back and found themselves in a 2v3. It came down to a 2v1 between the Bulldogs’ ZepWonderbar and ToasteD, and the Archers’ Forsaken. Forsaken found the kill onto ZepWonderbar and had the HP advantage over ToasteD. ToasteD ran but being on the attack and not being able to cap, Forskaen had the advantage. Forsaken tucked in as both players found each other again. But it was Forsaken and the Archers that found the win to take the game to a tie breaker.
Cliff
In the first tie breaker of the split, the Bulldogs started on the defence. The Bulldogs took the hill but the rest of his team ran into the full Archers complement at F2. Four of the Archers made it to the donut as the game settled for a moment. Still downhill at G1, Forsaken took a lot of damage. The Archers committed to coming off the donut and collapsing onto the Bulldogs. The lack of focus fire hurt the Archers early but they still found the first two kills. With the tank advantage the Archers pushed forward and took the tie breaker win.
The Auckland Archers defeat the Brisbane Bulldogs 3-2.
ANZBL Split 1 2023 Round 2 Game 3
Canberra Centurions Vs Lismore Leopards
Both the Centurions and the Leopards were looking strong for split 1 2023. It was hard to pick a favourite in what was sure to be a close game.
Tundra Leo
Starting on attack of their map pick, the Leopards looked heavy to the south. Dark from the Leopards was spotted early trying to get vision but the Centurions were already set up for 2 flag push. The Leopards pushed quickly onto the 2 flag and Turbulance was punished for it. Finding the reset the Centurions forced the Leopards off the cap and into the town for a brawl. The Centurions found a two-for-one trade but the Leopards struck with a couple of kills of their own. Guns in the game were key though as the Centurions emerged victorious.
Moving to the defence, the Leopards took as similar setup to the Centurions. Meanwhile the Centurions looked towards the 1 flag. They crossed through the river and was spotted. That forced the rotation from the Leopards. Dark found himself in a 2v1 as his teammates found an overmatch against the other three Centurions. Dark was able to rejoin his team was they found themselves with a 4v2 advantage. The Centurions retreated to regroup but was spotted out again. With the Leopards closing in they were able to take the win and level the game.
Prokorovka
The Centurions started on defence of their map pick. They crossed the train line at A6 but were spotted on mass by the Leopards doing the same thing at J7. The Leopards opted to stay on the east of the map and looked toward the 1 flag. Double IS-7s met double IS-7s on the hill and the game settled into a stalemate. The Leopards’ IS-7s left the hill as they moved back to the east. Dark was able to get on the cap trying to force the Centurions out of their hold down positions. The Centurions were content to wait as they found shots into their opponents. Cows from the Centurions found the reset as the Leopards pushed forward. It did not go well for them as the Centurions found the crossfire. Being on the defence, time was with the Centurions. They bled the Leopards down to find the win.
Looking to secure the win the Centurions brought a very different line up, with a M-V-Y and a UDES 15/16. They looked towards the 1 flag as the Leopards took control of the eastern side of the map. Turbulance was spotted on the hill, giving the Centurions the info to close in on the 1 flag. The Leopards were able to rotate to dump onto the double Super Conquerors at E6 and found a kill. In a reversal of position, the Centurions found them holding down the north west area of the map but not able to start the cap. When the Centurions’ Scott_Hanaray went down the Leopards were firmly in control. The Centurions struck back with two kills but it was still a 2v3 against them. Turbulance was the one with the final kill to draw the game 2-2 and send us back to Cliff.
Cliff
In our second tie breaker of the night, the Centurions started on the defence. Their opponents went for speed with a double CS-63 setup. The Leopards drove for the donut while the Centurions went for the hill. Damage was traded early but it was the Centurions with control of the hill, giving them the advantage. Being on attack, losing control of the hill would hurt the Leopards. They searched for a way in, eventually sneaking Dark and Ribbit to the north. Ribbit was spotted out and lost half his health. He managed to get a couple of shot in himself but it was still hard to dig out the Centurions. Eventually the Leopards pushed around the donut looking for a pick but it was Turbulance that went down first. The Leopards traded back by removing Mine_Turtle1234 and the brawl was in full swing. Finding themselves in a 3v3, the Centurions pulled back but the Leopards wouldn’t let them. In the end it backfired for the Leopards as the Centurions took the win.
The Canberra Centurions defeat the Lismore Leopards 3-2.
Fantasy League
Former ANZPL player Dark (366.0) from the Leopards topped the Fantasy leader board this week, along with his teammate Ribbit (305.8). The Leopards’ opponents for the night, the Centurions, also contributed two players, Scott_Hanaray (320.5) and Mine_Turtle1234 (305.1). Forsaken (303.6) from the Archers rounded out the Fantasy Team Of The Week.
Next Week
Round 3 sees the Bulldogs taking on the 2nd placed Centurions and the top of the table Hellcats versing the Archers. The night is capped by a battle between the Badgers and the Leopards.
The ANZBL continues to provide entertaining games. Round 3 returns on Monday. Tune in from 7pm AEST at https://twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz!