By sjj_admin 
Originally published on GameOnAus.com in Apr 2023
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 3 is done and dusted with a pretty big upset. Read on to find out the winners and losers.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 3 Game 1
Melbourne Matildas Vs Adelaide Action X
The Matildas have burst out of the starting blocks having taken down the two toughest opponents in the ANZPL, but their Round 3 opponents were no slouches either. Action X have been knocking on the door of a Grand Final appearance and were keen to show their true colours.
Ghost Town Act
Action X started on attack of their map pick. They moved into the south of the town looking towards the 2-flag. Skimming the zone, they committed to the 2-tank cap. Magic_Shells for the Matildas was close by looking for the reset angle while his teammates back in from behind. The Matildas got the reset and chose violence. They drove onto the cap and traded kills. It looked to be an even battle but Action X’s were connecting more shots. When the dust settled Action X had the win.
Moving to defence on the return leg, Action X kept to the north of the town as the Matildas scouted. Action X found some early shots in, but the Matildas’ Whippet found some good shots into CJ. With Action X’s attention on Whippet, they started the 2 flag cap. Resets came easy for Action X as they forced the Matildas off the cap and into a brawl. A 2v1 resulted in favour of the Matildas. Action X’s Rowendy was playing hide and seek but was found by Whippet to give the Matildas the win.
Ruinberg
Moving to their map pick, the Matildas opened on defence. The moved towards the 2-flag with one tank watching the A line. Action X’s Dongerlord found him health drastically reduced as his teammates drove onto the 2-flag. That didn’t last long as they came off the cap to draw the Matildas into a crossfire. It was devastating for the Matildas as they lost four tanks. The full Action X line up was able to hunt down the last tank and take the win.
Needing a win to send the game to a tie breaker, the Matildas started their attack pushing towards the 2-flag. It did not go well as Action X found some early damage. Whippet had gone deep north looking for some shots onto Action X but when he was spotted, he had limited options. The Matildas isolated Acton X’s Trax before the brawl broke out. Action X struck back but the Matildas had no answers. Action X took the win.
Adelaide Action X defeat the Melbourne Matildas 3-1.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 3 Game 2
Wellington Wolverines Vs South Sydney Skorpions
The Wolverines were searching for their first win. The Skorpions needing a win to keep in touch with the top of the leader board. Who would take the win?
Prokhorovka
The Wolverines started on the defence of their map pick. They ran three tanks along the 2-line. Meeting the Skorpions along the E line, the Skorpions found the first and held W to go next. They removed three tanks very quickly and were on the hunt. The Wolverines found a kill but by then it was too late, and the win goes to the Skorpions.
Moving to the attack, the Wolverines hugged the train line. The Wolverines’ Sir_Robin was not having a good time, taking a lot of damage. He went down but the Matildas were able to trade back. The match settled into a 3v3, but HP was on the Skorpions’ side. They made the most of that advantage to go up 2-0.
Ghost Town
The Skorpions looked to push their head heading into their map pick. Starting on the attack they sent Auzzie scouting deep north. They looked to enter the town from the east. The Matildas almost looked like they were trying to start the 2-flag cap, taking up positions there to prevent the Skorpions’ capping. Kills were traded but the Matildas had bled the Skorpions down. It came down to a 2v2 with the Matildas 1500 HP ahead. The Skorpions had pulled back looking for a way in. JT from the Skorpions found a battle with the Wolverines’ Flaming and won but was cleaned up by Toddy339. Tension mounted as both remaining tanks were a one shot. Toddy339 found the angle to give the Wolverines the win.
On the return leg the Wolverines looked towards the 2-flag. Mud_Garde took early damage but settled into position at G6. The Skorpions were patient though, waiting for the Wolverines to come to them. Pushing forward, AVP from the Wolverines found his way onto the cap but the Skorpions forced him off. A brawl ensured and it was the Skorpions that had the superior focus fire. They spread the damage round to give them a 4v2 tank advantage. The Skorpions closed the net and took the win.
The South Sydney Skorpions defeat the Wellington Wolverines 3-1.
ANZPL Split 1 2023 Round 3 Game 3
North Sydney Sentinels Vs Perth Panthers
The lats game of the night saw the Sentinels taking on the Panthers. With the shortened season both teams were desperate for a win. Would the class of the Sentinels shine, or would the Panthers find an upset?
Ghost Town
The Panthers started on attack of their map pick. They moved into the south of the town but the Sentinels were looking to play aggressive. The Sentinels’ TheReurned copped some big damage, as did his teammate Saffe. Soon joined by Syndy as well. Despite all that damage output, the Sentinels found the first kill. With so many low HP tanks the Panthers found the kills and took the opening round.
The return leg saw the Panthers move to defence. They sent two tanks scouting deep south. For their attack the Sentinels spread on the east side of the map, looking for a way onto the 2-flag. They rotated two tanks back to K3 where they found an over-match onto the Panthers’ KritaKil. While he lost half his health he survived. Now with some knowledge the Sentinels pulled back. The Sentinels grouped three tanks at G6 as they pushed towards the 2-flag. They were spotted starting the cap as the pressure moved to the Panthers. They were able to find resets as the Sentinels persisted with the cap. Twit from the Panthers was able to bleed the high HP Maus tank with Syndy in command, preventing the cap from having any impact. He went down, quickly followed by the other Sentinels’ tank capping. The Panthers go up 2-0 on their map pick.
Murovanka
The Panthers were looking good as the game headed to the Sentinels’ map pick. Starting on defence, the Sentinels looked down the 5-line. The Panthers sent their tanks to the 1-flag and started the cap. They found a potential over-match so they pulled off the cap and went hunting. It backfired for them as Twit was ignited and went down. The Sentinels took their advantage and were able to isolate Panthers’ tanks. They were able to take the win.
Looking to send the game to a tie breaker, the Sentinels moved to attack on the return leg. They looked towards the 1-flag while sending Syndy in the Maus to the town for support. Rainbow and Saffe started the cap as the Panthers looked to respond. The Panthers’ MadHouse took some damage looking for the reset. They found an engagement with Syndy as they forced a tank off the cap. The Panthers found kills taking the match to a 2v4 advantage. They continued to hunt and take the win.
The Perth Panthers defeat the North Sydney Sentinels 3-1.
Fantasy League
With the Skorpions’ victory of their opponents, both JT (462.1) and Night (309.9) represented their team in the Fantasy Team Of The Week. Joining them were Rowendy (277.0) and LightningMan (270.0) from Action X. Rounding out the team was the Panthers’ Bailes (311.5)
Next Week
The stakes are high with only two rounds left before playoffs. First up for Round 3 the Matildas take on the Wolverines with both teams desperate for a win. The Sentinels find themselves in unfamiliar territory needing a win against an in form Action X. For the last game of the night the Panthers verse the Skorpions with both teams looking to take top spot.
Tune in for more ANZPL action from 7pm AEST Fridays at https://twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz!