World Of Tanks ANZBL Season 4 Round 4 wrapping up puts us only one round from playoffs. With the ladder tight any mistake will be punished. Have a look at how Round 4 played out.
This week’s tie breaker map is Murovanka.
ANZBL Season 4 Round 4 Game 1
Lismore Peopards Vs Auckland Archers
The Archers have had a hard season, not being able to win a single match all season. Would they finally be able to pick one up against the Leopards or would it be another 0-4 for them?
Prohorovka
The Archers started the attack of their map pick by grouping up at K2 with a lone tank at F3 for spotting. For their defence the Leopards stuck to the eastern side of the train line as they watch the 2 flag. The Archers were able to run the 2 line and sneak DeadeyeDaz onto the 1 flag without being spotted. Now it was up to the Leopards to respond. They sent four tanks to cross the train line at E6. While they were spotted they were able to cross relatively unharmed. DeadeyeDaz found himself in a world of hurt. He got out but the Archers were in trouble. They made the decision to push forward but the Leopards were ready. The Leopards take the opening match only one tank taking damage.
In a surprising move the Leopards brought an Object 261, an artillery tank, into their attacking line up. These do not normally make an appearance as they are slow and the speed of other tanks make them a liability. The Leopards quickly made us of it, though, as the Archers crossed three tanks at E6 and were spotted. Kiwi_Nightmare quickly went down after receiving an artillery stun shot. The Leopards moved onto the 1 flag to lure the Archers out. They were able to get the reset but the cap pressure had done its job. When an Archer tank went down to the Object 261, the Leopards went on the attack. The Leopards go up 2-0 on the Archers’ map pick.
Himmelsdorf
Moving to the Leopards map pick, the Archers started on attack. They quickly moved toward the banana along the 8 line. The Archers made it all the way to D8 before being spotted as Skippy (Archers) and Turbulence (Leopards) met on the hill. Turbulence had to retreat and copped a lot of damage as the Archers started the cap. The Leopards had no option but to push onto the 2 flag. When Rippon was set on fire things seemed to be going the Archers way. The Leopards found themselves on the favourable end of the 2-for-1 trade to bring it to a 2v2. They found the picks took the win.
The Archers were looking to salvage some pride heading into defence. They spread in a standard defence as the Leopards ran the banana. The Leopards moved two tanks onto the 2 flag and waited for the Archers to rotate. The rotate came late but the Archers were able to get the resets which triggered the brawl. The Archers couldn’t find the required picks as the Leopards took them apart.
The Leopards defeat the Archers 4-0.
ANZBL Season 4 Round 4 Game 2
Hawthorn Hellcats Vs Canberra Centurions
It was crunch time for both the Hellcats and the Centurions as they jockeyed for position two weeks out from playoffs. For the Hellcats a win meant a fighting chance for a finals appearance. For the Centurions, a win could potentially catapult them to the top of the ladder.
Ghost Town
The Centurions started on attack of their map pick. They headed into the south of the town as well as sending two tanks to scout the western side. Clockwise was the call of the match as the Hellcats went to the north of the town and scouted the eastern side. The Hellcats Boz found himself in a spot of bother at A4 as Toddy339 and Cows from the Centurions rotated close. Luckily his teammate Mud_Garde was close to provide support. The Centurions found a 4v3 battle, which quickly turned to a 4v2 as the Hellcats’ Flaming went down. Mantank12345 and DarthCavalier held their own long enough for their other tanks to join the fight. The match come down to a 2v2 and some RNG luck saw the Centurions take the win.
The Hallcats moved as a pack down the 8 line to start their attack. Mud_Garde and Boz pushed the Centurions’ MirrasYYY off the overwatch position at A4. This allowed two of the Hellcats to jump on the 1 flag. The Centurions found the resets as the Hellcats traded Mud_Garde for Mine_Turtle. Great focus fire from the Hellcats gave them the advantage but the Centurions struck back. They brought the game back to a 2v2 but the HP was in favour of the Hellcats. The Hellcats used that advantage and took the win to level the series.
Tundra
Starting on defence of their map pick, the Hellcats went heavily to the 2 flag with two tanks spotting the 1 flag. The Centurions started their attack by rotating all their tanks to the north east of the map. Mud_Garde found himself in trouble as the Centurions pushed two of their tanks to A4 but he got out unscathed. The Hellcats rotated quickly to support their spotters as the Centurions pulled back. Both teams spread out and looked for angles in. MirrasYYY and Toddy got the drop on Flaming but found themselves in a crossfire. When MirrasYYY went down Toddy found himself in a 3v1 and quickly followed his teammate. The Hellcats found separate 3v2 and 2v1 battles in their advantage. Boz went down but it wasn’t enough for the Centurions. The Hellcats take the win.
Looking to send the game to a tie breaker the Centurions spread their defence very wide on the west of the map. Conversely the Hellcats were very slow in taking position. Eventually they moved toward the 1 flag. Mine_Turtle at A4 had to pull back as he found himself facing three Hellcats. Two of the Centurions’ tanks took way too long to rotate as the Hellcats took control of the 1 flag. The Hellcats started the cap and waited for the Centurions to respond. They did by rotating but time was against them. MirrasYYY found himself isolated but was able to escape. The Hellcats reset and put three tanks on the cap. The Centurions were able to find the resets but lost MirrassYYY. In a stroke of good luck the Hellcats’ capping tanks went unspotted allowing the Hellcats to take the cap win by the skin of their teeth.
The Hellcats defeat the Centurions 3-1.
ANZBL Season 4 Round 4 Game 3
Fremantle Fireflies Vs Bundaberg Badgers
It was the new versus the old in a banger match between new-comers the Fireflies and Season 3 runners up the Badgers. Both teams had shown their class this season but only one team would emerge victorious.
Himmelsdorf
Starting on attack of their map pick, the Badgers ran the K line, looking to battle in the south of Himmlesdorf. The Fireflies had taken some good defensive positions along the 2/3 line and found some early shots onto their opponents. Unable to find a way in the Badgers rotated back to the banana but were spotted again allowing the Fireflies to rotate themselves. The Badgers turned down the D line in a pack but the Fireflies were waiting. Phantom_Yamoto from the Badgers was the first to go down with control firmly in the hands of the Fireflies. The Fireflies’ Rupro went down but forced the Badgers to spend two tanks doing it. In the end the Fireflies were too good and take the opening battle.
Moving to attack the Fireflies moved to G8 and had two tanks run the banana. In a big tactical blunder the Badgers sent everyone south allowing the Fireflies plenty of time to set up and defend the 2 flag push. The Badgers pushed in quickly hoping for shock and awe tactics but the Fireflies were anything but. Picking their shots well the Fireflies took the tank advantage 4v2. Kills were traded but that just meant it was a 3v1. The Fireflies closed the net and took the second win on their opponent’s map pick.
Cliff
Things were looking rosy for the Fireflies as they moved to defence of their map pick. Sticking to their group mentality, the Badgers pushed to the donut in a group and found themselves in a crossfire. The Fireflies weren’t able to capitalise on that, letting their opponent escape unscathed. Cyber from the Fireflies was the Badgers’ pick and he went down. BadBoiBubbles from the Badgers went down and the match was pretty even. The Badgers had the HP advantage but the Fireflies were whittling that down. MrRez from the Fireflies rotated to G3 and found the perfect angle onto the Badgers. This forced the Badgers to push forward and leave flanks unprotected. The Fireflies took advantage of that, securing the win.
The Badgers moved to defence on the return leg. Moving quickly to the hill the Fireflies too hill control but the Badgers were here for a brawl. They drove start over the hill and into a Fireflies crossfire. Kills were traded as the game came down to a 2v2. TheGrizz from the Fireflies found himself in a 1v1 against BadBoiBubbles. With the HP in his favour it looked like the Fireflies would wrap this on up too. BadBoiBubbles didn’t agree though. He made the most of his shots and TheGrizz’s bounced shots to salvage a win for his team.
The Fireflies defeat the Badgers 3-1.
Fantasy League
Magic_Shells (299.4) from the Leopards topped the Fantasy team of the week. He was joined by teammate Duncan668A (231.6). Hellcats comrades Mantank12345 (293.8) and Mud_Garde (238.0), along with MC (233.2) from the Fireflies rounded out the Fantasy team.
Next Week
The final round robin has plenty to fight for with all but one of the teams in the mix for playoffs. The Centurions take on the Badgers in the first match of the night before the Hellcats face the Archers. Finally, the Leopards have the Fireflies in their way of a possible playoffs appearance.
Tune in from 7pm ADST Mondays at https://twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz for more tank action!
