Semi-Final
518 Hougoumont (18 June 1815)
Game 1
Gonzo (Allies): 8 banners 33 blocks lost
Mark McG (French): 7 banners 47 block lost
Bit of an epic match, play time of roughly 4.5 hours, spread over 2 sessions roughly 2 weeks apart.
My recollection of the early session is pretty dim now, but I recall kicking off with a Bayonet Charge which didn't preform too well, but did kill off the Rifles. From then on it was a parade of small section cards for the French , and whilst I got my Left artillery into position to fire into the farm, counter battery fire eliminated them. The French cavalry conducted a raid on the Allied Right, knocking down he Allied LC from full strength, but were then mauled and were lucky to escape.
The decision action was the orchard, where eventually the French infantry managed to push from the woods, and whittle down the Allied Left. The Frrench were down 4-2 at the end of our first session, and the second session seemed to warm my dice and cards a little. Bitter fighting in the orchard brought the French score up, and a stream of 1 block Allied fugitives out the back. Eliminating on the Gren Guards in the orchard was the key action, and managing to get a unit into the Walled Garden saved he French from the brink of defeat. The score slowly leveled off, to 7-7, and the Allies pressed an attack up the centre to thwart French moves on their Left that eventually would have won.
French had a shot at victory, 4d on a 2 strength HA, but fell 1 hit short. The Gren Guards then moved in, and despite a desperate Infantry First strike, which utterly missed), managed to secure the win. A tough match.
