Round 5 Game 2
GomJabbar Vs. Rand
GomJabbar – French – 5
Rand – Allies – 6
Tentative movements on both sides begin the game, until the French partake in a ‘La Grande Manoeuvre’. French infantry units then seize the hill-line along the Left flank with close support into the Center of the battlefield. The Portuguese then surge forward with their calvary forcing two French units into square, though the French are able to play ‘Hasty Square’ to lessen the limitations to their command. Campbell also pushes forward and is able to bring ranged fire on one of the squares, while British Calvary move forward with ‘Call Forward Reserves’. The French are able to push back the calvary but do very little damage. Then the Portuguese Infantry move forward, and with surprisingly accurate fire leave the French Leader Thomieres with a barely functioning unit. Campbell also leads a melee attack up a hill, but is unable to match the Portuguese success as the French counter and cut his unit to half-strength. One French Line Infantry, heavily damaged, is able to escape from a square formation, but when a neighbouring French Light Infantry is cut down by Portuguese Heavy Calvary, the calvary overrun and destroy the former unit. The French now launch an aggressive calvary charge, with a French Light Calvary changing a Portuguese Heavy flat-footed and riding them down. The French Light is now countercharged by two Allied Calvary units and is destroyed, leaving a heavily damaged French Line trapped in square and Thomieres’ Line Infantry also barely hanging on. A French charge smashes a Portuguese Line Infantry and forces them to retreat off a hill, in return, Power leads a Portuguese Line Infantry under ‘Inspired Infantry Leader’, destroying both aforementioned French Line units and forcing Thomieres back to the edge of the battlefield.
The battle is now 6-1 in favour of the Allies, but the French steel their resolve, refusing to accept defeat, and begin a brutal comeback. A bombardment aggressively repositions a French Artillery right on top on British units in the right flank, and French Line Infantry surge forward in the Center. The Allies try vainly to pull back damaged units before the French can catch them, but French Infantry run down a Portuguese Light Infantry. On the French Right, a Light Calvary destroys Wallace’s unit, and he is lucky to escape. British Infantry launch a desperate bayonet charge trying to destroy the final French unit for victory, but the French squirm free and destroy a Portuguese unit in return. Wallace’s new infantry unit is then forced into square and destroyed, with the French gaining a banner, leaving them at 5-6, only one behind the Allies. The French narrowly allow Wallace to escape, and a French Artillery melees with a British Rifle Infantry, almost destroying it for the victory. The panicking Allies gamble everything on a final attack before their army disintegrates, with Wallace leading a third unit that finally destroys a 6th French unit, allowing the Allies a very slim victory.
Thanks to Brad for the nail-biting game, he staged an epic comeback and almost took home the game. Came very close to humiliating me. Brad also helped with a couple rule clarifications, and I greatly appreciate his help and honesty. All the best to him.