ADLG - Game Report 182

Anglo-Danish (180) vs Konstantin Byzantine (192)

If it is coming up to Christmas it must be time for the trip to Brixham in Devon for the 4th Devonian Classic. For this year as a departure from the norm I decided to play in the Big-Boys-Toys 25mm competition with my Anglo-Danes. For my first outing of the event I was playing Dave’s Byzantines, with more cavalry than you could shake a fist at – they were almost wall to wall across the battlefield. I was given the option of attacking in the Forest.

I was clearly outnumbered in Cavalry, and I decided that the sooner I could get the shield wall of heavy spearmen up into contact the better, and hence went for an echelon advance with the left leading the way, though the Welsh Allies in the more difficult ground on the left.

As the advance progressed the battle line started to wheel to the left.

I allowed the impetuous Mercenary Norman Knights to go ahead and make contact while the Mounted Huscarls stood back to protect their flank.

Although the Byzantines are warming to their task against my Norman Knights, the remainder of the Byzantine suffered terrible losses as they threw their mounts unsuccessfully against my spears and the shield wall.

The Normans perish as the Byzantines outflank them and roll them up from the right. Elsewhere the shield wall line is becoming ragged but broadly coherent as it tries to pursue the Byzantines.

The line has stabilised and has established a good position to defeat the remainder of the Byzantine Cavalry.

In one last desperate act the remaining Byzantine cavalry decide to attempt to break the shield wall, which holds its own.

Outcome

A win for the Anglo-Danish by inflicting 22 and only suffering 6 hits in return.

Lessons Leant

Try to keep the shield wall strong and intact.