Wargames competitions do suffer from bad press. If you are ever in two minds as whether or not to enter one, I would always recommend that you do. The number of games in rapid succession ensures that you get a handle on the rules in double quick time. It also means that you get to meet those gamers who are not afraid to venture into daylight from what can be quite a subterranean hobby. Who wouldn’t want to meet the likes of Robin Spence, and his renowned good cheer, or the last of the Mancunian Gold Miners ( I kid you not!)?

This Saturday was a case in point, two great opponents who couldn’t be more obliging. In less than ten turns over two games,  they joyfully added wool smoke to my newly painted Uber-tank force.

The legend that is Coxy, of Breakthough Assault fame, deployed a panzer-grenadier platoon in the ville, with a battery of nebweffers behind. Three panthers in ambush. I went for a feint in the direction of the cornfield arrow, whilst my GIs got on to the backs of Odd-balls Shermans for a drive on the flank objective…..

Oh good, Coxy’s reserves have arrived…….

“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves!”

A swirling firefight developed on my left between these armoured monsters. Coxy took down two of the new American wonder tanks and then carved into the supporting Priests. The Pershing officer and half the battery exit stage left…….

My hope lay with Odd-Ball on the flank attack. He was only facing the AT hanomags but one lone gunner would not let us pass. Another panzer- grenadier platoon arrived and camped on the objective whilst Luchs screamed around the station to join the fray…..

My heroic infantry took out two light tanks but the stubborn hanomags just wasn’t to be shifted! The Panthers arrived from the high street and it was all over….

My thanks to Coxy for a brilliant game, great opponent and a really fun experience. Next up was Chris from Bournemouth. Hold the Line was the scenario and I was defending with tanks. What could go wrong?

In the centre Chris and I fought a really tense battle for possession of the central objective. One lone PZIV survived four shots and claimed a well-deserved victory!