Friday Night Games: Battle of Hastings, October 1066 (Week Two)

Friday 4th April saw us continue the Battle of Hastings game at Mikey's house. We had a slight change in the teams, in that John & Nigel were unavailable, so that left Steve to hold the Anglo-Danish fort, abley supported by guest player, Jimmy.

The battlelines seen from behind the Anglo-Danish left flank, where Leofwine's forces opposed those of Count Eustace

The centre line, where Harold faced off William and his half-brother Odo

And the right of the Anglo-Danish line, where Gyrth's forces faced Alan of Breton's men.

The Normans continued their assault on the hill, with massed bow fire at short range but ended up with little to show for it.

Meanwhile, their infantry units closed to assault the defended hill. Theae assaults were generally met witha shower od throwing weapons and then ashirt sharp fight before the Norman units backed away.

Normans, lead by Odo attack the Anglo-Danish center

Eustace's men attack the hill

In the center one such fight became a prolonged affair, with a unit of armoured Nirman infantry, slogging it out with a unit of armoured Select Fryd. This struggle continued through out this week's game.

As do Alan's...

Else where on the flanks, Eustace and Alan Sent in units with varying degrees of success, all ultimately being pushed back.

The battle rages on

Surprisingly, in the Norman centre, Odo was deployed to lead the infantry assaults on the hill. He battled for several rounds before taking a hit that he could not recover from. Odo  fell  along with his white horse and one of the central Norman units recoiled from the fight in disorder, to be followed the next turn by two other units, relieving the pressure on the Anglo-Danish lined.

More glimpses of Odo fighting in the centre

The Normans played a tactical card and forced one of Leofwine's Select Fryd units to impetuous charge down the hill, chasing a retiring Norman unit. They were quickly pounced upon by nearby Cavalry units and a melee ensued.

More fighting, a Norman unit is forced to retire (yellow marker)

Alan begins re-organising his lines as units break off the attack

On the Anglo-Danish right  things were getting tight as well, Alan was lining up his Bretons to make a co-ordated attack and in the fighting leading up to this, one of Gyrth Godwinson's commanders, Edward, was slain but the defenders held their nerve.

The fighting in the centre continues apace

An impetuous charge by an Anglo-Danish unit off the hill ...

...and Norman Cavalry edge in to attack...

Odo falls in the centre and Norman units react accordingly

The Norman horse pounce upon the impetuous Anglo-Danes

Alan's archers & crossbowmenmass on the extreme right of the Anglo-Danish lines

View of the fighting line form the Anglo-Danish right flank

The same from a higher view point

So all to play for in Week Three, scheduled for 25th April, next two weeks we journey to Rupert's for a WW2 game being put on by Mark.