3...
2...
1...
Activate!

Straight from the off both machines seem to have a plan in mind as unlike the usual straight charge into the middle, both machines more pensively approach each other, though it does seem to be SoR who moves off as the quicker of the 2. The 2 machines meet front on, but immediately this goes to prove that the wedge of Drilla Killa and the flipper plater of SoR are both right along the ground as the 2 grind against each other for a second, before Drilla Killas superior pushing power shows and he races across the arena, slamming SoR into the opposite arena sidewall. Sparks fly as the rear bar of SOR crashes against the metal walls that cage the 2 robots in, and the impact has also allowed Rich to slide underneath SoR and he begins spinning the drill repeatedly up into the underbelly of SoR causing sparks to rise repeatedly as the drill weapon attempts to do its worst. Eventually Drilla Killa has to let go of its prey. and AJ wastes no time at all in running away from the sidewall before skid spinning back to have the front facing Drilla Killa.

Rich has seen now that AJs robot has its weaknesses against him, and immediately comes charging back at him, this time with the drill out, presumably to prevent the risk of SoR sliding underneath but also in an attempt to damage the flipper plate. AJ sees the charge coming a mile off though, and waits until the last possible moment before spinning round and allowing the spinning bar to meet with the drill. Sparks fly and when AJ backs off the drill has stopped spinning. Rich notices this and wonders whats happened to his weapon. He brings it back inside the machine, before prodding it back out again. The experiment shows that although the drill is no longer spinning it is still there as a ram, and so Rich brings it back inside the wedge for a later point where he might need it. Whilst Rich has been flapping around about his weapon though, AJ has got straight round the back of Drilla Killa and has his flipper underneath the inverted wedge. He fires the flipper once but manages only to lift him slightly off the ground, but as hes falling down SoR manages to get further underneath Drilla Killa, this time driving him at the wall and firing the flipper, which throws Drilla Killa 7 over and stacks him against one of the angle grinders. Drilla Killa 7 is now at AJs mercy.

Aj stops for a moment, seemingly puzzled as to whether or not his flipper can throw Drilla Killa over the angle grinder from the position hes in. He decides its worth a shot, but not before slamming the bar into the wedge thats pointing at the ground, a few scratches appearing on the paintwork of the 5mm hardox machine. He then turns around to get the flipper in position and fires. Drilla Killa goes up, but comes back down, and this time lands on his wheels, much to the relief of Rich who immediately starts pegging it across the centre of the arena and straight into the pit release button. That is not going to happen again appears to be the message from Rich and as the siren sounds and the pit descends, AJ flies back at him, trying to get him at an angle where he cant use the pit. The speed of the approach though sends him straight onto Drilla Killa 7s wedge though and Rich immediately starts the shove towards the pit. He cant quite line it up right though, and sends SoR just past the corner of the pit. Rich has to reverse as he has no room to turn and so lets AJ off the wedge, leaving the score for near misses at one a piece. SoR charges down to the opposite end of the arena, making sure that if Rich wants to repeat that attempt he has to try even harder to do it. Drilla Killa comes after him, sticking the drill out momentarily, but after the last time, Rich thinks better of it and it immediately pokes back into its wedge.

AJ seems a little more pensieve this time and slowly meanders around the bottom end of the arena, with the bar facing Drilla Killas direction, presumably waiting for the next attack. Rich sees the ground clearance and goes flying in, getting underneath SoR but only for as long as it takes for SoRs bar to spin again, which leaves scratches in the front wedge again but also throws SoR off the wedge. Cleaver thinking from AJ, and the state of disorientation it leaves Rich in is enough to allow AJ to get SoR around the back of Drilla Killa and fire the flipper again, this time throwing Drilla Killa over first time. AJ tries to move around the back to do it again, but Rich turns around and the 2 wedges face again. Drilla Killa 7 rams SoR into the wall again but this time finds himself ending up on the flipper of SoR after the impact. SoR pushes back against Drilla Killa only for Drilla Killas 2 rear wheels to find some grip and start spinning against the floor, casing a deadlock in the shoving war between the 2 veteran machines. SoR soon realises that this is pointless and chucks Drilla Killa over. Rich has been flipped over a lot in this battle but his machine is still going.

With very little left to go in the fight, Drilla Killa charges back in and this time has some more luck, getting underneath SoR this time, and flings him with the drill bit, managing to throw SoR over, almost reminiscent of Spawn of Scutters weapon in series 4. SoR self-rights immediately but just ends up back on the wedge and finds himself being flung back into the wall with the drill bit popping in and out into his delicate underbelly. Drilla Killa backs off for another charge, but AJ doesnt need a second invitation to get out of that situation, and comes away from the wall, and flies towards Drilla Killas side panel with his spinning bar, which again causes more sparks, before turnign slightly and doing the same to the inverted wedge on the back. Drilla Killa turns around once more as Rich frantically hammers at the controls, trying to find away of disposing of his foe before its too later, but before he manages to slam into AJs machine once again, cease is called and both the robots come to an immediate halt after the epic battle that just finished.

CEASE!

What a fight, over to the judges to see the scores.

Damage - SoR broke one of Drilla Killas drills and did far more superficial damage than Drilla Killa managed.

SoR - 7/10 * 5 - 35
DK - 3/10 * 5 - 15

Aggression - SoR always seemed a little more pensive during the fight but not massively so.

SoR - 4/10 * 4 - 16
DK - 6/10 * 4 - 24

Style - The manouvres from SoR and also the self-righting was more pleasing to the eye but again, not by much.

SoR - 6/10 * 3 - 18
DK - 4/10 * 3 - 12

Control - Both robots had their moments of brilliance as well as their errors of judgement

SoR - 5/10 * 2 - 10
DK - 5/10 * 2 - 10

Dominance - It always looked slightly more as if SoR would find a way of ending it

SoR - 6/10 * 1 - 6
DK - 4/10 * 1 -4

Totals -

SoR - 85
DK - 65

Well there you have it not exactly a close judges decision was it? The number 25 seeds go flying through, its SoR!!!!!!!!