Heat 11 - Round 2 Battle 1 - Die-Ceratops Re-Invertus (2 v Syndos

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Both machines move pensively at first, knowing that they've already taken the first step on their bid to join the great victors. Die Ceratops keeps attempting a charge before backing off, as if overly scared of the large spinning disc at the front of SYNDOS. SYNDOS though, rather than being scared seems to be willing to sit on his laurels and intimidate, slowly turning himself around to face Die-Ceratops with the disc at all times. Die-Ceratops seems to think this is getting either of them anywhere, and so extremely early in the fight, shoots across the arena and hits the pit release button, seemingly wanting to show some aggressive intent, if only to impress the judges. It turns out to be a bad move though, as SYNDOS follows him, and smashes into the rear end of Die-Ceratops with the disc. the 8mm titanium buckles inwards but doesn't bend under impact, however the first damage points clearly go to Richard.

Chris knows that he's going to have to find something new to get rid of SYNDOS, or his number 28 seeding could be going bye-byes. He tries to turn to face, but SYNDOS is still backing him against the wall, and this time it results in a side impact, again the 8mm titanium coping with the strain of the impact but for how long. It does at least allow him to slide along the wall, but only into an angle grinder. This time sparks fly against the top of the wedge flipper and it just allows SYNDOS to get in another more calculated attack, this time on the wheels. The attack seems to take a chunk out of the rubber on the left hand tyre, and seriously dents the protective bar around it at the same time.

The referee comes into to force SYNDOS to allow Die-Ceratops out, and although Rich looks seething as he doesn't feel he was pinning him in, it's not long before he gets another attack in, this time on the other wheel. The impact doesn't tear rubber this time but it bends the wheel defender on the other side as well, and turns over the number 28 seed. Chris frantically darts at the controls trying to find a way of getting back into this fight, but Richard isn't having any of it and looks like a man on a mission, as he thumbs the controls.

He flies in towards Die-Ceratops Re-Invertus again but this time, Chris finally gets his plan into action and gets the wedge underneath as he changes angle. The flip is ineffectual though as the speed of SYNDOS carries him over, only losing balance slightly as he lands back on his wheels. He turns and makes a beeline for the side again, before crashing into him and making contact with the wheel defender, again it's buckled, more seriously this time. Chris again hammers frantically, but to no avail. The last attack appears to have jammed the protection into the wheel and is preventing drive on one side. Richard pummels the gently arcing robot on his deathbed repeatedly, flicking him over and about with the disc. Finally, as if to show some empathy, he slows down the disc, and shunts him into the pit, but not without one last attempt by Chris to fire the flipper and save himself.

CEASE

Die-Ceratops got well and truly sliced and diced by SYNDOS. He goes through.

And so, the heat 11 final.

Wedge Devolution (12) v SYNDOS