RLO Swipe 2s Week 6 Recap: New Champions Are Crowned

Heading into tonight's action, there had been just 6 individual champions across the 1s and 2s events in RLO Swipe. Now, there are 8, with new champions crowned, and upsets throughout, tonight was definitely a night of interesting results and intense gameplay.

Les Renards Vs Pots And Pans

For two teams that are 6th and 8th in the rankings, this matchup was vital for both teams’ finals aspirations. Pots and Pans, De-Papel and Luva, appeared almost asleep in game 1, with some critical errors granting a 3-0 comfortable victory for Les Renards.

Early days in game 2, it seemed that Pots and Pans may have risen to the occasion, with De-Papel producing two perfect 50s to get an open net, but Foxxy was quick to counter, going high and above both Lacasas on the first before some defensive mishaps granted Foxxy a second, and a 2-1 lead for Les Renards. However, Pots and Pans weren't finished just yet, with some high levels stalls from Luva granting them the zero second tying goal, before Frenchie was able to get a dunk to finish it in overtime, sending Les Renards through 2-0, and sending Pots and Pans to near the edge of oblivion, needing a big result next week to make finals now.

Les Renards Vs Scarth/Matro

Les Renards looked solid in the earlier matchup, but unfortunately, their rather simplistic style of playing has often struggled to hold up against the best of the best, and it did again tonight. Although Scarth and Matro both had some lazy over commits, they looked far faster than Foxxy and Frenchie, who seemed constantly out of boost and at the mercy of precisely placed finishes.

Scarth and Matro took the 2 games 5-2 and 6-1, with an own goal apiece late in game 2 displaying the messiness of the series overall.

Sour S'mores Vs DeathlikePeak/Ocean

The newly formed Sour S'mores had to get a big result this week to clinch playoffs, with a semi finals finish holding them in good stead, but a finals finish giving them a lot more space to work with. From the get go, Schmory showed why he's the 6 time 1s champ, producing two speedy, precise goals to open up an early lead, and although Peak showed off his own poise with a devastating 1v1 finish on Schmory, the S'mores still cruised to a game 1 victory.

DeathlikePeak/Ocean may have looked slower in game 1, but they turned it up in game 2. Peak found the opening against a less experienced Sour, and by neutralising Schmory in the air through quick challenges and not giving him space, Peak and Ocean shut out the S'mores in game 2, with a clean self pass double tap from Ocean sealing their fate for the 2-0 win.

Despite appearing a little behind the rest throughout the first two games, Sour turned up early in game 3, getting a perfect read whilst everyone else was depleted to find the first goal. But the rest of the game was the Ocean show, finding 3 goals off some perfect reads, backed up by some goal line saves from Peak, to clinch the series 2-1, sending them to grands, and putting a question mark behind whether or not the Sour S'mores are able to compete with the best of the best.

Off-stream Results:

Imagine Losing take incredible upset over 3 time champs Scarth/Matro in the semi finals, 2-1, to book their first ever grand finals finish.

Gold Coast Melon Chasers win crucial series' against Pots and Pans, 8th seed, and Twin Thing, 10th seed, to lock in a much needed top 8 finish.

Imagine Losing Vs DeathlikePeak/Ocean

It may have been Imagine Losing's first time in grands, but they showed no fear of the big stage early, with two gold shot backboard passes from Portal sending Ocean anxiously out of position, setting Lobby up for the open net and their first of the series. After an error from Lobby and Ocean respectively made it 2-1, Peak was relentless in attack late, with Portal somehow fending the ball off the goal line to produce a 1-0 lead for Imagine Losing in game 1.

Game 2 was as tightly contested as they come, and even though Peak and Ocean had many shots throughout, they just couldn't find the back of the net. But smelling blood for a potential sealer at zero seconds, Portal went for a full commit, finding only the crossbar, which bounces back straight into Peak's waiting hands, who dribbled into an open net for the 1-0 win and 1-1 series score.

After an unlucky own goal to start, Ocean quickly followed with a speedy dunk, before Peak showed his experience with a wonderful dribble to the ceiling and finish, setting up a 2-1 lead that proved enough to get up for the win, putting DeathlikePeak/Ocean on match point for their first ever victory.

Imagine Losing decided to turn it up a notch in game 4, with some more aggressive plays granting Portal the ability to sneak it under Peak for the opener, but it also proved their downfall, with both Portal and Lobby out of position off Peak's dribble to the ceiling, which set Ocean up for the finish. Having lost their lead so quickly, it seemed all over for Imagine Losing after Lobby passed the ball straight to Peak to go down 1-2, but Imagine Losing fought back late, with both players full committing in a Hail Mary that got the game to overtime.

Unfortunately, Imagine Losing soon didn't have to imagine any longer, with a perfect play from Ocean off kickoff beating both to score off the bate in overtime, granting DeathlikePeak the 3-1 victory, with a result to be proud of for Imagine Losing who have emerged as an outside contender for finals. For DeathlikePeak/Ocean, it's a well earned, relieving victory, particularly for Peak, who has played in grands 4 times to no success, as their finals credentials have vastly improved, and perhaps, they're the true team to beat.