After MD10, the Brham Broncos are surprising quite a few fans with their surprisingly fast start to the season. Romanopolis looks poised to win their fifth title in a row and sixth overall, while the Tigers of Tim City are awaiting the moment when a second division will be created.
Darmeni Rugby League Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Romanopolis Warriors 10 9 1 0 206 71 +135 19
2 Brham Broncos 10 9 0 1 186 79 +107 18
3 Johnho 10 8 0 2 146 58 +88 16
4 Rogerton Wildcats 10 6 0 4 189 124 +65 12
5 Vogler City Rhinos 10 6 0 4 130 78 +52 12
6 Darmen City FC 10 6 0 4 155 105 +50 12
7 Chuckio Reds 10 5 1 4 188 187 +1 11
8 Sterling City Rovers 10 4 0 6 149 121 +28 8
9 Scott City Bulls 10 4 0 6 118 134 −16 8
10 Scott City AC 10 4 0 6 94 133 −39 8
11 Tilden Vikings 10 3 0 7 90 143 −53 6
12 Liverpool Wolves 10 3 0 7 122 183 −61 6
13 Brady City Giants 10 2 0 8 113 210 −97 4
14 Tim City Tigers 10 0 0 10 20 280 −260 0
New this year is the Challenge Cup, which will see all 14 teams from Darmen, plus 2 clubs from Frecmenta, compete in a knockout style Cup. No IRLCC qualification is up for grabs, but there is a nice shiny trophy, some medals, and a chance for the Tim City Tigers to actually win something.
Round of Sixteen
Pittsburgh Sledgehammers 5–0 Rome Gladiators
Johnho 36–6 Vogler City Rhinos
Brady City Giants 20–6 Scott City Bulls
Tilden Vikings 8–2 Liverpool Wolves
Darmen City FC 1–8 Romanopolis Warriors
Tim City Tigers 0–8 Chuckio Reds
Brham Broncos 8–6 Scott City AC
Sterling City Rovers 36–30 Rogerton Wildcats
Another five matchdays of the League season, and Johnho has moved into second, and they're tied with the Warriors. Brham is still lurking in third, and it looks like a three horse race is setting itself up for a mad dash to the end of the season. Meanwhile, well, how 'bout dum Tigers bro?
Darmeni Rugby League Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Romanopolis Warriors 15 11 2 2 276 114 +162 24
2 Johnho 15 12 0 3 202 84 +118 24
3 Brham Broncos 15 11 1 3 217 115 +102 23
4 Darmen City FC 15 9 0 6 217 147 +70 18
5 Rogerton Wildcats 15 9 0 6 246 183 +63 18
6 Vogler City Rhinos 15 8 0 7 146 128 +18 16
7 Scott City Bulls 15 8 0 7 168 155 +13 16
8 Chuckio Reds 15 7 2 6 239 237 +2 16
9 Sterling City Rovers 15 6 0 9 204 160 +44 12
10 Scott City AC 15 6 0 9 141 187 −46 12
11 Brady City Giants 15 6 0 9 172 246 −74 12
12 Tilden Vikings 15 5 0 10 147 175 −28 10
13 Liverpool Wolves 15 4 1 10 168 250 −82 9
14 Tim City Tigers 15 0 0 15 32 394 −362 0
On to the Quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup, where the Frecmentan champion, Pittsburgh Sledgehammers, gets ready to take on the Darmeni champion, Romanopolis. It's not even close.
Quarterfinals
Romanopolis Warriors 36–4 Pittsburgh Sledgehammers
Sterling City Rovers 46–8 Tilden Vikings
Brham Broncos 18–6 Chuckio Reds
Brady City Giants 42–26 Johnho
22 matches down, four to go, and it's Romanopolis still in the lead. Johnho is only two points behind, while Brham is on the verge of being eliminated from Championship contention. They're odds of qualifying for the IRLCC though are still good.
Darmeni Rugby League Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Romanopolis Warriors 22 17 2 3 378 142 +236 36
2 Johnho 22 17 0 5 344 107 +237 34
3 Brham Broncos 22 15 1 6 287 199 +88 31
4 Rogerton Wildcats 22 13 0 9 332 252 +80 26
5 Darmen City FC 22 13 0 9 327 252 +75 26
6 Scott City Bulls 22 13 0 9 281 227 +54 26
7 Vogler City Rhinos 22 12 0 10 228 197 +31 24
8 Chuckio Reds 22 10 2 10 277 308 −31 22
9 Sterling City Rovers 22 9 0 13 293 234 +59 18
10 Brady City Giants 22 9 0 13 252 321 −69 18
11 Tilden Vikings 22 9 0 13 217 289 −72 18
12 Scott City AC 22 9 0 13 242 318 −76 18
13 Liverpool Wolves 22 5 1 16 211 338 −127 11
14 Tim City Tigers 22 0 0 22 39 524 −485 0
Surprisingly, the Warriors lose to the Broncos in the Semifinals, losing out on the chance to add a cup title to their long list of Silverware. The Broncos will meet the Rovers in the final.
Semifinals
Brham Broncos 10–0 Romanopolis Warriors
Brady City Giants 2–2 Sterling City Rovers (8–10 AET)
So with one day left, the Warriors need only a point to claim their sixth title, while Johnho needs a massive win and a Warriors loss to claim their fourth title. Both teams are guaranteed a spot in the IRLCC. The poor Tigers play the Rovers, and the team from Sterling City has no intention of letting them win.
Darmeni Rugby League Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Romanopolis Warriors 25 19 2 4 421 151 +270 40
2 Johnho 25 19 0 6 381 137 +244 38
3 Brham Broncos 25 17 1 7 346 233 +113 35
4 Rogerton Wildcats 25 15 0 10 359 283 +76 30
5 Darmen City FC 25 15 0 10 345 272 +73 30
6 Vogler City Rhinos 25 14 0 11 271 210 +61 28
7 Scott City Bulls 25 14 0 11 305 265 +40 28
8 Chuckio Reds 25 11 2 12 309 351 −42 24
9 Sterling City Rovers 25 10 1 14 331 278 +53 21
10 Tilden Vikings 25 10 1 14 257 313 −56 21
11 Brady City Giants 25 10 0 15 301 371 −70 20
12 Scott City AC 25 10 0 15 280 370 −90 20
13 Liverpool Wolves 25 7 1 17 245 382 −137 15
14 Tim City Tigers 25 0 0 25 39 574 −535 0
Challenge Cup I Final
@ Colossus Romanopolis, Romanopolis, County Romanopolis
Sterling City Rovers 30–8 Brham Broncos
So the Rovers take the first Challenge Cup title, denying the Broncos something to show for what has otherwise been a fantastic season.
Darmeni Rugby League Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Romanopolis Warriors 26 20 2 4 443 153 +290 42 Champions, IRLCC
2 Johnho 26 19 0 7 381 143 +238 38 IRLCC
3 Brham Broncos 26 18 1 7 372 237 +135 37
4 Darmen City FC 26 16 0 10 351 272 +79 32
5 Rogerton Wildcats 26 15 0 11 383 317 +66 30
6 Scott City Bulls 26 14 1 11 311 271 +40 29
7 Vogler City Rhinos 26 14 0 12 289 232 +57 28
8 Chuckio Reds 26 12 2 12 331 369 −38 26
9 Sterling City Rovers 26 11 1 14 353 280 +73 23
10 Brady City Giants 26 11 0 15 335 395 −60 22
11 Tilden Vikings 26 10 1 15 261 339 −78 21
12 Scott City AC 26 10 0 16 282 392 −110 20
13 Liverpool Wolves 26 7 2 17 251 388 −137 16
14 Tim City Tigers 26 0 0 26 41 596 −555 0
The Warriors take title number six, the fifth in the past five seasons. Johnho finally finishes above third and will return to international play. The Broncos had an outstanding season, but came away with nothing to show for it. Meanwhile, the Tigers are in desperate need of a morale boost, or they might never win a game again.