Rugby League World Cup XII-Darmen (Everything)

[Darmen]

Quarterfinals
Saugeais 12–12 Hutanjia (18–20 AET)
Polar Islandstates 7–2 The Licentian Islands
Cyborg Holland 15–4 Neu Engollon
Mapletish 12–1 Preiva

Which gives us the Semifinal matchups of:

Hutanjia vs. Polar Islandstates
Cyborg Holland vs. Mapletish

[Neu Engollon]

RUGBY CORNER

DOWN AND OUT: ROBO'D OUT OF DARMEN

By Jean Marc Charjan

So, that's it. The Goats choked in the clincher game to get them to the Semi-Finals. They fought, but were only able to get the one try from Giancoli across, missing the conversion. We can't figure out if they were just run ragged and unable to maintain momentum, or if they just couldn't cope with the Cyborg Dutch onslaught, which was indeed merciless. It was a wonder that they could hold them to 15 points, but they were able to stop two deep rushes into their 20 meter, before finally collapsing to the last offensive of Cyborg Holland's in the final minutes. They fly home, probably wishing it had been a closer match, but everyone has an off day. We look already to next year, when there will be some fresh blood coming in to the squad and they will have a fresh chance to get to the top.

I for one, hope it's not in Darmen, again. Much as its a beautiful nation, I really am tired of being followed around and constantly harassed by the immigration police. I wish the best to Darmen and its people and hope that things free up. They seem to be able to enjoy their sports pretty well, so it can't be too bad. I am already at the airport and anxiously waiting to board the flight to Burgunden. See you soon, Neu Engollon!

** JMC **

[Mapletish]

Towards the end

With an impressive 12-1 win against Preiva in the quarter-finals earlier, the All Reds have made it to the semi-finals in one of their most successful outing in the RLWC. Against an equally motivated Preiva side, it was experience once again that gave the All Reds the edge against their counter parts. The All Reds never failed to give up on a challenge while attacking well to give themselves the well needed edge against newcomers Preiva. As always full back Francisco Dean was the star performer for the All Reds with several well timed attacking and defending runs to keep their opponents out of the way. They could have done much better after the break but several mistakes and mistimed runs failed to give the All Reds the attacking momentum that could lend them with a much bigger score. However despite a drop in the performance after the break, the All Reds managed to keep their momentum and continued on to the semi-finals where they will faced Cyborg Holland, one of the few favourites to make it for the final in a likely Cyborg Holland - Polar Islandstates duel.

[Cyborg Holland]

Aikema annihilates Goats

DARMEN ~ Cyborg Holland advanced to their second Rugby League World Cup Semi-final with a comfortable 16-4 over upcoming rugby nation Neu Engollon.

The Dragons were always in control of the game, with three tries to Neu Engollon's one. The Dragons defence lived up top it's fearsome reputation, with key players such as Simon Xander, Erwin Kolen & Fred van Aarenhank making several big tackles in the opening exchanges as part of Cyborg Holland's "Blitz" tactics.

Lambert Aikema proved a potent threat to the Neu Engollon defence, breaking the game line on no less than three occasions in the opening ten minutes.

It was Aikema again who made the first score, breaking through a battered Neu Engollon line 20m from the try line, before accelerating away from the defenders and beating the full back Passant before scoring under the posts. Stand-off Nick Alberts easily converted the kick.

The second try came after a slick move between scrum-half Xander, Alberts, Aikema and other centre Pyotr Laufern. Xander drifted in to draw to Neu Engollon defenders, before missing Alberts as he charged through, drawing another man, leaving one man on Aikema and Laufern and the big centre just popped it to Laufern and he had a clean run through to the try line.

Cyborg Holland closed out the game with a third try, and a second try for Lambert Aikema. He received the pass deep from Alberts, before crashing through two Neu Engollon tackles and throwing a dummy around an exhausted Passant to score in the corner.

[Hutanjia]

"Hello and good morning, Hutanjia! Shirley Golaru, coming to you once again live from Darmen, and the Rugby League World Cup Twelve. We are all so proud of the Spiders, as you may know they have advanced on to the semi finals here after a nailbiting-ly intense match against Saugeais, which ended in a draw. After extra time, the Hutanjians were able to pull out a win. We are so proud of them!
I have with me Samson Wakala, the team captain. Samson, that was very close, what reserve did you all tap into to hang in against the veteran Hawks side?"

"Shirley, yes, obviously we needed to pull out something extra to come out on top, but we also try to go full bore ALL the time. Not just in the end or extra time of a match. I feel that's what we did here. We played as if it was just an extra long match and performed our jobs, until that job was done. A win on the board."

"OK, well how do you feel about the team? Anyone in particular shine out there?"

"Well, again, we played like we always do, as a solid team, but yes...there were some highlight moments. Monty was brilliant as always."

"Monty Apegku, the scrum half, who put in the tying try..."

"Yes...and Harry Nepedku, too. We are really amazed at the tackles he threw off from the Hawks, I believe it was Simon Payne, and Harden. Just powerful stuff."

"Very humble about your own assist in that try, as always. Samson, we're running out of time. How do you feel about your chances against the Polarians at the Stadium in Sterling City?"

"Shirley, it's an uphill battle, always. These are the elite world class sides of rugby. Of course, they should be when you make it this far in a world cup. We are always the underdogs this far in and we always have to fight like the underdogs, no matter what, with no expectations whatsoever..."

"You don't even know the exact squad first line that we're facing as they have a total media blackout on their end..."

"Exactly, so, we can't play to block or shut down certain of their players, as we don't even know if they'll be on the pitch. The best we can do is what we always do. Drive, ruck and steamroll to the try zone. We make up for what we lack in speed by fortitude and tank-like endurance. That's what you saw against the Saugeais Hawks, and that' what you'll see next against Polar Islandstates."

"Thank you, Samson."

"Thank you, Shirley."

"There you have it. Keep cheering on the Spiders back home folks. We'll show the match live and a delayed repeat. With pre and post match coverage. Stay tuned, Hutanjia!"

[Darmen]

Semifinals
Hutanjia 6–5 Polar Islandstates
Cyborg Holland 9–2 Mapletish

Which means Hutanjia and Cyborg Holland will face off in the Final, and Polar Islandstates and Mapletish will face off in the Rushmori Championship... er Third-Place playoff.

[Hutanjia]

"Hutanjia, Once again, it is my pleasure to bring you the best news we could hope for! I am Shirley Golaru reporting from Darmen, and for those of you who have been hiding in the jungle or out to sea, away from every TV, radio and newspaper, the news is this...The Hutanjia Spiders National Rugby League Team is now in the World Cup finals! Yes! You heard that right!
During the intense match against the Polar Islandstates, the Spiders were able to get just one try in close to the half mark, Vlad Sokota assisting Janson Paqate to touch it down to the inside corner after some brutal rucking with the Polarians. With the extremely near impossible angle, Grendel Lintanu was still able to make the conversion, which might have made all the difference at the final whistle.

After the half, it was the Polarians turn to press the attack, the first being driven back, the Spider counterattack shut down after an incredibly long series of mauls...The ball was lost and scooped up by the Polarians, eventually it was dished to the outside center who brought it the rest of the way back through three broken tackles for a try. When the conversion was missed, the Spiders were determined to cement their lead, but frustrated by the Polarians' equally adept defense. The Polarian right winger was able to dropkick the rock from 24 meters back and bring them to a one point deficit in the final 17 minutes.

What followed was another series of turnovers, to leave the ball in Polarian hands near the final few minutes. The amount of screaming and carrying almost succeeded in drowning out the bone crunching shut down of the Polarians' final drive, stopped at the intersection of the 6 meter line and sideline by the cessation of the match and an aiding shove out by Emmett Jelego.

People, we look to topple sport dominators Cyborg Holland from their pedestal today. HNN 1 and 3 will be bringing you all the League coverage you can handle, pre and post match. We will all be enraptured to the final minutes today as this earth shattering clash unfolds. Stay tuned!"

[Cyborg Holland]

Dragons gear up for Final

Ahead of the Rugby League World Cup final with Hutanjia, team captain Edward van Horen has said in front of the media that "although we might be favourites, we must be wary" of Hutanjia.

van Horen, who's been leading the heavy-hitting Cyborg Holland defence, said in a press conference in front of national and international media that he was expecting a very tough game, but he trusted his own players to overcome the challenge.

The Dragons overcame Mapletish 9-2 in the semi-final, with Grig Jansen scoring a brilliant individual try in the 54th minute, breaking through the defence on the left-hand side, before using his fantastic burst of pace to beat the full-back and covered the last 60m to score under the posts. Nick Alberts converted the kick, and then slotted a penalty and a drop goal, before Mapletish added a token penalty in the last minute.

[Sorry for shortness, v. busy]

[Darmen]

Final
Hutanjia 8–2 Cyborg Holland

Third-place Playoff
Polar Islandstates 13–0 Mapletish

Congrats to Hutanjia and commiserations to Cyborg Holland.

[Hutanjia]

"Hutanjia, I, Shirley Golaru, humbly come to you with one of the best things to happen to our nation since the Accords were signed. This might actually be the most spectacular event in decades, really...most of you know this from watching it live, or watching the delayed broadcast, but the Spiders, the National Team have won the League World Cup here in Darmen! It was an eight to two score against the Dragons of Cyborg Holland, with our boys fighting hard for every meter gained.
They pulled it off and managed to keep the Dragons at bay up to the final whistle. We saw the defense getting battered but not breaking and the backs in perfect form as they whip passed the ball for the trys and attempts on the Dragons' zone. They return to Chastille tomorrow night after a well deserved celebration and rest, carrying the Cup with loving care the whole journey home. A parade through Chastille, Molnitha and one through Vesselle are planned for this coming week. More coverage and highlights later, people of the Wishton Sea!"