Tuesday 4 September 2018

USA Season : 2018

The 2018 season commenced with the Rhode Island Rebellion not taking part, a side that had been with the USARL since its inception in 2011. The Central Florida Warriors also ceased after four years in the competition. They were replaced by the South Florida Copperheads. It doesn't appear as if one club is a continuation of the other but a new side. So now that the 2018 season has concluded, here is what happened.

Northern Conference: Seven teams took part, with Brooklyn winning the conference. They were second in 2017. Philadelphia went from 7th to 2nd, so a huge gain for them. The Wombats held their place at 3rd while NY Knights dropped from 1st to 4th. The Boston were 5th, replicating the previous season. Delaware too took 6th for another year. The Eagles fell from 4th to 8th.

Southern Conference: Jacksonville won this smaller conference, up from 3rd last year. Atlanta and Tampa dropped a place to second and third respectively. South Florida replaced a Central Florida team and unsurprisingly came last.

Northern Conference Playoffs: In the first round the Wombats and Knights progressed. For the second round, the bye teams of the Kings and Fight entered the fray. The former advanced but the latter fell to the Wombats. Then the Kings booked their place in the final, defeating the Wombats 34-18, the score not reflecting the close contest. It was 12-6 at half time only a late flurry of scoring secured the result.

Southern Conference Playoffs: With less team, this side of the competition went straight into the second round. The Axemen overwhelmed the new Copperheads team and Atlanta did likewise against Tampa. The match to decide who went on the the grand final was between Jacksonville and last years champions Atlanta. The Axemen took the match comfortably 44-16.

Grand Final: It was played in Jacksonville but the Brooklyn side were hopeful. Both sides had gone through the season undefeated. However, on the field they couldn't hold the local team and were beaten 56-16. Lachlan Bristow scored 36 points for Axemen.

Northern Conference Southern Conference
1 Brooklyn Kings 12 1 Jacksonville Axemen 12
2 Philadelphia Fight 8 2 Atlanta Rhinos 6
3 White Plains Wombats 8 3 Tampa Mayhem 6
4 New York Knights 6 4 South Florida Copperheads 0
5 Boston 13s 2
6 Delaware Black Foxes 2
7 Northern Virginia Eagles 0

Playoffs – Northern Playoffs – Southern


R1 White Plains Wombats 52 R2 Jacksonville Axemen 88

Delaware Black Foxes 12
South Florida Copperheads 0






R1 New York Knights 24 R2 Atlanta Rhinos 68

Boston 13s 22
Tampa Mayhem 10






R2 Brooklyn Kings 20 R3 Jacksonville Axemen 44

New York Knights 8
Atlanta Rhinos 16




R2 Philadelphia Fight 14

White Plains Wombats 16 Grand Final






R3 Brooklyn Kings 34 S Jacksonville Axemen 56

White Plains Wombats 18 N Brooklyn Kings 16



For the 2011 season (the series starting point), please click here.

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