This was a competition I took no interest until the Toronto Wolfpack entered the division last year. They moved on after a season but I have continued to follow it, now that I know the teams. It probably needs some revision because teams traveling around England (or Canada etc) isn't easy for amateurs. Some of the lower ranked sides struggle to compete.
There were 14 sides in 2018, two down on the year before. They played a 26 round series, the winner given automatic promotion. Teams from 2nd to 5th played off for one more guaranteed place for the winner. The second-placed play-off side also had a one-off match to make it three promoted, which they failed to do. Here my ranking list, from bottom to top.
14th - West Wales 0/26. Totally out of their depth, they amazingly played all their games but got hammered repeatedly. No wins and a points difference of -1930 says it all. Hopefully, they have learned much.
13th - Hemel 2/24. Not much better with two wins and a -932. Another team not up to standard.
12th - London Skolars 6/1/19. Not overly good but the teams below them gave their win/loss record some respectability.
11th - Coventry 7/19. Despite the poor win record, the side showed promise toward the end of the season. Progress is being made.
10th - North Wales 9/1/16. I thought they may have finished higher and they had some good wins but not consistent enough yet.
9th - Keighley 13/13. The first of the clubs from the traditional RL area in England, they started quite promisingly but as the season progressed, seem to drop off the pace somewhat.
8th - Newcastle 14/12. They had some good wins but didn't beat the better teams often enough. There is tremendous potential here and the club seems well run.
7th - Hunslet 15/11. Started well and had some wins over the better sides while struggling at times against lesser ones. The last few rounds were disappointing.
6th - Whitehaven 16/10. A club with ambitions to make the playoffs but just missed out. Lack of consistency was an issue.
5th - Oldham 16/10. Seemed to lose games narrowly and win well, giving the club the best points differential in the competition. Having said that, they were well beaten in the first round of the playoffs.
4th - Workington 17/9. A well-coached side that could have finished higher but for some losses they didn't need. Defeated Doncaster in the first playoff game, lost to Bradford for the automatic second promotion place, they also lost the deciding play-off with Swinton of the Championship second division. Almost but not quite.
3rd - Doncaster 19/7. Had a good season and finished a creditable third, but fell at the first playoff hurdle. The finish was a letdown.
2nd - Bradford 23/3. My pick to win the league and led for some time but were run down by York. Two wins in the play-offs and promotion. Had the best points differential and the biggest average attendance.
1st - York 24/2. Deserved winner of the league and were rewarded with automatic promotion without the stress of play-offs. The crowds are returning in droves and the club is very well run.
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