The American National Rugby League's showpiece event had a vastly different look about it this year with teams playing abbreviated games as part of a festival-like set up.

The New York Knights, Aston Bulls, Philadelphia Fight, Boston 13s and Connecticut Wildcats of the AMNRL were joined by select sides from Washington DC and New England, as well as a Canadian representative team.

After absorbing the early pressure, the Internationals got the opening score when Tom O'Connor (DC Slayers) kicked ahead on the last tackle, regathered the ball and went in for the try.

It was converted by Reece Blayney (Fairfax Eagles) and the 'Robert Preston Memorial Rugby League Challenge Cup' was won for the very first time.

"It was really good for us because we were able to get a lot of our young reserve guys into the mix and with the playoffs starting in a couple of weeks, the team bonding was important."

In the Rugby League Sevens Exhibition game, the Northern Raiders beat the Chicago Stockyarders select side 18-10.

There are plans to show the AMNRL Grand Final on the America One channel as well as US Tomahawks (the United States national rugby league team) matches.