at National Sports Club on Sunday.

In the last minute Teachers weathered two penalties, a scrum and two rucks seven yards from their own try line as Renegades desperately went in search of points.

On a pitch that was as hard as it was dusty and with their backs to the sun, Renegades opened their account three minutes into the first half with a Richard Willis penalty some 40 yards out.

But Teachers replied some minutes later with a converted try when fly half Scott Correia retrieved his own deftly executed chip kick to put a rampaging David Cooke through.

Correia then sent Heath (Rocket) Robinson on his way from a 22-yard drop out.

Robinson picked up the ball and combined with a supporting Andre Simons who sloted Robinson in on the left hand side.

Teachers were now ahead 12-3. Willis, however, added some respectability to his side's half-time score when he went over for a try of his own.

But a Simons penalty ensured that Teachers maintained a 15-8 lead at the interval.

After the break, a dynamic Dennis Cherry pushed over the line from close range after Teachers had won a scrum far on the left side to increase the Reds' score by five points.

In perhaps the best move of the game, Renegades winger Pat Jones caught a highly flighted Willis kick near the half-way line and surged forward.

Yards from the Reds try line he found Paul Kerwin who was in support for a converted try that brought Renegades to within five points.

Phil Heaney botched a chace to narrow the margin when he missed a seemingly routine pealty deep in Teachers' half.

In the first game, Police Recreation Club beat Mariners 20-17 with fly half Alan Oliver responsible for half of the Blues' points.

Although the score suggests a close encounter, Mariners handed this game to the Blues with some inept ball handling and poor passing.

Chief culprit was Gavin Corcoran whose inability to catch a high ball allowed Shane Demille to snake his way in for the opening converted try.

Next Oliver kicked a penalty to sink Mariners 10-0 but Declan O'Laughlin eased the deficit with a penalty.

After the half-time break, Police scrum half Gareth Davies blocked Danny Faries' attempted clearance some 12 yards out and scored a converted try by the post.

Mariners were now down 20-3 after Oliver kicked a second penalty. Police let the Greens back into the game when they were penalised and the referee awarded them a penalty try.

Declan O'Laughlin converted to make the score 20-10.

Oliver limped off the field with cartilage damage with 15 minutes left in the game and was replaced at fly half by Russell Matthews.

Mariners got their last converted try through Keith Hodgkins for a final 20-17 score.