Renegades 8

Teachers 3

It was the deciding matches for the league title and the wooden spoon at Police Field, with Renegades and Teachers wrestling for the silverware and Mariners and Police tussling to avoid the spoon.

In the winner-takes-all league encounter between Renegades and Teachers, the conditions for open attacking rugby could not have been better. The Teachers back line smarting from their mauling in the previous encounter played with a far more physical approach and were able to shut down the dangerous half back combination of Paul Waldburger and Tom Healy.

Just before the half Renegades finally put together some good multi-phase play which created space out wide. A lovely weighted ball from centre Scott Slater put full back Eoghan O'Dwyer away with acres of space. The diminutive full back sprinted in free to the corner but inexplicably ran out the back of the dead ball zone before touching down. Teachers went into the half with the clash still pointless in a very tense and hard fought game.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first with Teachers sticking to their well though out game plan. Renegades were punished for indiscipline when a rare Teachers foray into their half resulted in a scrum. Some needless and ill advised back chat to the referee saw a penalty awarded. Teachers standoff Chris Naylor stroked the ball over to give his side a slim 3-0 lead.

On the hour mark Waldburger evened things up with a well struck penalty. Renegades continued to up the tempo and took advantage of an undetected perceived knock-on to recycle the ball and fling it wide where substitute Conrad Hinchey was in support to score an unconverted try in the corner and give Gades an 8-3 lead.

Teachers tried to fight back but never looked to score in game dominated by Renegades. The final whistle witnessed a jubilant Renegades team celebrating their fifth league title in as many years.

Police 22

Mariners 17

Resurgent Mariners were looking for their fifth win of the season against a dismal Police side who were losers of eight straight. Both sides were missing several first string players. Police could not field a proper front row and had to concede points for requesting uncontested scrums.

Mariners started the stronger. David Rourke majestically won a line-out and set up a tight driving maul which saw Dustin Archibald get an unconverted try.

Police found some joy in turning the Mariners over and Mike Kane knocked a penalty kick over to peg back the score to 5-3.

Mariners replied and captain Rich Brown, running in at a sublime angle, cut a swathe through the Blues backline and score a converted try for a 12-3 lead.

Police flanker Mike Arbuthnot pounced on a loose ball and evaded several weak tackles for a stunning try. Michael Kane converted for a 12-10 half-time score.

Police strung some phases of play together. Burly prop West, slickly off loaded to a supporting Jamie Webb. The Police captain drove forward before passing to Nick Superina who scored. Kane converted to make it 17-12.

Mariners fought on and their fiery scrum half Mark Pomeroy's quick tap penalty found the Police defence in shambles. Pomeroy drew several players before finding Kris Furbert who crashed through to score near the corner. Brown missed the conversion but the scores were level with 15 minutes to play.

In the last frenetic play of the game, Police hooker Brian McNabb found himself out in the backs with the ball. He drove forward and put Kane into space. The Bermuda-Irish winger slofted the ball out to the hard charging full back Ralshon Douglas who scored the winning try.

Reports by Sean Field-Lament.