What is black and white and red all over? Renegades -- before, during and after yesterday's President's Cup clash it seems -- as they were thoroughly thrashed and outplayed by Teachers 41-12 at National Sports Club as the curtain rose on a new rugby season.

The only thing hotter than the weather was Teachers, who appeared to be in the right place at the right time and in mid-season form on their way to winning their first President's Cup since 1989.

The only thing cold was the cold shoulder Renegades received and the big arms and the fast legs and everything else associated with a drubbing. In short, Renegades got mugged.

It was the kind of loss that started early and never seemed to end for last year's Amstel League champs with Teachers captain Alvin Harvey and Andre Simons leading the offensive spark with a pair of tries each. Also scoring tries were Patrick Cooper, speedster Butch Robinson and veteran Andrew Correia.

Harvey, in fact, got his team off and running with a try early in the first half when he bulldozed over the line. Andrew Correia followed with his only two-point conversion (he missed four others) to put Teachers in front 7-0. Bad luck seemed to haunt him as two of his kicks bounced off the uprights, and he was eventually replaced by Simons in the second half.

Renegades were without two of their key players, kicker Phil Heaney and first-year captain Patrick Jones. Heaney was nursing a left bruised thigh while Jones was still favouring an injury he suffered in last weekend's Sandys Boat Club tournament.

The closest Renegades ever got in the game came about 10 minutes in the first half when Wade Tihema scored on the corner to put Renegades on the board. Dave Taylor, replacing Heaney as kicker, failed on the two-point conversion.

From then on it was all Teachers. Their blistering speed seemed to freeze the entire Renegades defence and the defending champs began to resemble confused rookies.

"They played very well,'' said Renegades Danny Forsythe in the dusty emptiness of defeat. "I have to take my hats off to them. I think it was a bit of an eye-opener for us. It woke us up. You've got to keep working and keep running and Teachers showed us that in every respect.'' Teachers scored three straight tries from Cooper, Simons and Robinson to give them a 22-5 half-time advantage.

The score could have been even more one-sided if it were not for missed conversions and penalty kicks plus a pair of controversial plays when Simons appeared to connect on a certain try, which referee Keiron Peacock ruled held up by Renegades.

Moments later, Dennis Cherry was close to the line and when it was declared short -- which it was -- he yelled at Peacock, "What's short?'' and Teachers suddenly lost their field position due to a penalty.

That was followed by one of Renegades' brightest moments when Steve Everest ran down the field for more than 70 yards for a try. Taylor's conversion made the score 27-12.

After that Andrew Correia and Harvey connected for two more tries to complete the rout.

"We've worked hard in the off-season so it's beginning to show,'' said Teachers captain Harvey afterwards.

Police 10, Mariners 3 After yesterday's other opener, it appears to be back to the drawing board for Mariners.

Entering the season with what is considered their strongest side ever, Mariners appeared confused and flat against a surprisingly strong Police squad that was also undermanned.

Danny Cozens of Police scored the first try of the season late in the first half and put his squad up 10-0 in the second half with another one. Dave Bird and Grant Tompkins were short on conversions.

Mariners got their three points on a penalty kick from Gavin Corcoran.

Police were like bees bending the heads of flowers with their weight with a gritty display, which featured crisp tackling.

Cozens said Mariners were over-confident.

"They under-estimated us,'' he said. "We took it to them up front.'' Police received their usual dependable play from Gareth Davies and fine defensive play, especially in the last 10 minutes of the game from Jonah Jones and Shane DeMille.