Teacher not ready to give up hurdle trophy
this year and they have picked the team to do just that, according to their captain Alvin Harvey.
But if that prediction is to have any merit, the boys in red and black will have to get past a Rest of Bermuda squad that is aiming to avenge the 25-5 defeat they suffered at Teachers' hands last year.
Despite injuries to key players Patrick Cooper, Ashley Redmond and Terry Walsh, Harvey says his team has what it takes to defeat the Rest.
Andrew Correia will be back at scrum-half after a calf injury forced him out of the Caribbean Championships in Trinidad last year, while his brother Scott, Tommy Sinclair, Monty Montgomery, Harvey, Butch Robinson and Andre Simons complete the backs.
"In Butch (Robinson) and Andre (Simons) we have two of the best wingers,'' Harvey said. "We will definitely look to exploit that, but they will be expecting us to go to the wings every time so we will mix it up all the time and keep them guessing.
"We are looking to score a few quick tries early on and control the game from the beginning.'' Of the Teachers pack which is composed of Billy McNiven, Dave Cooke and Tim White in the front row, a second row of Dennis Cherry and Richard Raistrick, flankers Ron Hooks and Anthony Cupidor rounded out with Noel Capewell at number eight. Harvey concedes that it is here where Teachers are weakest.
"We don't expect to win very much ball up front. They are a lot taller in the line-outs and bigger in the scrums, but Hooks, Cupidor and Capewell are in great shape and I expect that they will be providing good support.'' Harvey says Police forward Danny Cozens and Mariners' skipper Dave Conway are two players that his side must watch in the game.
"Danny can be a threat, he's big and strong while Dave is a strong runner. We have got to play them tight and stop them up front,'' he said.
"This is our game, we just want to play well for Denton, honour him and the club.'' Spectators attending the game on Sunday are encouraged to make contributions to the Denton Memorial Scholarship fund.
Police 37, Britannia 5 Police proved ungracious hosts for the Royal Yacht Britannia outfit as they trounced the visitors in their encounter yesterday.
In a hard fought first half the relentless pressure by the Police forwards proved most rewarding as they surged to a 13-0 lead spurred by two penalties, both converted by guest player Patrick Jones of Renegades.
Just before the halftime whistle Police spread the ball wide and had quick ball handling to put Troy Glasgow away for a score. The winger galloping forty yards, eluding the Royal Britannia defence and having Jones successful with his conversion.
Jones, in fact, was a picture of consistency on the day, converting four out of four kicks and accounting for 17 points.
The second half saw Police score 24 points during a 10 minutes span from the outset as the floodgates opened.
Starting things off was another guest player, Richard Lightowler, who barrelled through two tackles to score.
On the ensuing kick-off it was Glasgow again storming through only to be tackled inches from the half, but scrum-half Ben Jewitt was `Johnny on the spot'' as he took the loose ball between the posts.
A saucy 40-yard drop-kick by Jones added to Royal Yacht Britannia's misery moments later.
Not to be outdone the Police forwards drove on rolling mauls and eventually sent Shane Demille off on a 30 yard run down the sidelines, resulting in yet another tally.
Demille's no-look over-the-shoulder pass to Henry Simpson was the play of the game with the latter scoring between the posts to take the score to 37-0.
Despite the score-line Royal Yacht Britannia showed great spirit and determination.
Intense pressure gave them a deserved try by Steve Calvert, who drove in from five yards to create the final score.
