Mariners finally shed their bridesmaid's tag by beating defending champions Teachers to lift the Nicol Shield at the third time of asking.

League champions Teachers were thwarted in their attempt to achieve the double over Mariners who won 20-12. It was their first Nicol Shield win for 15 years.

Mariners' traditional slow start saw them fall behind early in the game at the National Sports Centre when David Porter chipped ahead for Harry Andrews to touch down for a fine try.

Shauntino Simons slotted the conversion to give them a 7-0 lead after only a few minutes. Mariners bounced back and worked their way deep into the Teachers '22, and thought they had pulled it back when Bongani Ndlovu went over, but the referee deemed there to have been a double movement in the build-up and awarded a penalty to Teachers.

Teachers applied more pressure and appeared to have the upper hand with possession and territory, but Rich Brown turned the ball over for Mariners to start off what must rate as one of the tries of the season.

With Mariners working the ball from their own '22, Dustin Archibald and Johnny Peacock combined to get it to Scott Brown and his offload from the tackle found Lachie Armour who in turn fed Rich Holden, and his side-step wrong-footed the defence as he raced through to score.

Mark Pomeroy nailed the conversion to even the game at 7-7 before half-time, while Teachers suffered a double blow when the talismanic Bobby Hurdle had to go off with a hamstring injury.

The second half again saw some entertaining rugby, and it was Mariners who forged ahead when Pomeroy split the uprights with a penalty after Teachers were penalised for coming in from the side.

A fine kick from Pomeroy forced a line-out close to the Teachers line. Dave Rourke won the line-out and the forwards then drove to the line for Gary Brady to ground the ball with a trademark try line flop.

Pomeroy impressively converted and then was on hand at the other end to touch back after Porter's break almost yielded a try. Mariners pushed back up the field and Holden kicked a drop-goal to extend their lead.

Teachers fought back with a try of their own, winning the ball and passing through a number of hands. Henry Paddison and James Dockeray were prominent in the move that set David McHugh free out wide to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed and Mariners held out for a deserved 20-12 win.

In the Scully Cup final, Renegades' women beat Police 4-1 to claim the trophy for the third successive year.

Renegades were at their best in the first half and it was their pace that proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Amy Harvey, Laura Haynes and Vanessa Turner all scored tries for the 'Gades as they led 3-0 at the break.

Police tightened up in the second half and had opportunities to pull themselves back into the game and scored from a penalty try awarded after an offside infringement had prevented a clear cut scoring chance.

However, Renegades got another try from Jess Gilbert to seal the win.