ON Sunday at National Sports Stadium the Bermuda Police Rugby Football Club and Mariners Rugby Football Club will be playing in the inaugural Paul Marsden Memorial Game.Marsden was a popular Police rugby player and a dedicated Police officer who tragically died almost a year to the date ago (22/1/06) while playing for the Police against Mariners in last year’s league game. The cause of death was given as a coronary arrest. Marsden’s sudden death hit the tight knit rugby community hard, as evidenced by the overwhelming attendance to his funeral service which had full Police honours.

The Marsden family will be attending the memorial game from the United Kingdom. Following the game, there will be an unveiling of Paul’s retired rugby shirt at the Police Recreation Club, Prospect. All rugby colleagues, friends and associates are cordially invited to the PRC to take part in the celebration of Marsden’s life and contribution to Police rugby.

A minute silence will be observed before the 3:30 p.m. kick off.

[obox] A fired up Police team outlasted a determined National team last weekend at Police Field, Prospect in an exciting, keenly contest match which saw the lead change no less than seven times.

Police started the game with their usual passion and fury that are the hallmarks of every Duckett Memorial game. After missing an earlier penalty kick for an offside infringement Police captain Michael Kane did not miss on a second gift penalty in front of the posts for a repeat offence giving the boys in blue a 3-0 lead.

The Rest bounced back with a cheeky back line move that left Police flatfooted and they scored in the corner. The conversion was narrowly missed by Chris Naylor leaving it 5-3 to the National team.

After several lusty forward exchanges not for the faint hearted, Police prop Jamie Billings’ surging run set up the platform required by Police standoff Andrew Flintoff, who showed is pedigree with a superb individualistic try.After deftly chipping an aggressive National team back line that were up very fast defensively, Flintoff collected the kind bounce and out-paced the covering defence to score in corner. Kane missed the conversion giving Police an 8-5 lead in the tense encounter.

The Rest then replied with some lovely interplay and strong running which saw the ball recycled several times before a quick blind side move broke through a wilting Police team. Naylor once again missed the difficult conversion.

The Rest continued to dominate and were unfortunate not to extend their lead when one of their players inexplicably dropped the ball with the try line beckoning. A relieved Police team went in the half only down 10-8.

After the break, a resolute Police team fought their way back into the game. Police second row Mark Evans had a blinder and was dominate in loose ball exchanges with some storming runs which eventually released Warren Bundy to score. Bundy’s try exemplified Police play of the day — after some aggressive forward play by Matt Smith and Ryan Summerville and a well-thought snipe down the blind side by Gareth Davies, saw Bundy power over in corner. Kane missed the conversion taking the score to 10-13.

The National team refused to capitulate and ran the ball from everywhere on the park. Fullback Tom Healy outstripped a desperate Police defence as the Rest soaked up immense pressure before counter attacking the length of the pitch to score another breakaway try against the run of play. Naylor converted bringing the score to 17-13.

With Police centre Jonathon Cassidy going off injured, worried Police supporters urged their boys in blue on. Led by the ubiquitous Kenny O’Shea, the Police forwards began to provide more and more ball for the dangerous Police back line. The positional dominance eventually paid off in a five metre penalty. With his team down by four points Police Captain Kane opted for a forward penalty move. Through sheer determination and will, the highly motivated Police forwards mauled their way through the desperate Rest defence with the effervescent Andreas Battison claiming the game winning, push-over try.

Michael Kane stepped up and converted the difficult and important conversion to restore Police the lead 20-17 with five minutes left to play.

In the true spirit of the Duckett, the Rest, captained by Teachers and West Indies star Derek Hurdle, played an expansive game looking to win rather than tie the game in the closing moments. Stout defence by the Police back line led by the brave Jamie Webb ensured victory for the boys in blue.

A proud ACOP Carlton Adams congratulated all the players for a fine display of rugby played in the true spirit befitting slain Commissioner George Duckett.