Renegades 41 Teachers 12

On a wind swept Police field league leaders Teachers took on reigning champions Renegades in a game that had massive implications for each side's ambitions for the league trophy.

Teachers entered as the in-form team - coming off a crushing victory over Police, while Renegades were smarting from a loss to Mariners.

In a stunning 30-minute opening 'Gades ran amok over a surprisingly listless Teachers side. After some incisive running from scrum half Tom Healy, number eight Peter Dunkerley was on hand to crash over from close to open the Renegades account.

Standoff Paul Waldburger missed the conversion but shortly made up for it by neatly slotting a mid-distance penalty to take the score along to 8-0 with less than five minutes played.

The mercurial Waldburger took advantage of some less than committed tackling and broke through from deep in his half. Despite having just run a half marathon that very same morning he was able to outsprint the covering Teachers defense for a converted try.

Teachers looked to counterattack from a well taken lineout by Derek Hurdle. However an errant pass in the centres went to ground and 'Gades center Tyler Johansen gratefully scooped the ball up, with the slightest of knock-ons going undetected, and scuttled in from half-way.

Waldburger knocked over the easy conversion for a 22-0 lead which had most of the Teachers players shaking their heads in disbelief. Their misery was further compounded when Renegades winger John Jackson scored two more scintillating tries before the half.

Jackson benefitted from some superb passing between Healy and Waldburger, securing his side the crucial bonus point for four tires scored.

Walburger converted one out two of the tries to give his side a commanding 34-0 half-time lead.

Teachers resumed in a determined mood and caught their opponents resting on their laurels. Some gritty 10-men rugby saw the Reds grind their way forward with some strong mauling from Billy McNiven and Anthony Cupidore.

The Reds relentlessly rolled their way forward and former West Indies captain Bobby Hurdle powered over to get his beleaguered side on the score card.

Chris Naylor converted to take the score to 34-7. Teachers scrum-half David Porter took a quick tap penalty after the 'Gades had been caught infringing at the break down. The diminutive Irish man's nippy break caught the once impenetrable defence disorganised and he managed to squeeze in at the corner to close the score to 34-12 but that was as close as his team would come.

Some unsavoury exchanges caused referee Jewitt to sin bin Teachers player Kevin Walsh and Renegades winger Mark Davy.

Renegades woke up in the final quarter and once again began to play champagne rugby. Reds fullback Daniel Morgan manfully endeavoured to keep the lid on but a slick back line move uncorked 'Gades fullback Eoghan O'Dwyer who scampered in untouched for the final converted try of the game.

Renegades secured the bonus point and with the emphatic, six try to two, 41-12 victory resumed their place at the top of the league.