Renegades pulled off the rugby Shield double at National Sports Centre over the weekend, winning both the women's and men's titles.

'Gades men's team thumped Mariners 26-8 to claim the Nicol Shield while the women proved too strong for Teachers, running in eight unanswered tries to claim the Scully Shield.

In the 73rd Nicol Shield final, it was case of David taking on Goliath with Mariners, winners of this year's wooden spoon, facing the all-conquering league champions Renegades, fresh from a 55-8 demolition of Police.

In the long history of the Nicol Shield (one of Bermuda's oldest running sporting trophies), Mariners have won only once (1994) while Renegades had won the trophy on 11 previous occasions.

In the ladies' Scully Shield final, Renegades took on Teachers who had won their semi-final replay over Mariners on Friday night.

Teachers may have sensed that they had momentum on their side but Renegades were in a ruthless mood, scoring eight tries in the most lopsided Scully final ever played. Leading the way was captain Amy Harvey with three, followed by two tries from Ruth Boo Leston and scores from Sue Rebello, Laura Haynes and Melissa Field.

In the men's clash, both sets of forwards began at a furious pace neither side willing to give an inch. Mariners, playing with the advatage of a slight breeze in the first half, dominated territorially and showed some remarkable ball retention skills going through several long phases of play.

In the line-outs Mariners' giant David Rorke was up to the task and he secured most of his side's ball as well as stealing a few throw-ins.

A pattern soon developed with Mariners looking to play a forward-dominated game with the emphasis on driving mauls and set pieces - the game plan set out by coach Johann Oosthuizen. Renegades, on the other hand, looked to constantly play an up-tempo, expansive game with counter attacks, quick-tap penalties and avoidance of set pieces, the order of the day from their coach Peter Shillingford.

Mariners doggedly stuck to their war of attrition with Ryan Gonsalves and Dustin Archibald leading the way in the loose, but it soon became apparent that the Greens attack lacked a cutting edge, possibly due to the absence of Kris Furbert.

Renegades soon worked out the one dimensional attack and their pack, led by the irrepressible Conor McGlynn, had the measure of their opposite numbers, defending in units and looking to turn the ball over after patient defending.

'Gades stand-off Paul Waldburger was efficient at distributing the ball wide which is where his side clearly had the edge in skill and pace.

Winger Colin Keane and the diminutive Eoghan (Squire) O'Dwyer at full back looked dangerous every time they touched the ball.

A quick line-out deep in their own 22 saw Renegades winger Greg Garside combine well with O'Dwyer and a rapier-like counter attack against the run of play saw the latter scamper in after eluding several would-be tacklers. Waldburger converted to make it 7-0 and Mariners spent the rest of the game chasing.

A text book line-out by Rorke saw the Greens drive over from close with their burly number eight Gary Brady claiming the try from the bottom of pile to narrow things to 7-5. Richard Holden missed the difficult conversion.

Renegades responded immediately and showed that they could play the forwards game too with some sustained pressure, eventually paying off with Paul Dobinson crashing over from close in for a converted try and a 14-5 lead.

Mariners worked the ball back with their patented driving maul and were rewarded a penalty just before the half which Holden knocked over to close it to 14-8.

The second half saw very much the same with Mariners retaining possession but making very little headway against a well organised and committed defence. Facing the wind, Mariners spent most of the second half in their own end and had to work hard to make inroads.

Renegades tackled well and looked to capitalise on any mistakes made. The errors came and a turnover in a tackle saw the ball quickly fired out to the Renegades' backs. A wonderfully worked back-line move was expertly finished off by John Jackson. Waldburger missed the conversion but his side led 19-8.

Mariners tried to fight their way back into the game but could not unlock a resolute defensive front. A final try came in the closing moments with the indomitable Conrad Hinchey poaching the ball and making a surging break down the middle. A deft off load to Tom Healy saw the Bermuda Irish scrum half slash his way over for a converted try for a flattering 26-8 score line.

Closing out the 2007-2008 domestic season will be the Bermuda Sevens tournament scheduled for March 22 at National Sport Complex with two time champions Bermuda Irish back to defend their title.