With a field full of Police, the last thing anyone expected was a robbery at National Sports Club yesterday.

And, yet, there it was -- in broad daylight, too -- according to the men in blue.

With The Rest leading 18-14 and less than 20 minutes remaining in the Duckett Memorial, Billy Butterworth, Danny Cozens and Grant Tompkins of Police were wide open when Cozens grabbed the ball and appeared to score a try.

Referee Peter Borland, however, nullified the score, which would have given Police a 19-18 lead and enabled them to continue the momentum they had seized during much of the second half.

Instead, Alvin Harvey scored a few seconds later to hand The Rest a 23-14 lead, and even though Sean Field responded with another try six minutes later, Police realised their fate was sealed.

"I think that was the turning point of the game,'' said a disappointed Gareth Davies, playing his first game since suffering a groin injury in the World Rugby Classic.

The Rest, made up of members of the national squad, but missing key ingredients like Butch Robinson, Andre Simons and Andrew Correia because of injuries, eventually won the game -- in memory of slain Police commissioner George Duckett -- 30-19, but the Blues took giant strides in making up for a season that has so far felt like a paper cut.

It was the second straight victory for The Rest in the Duckett clash.

The Rest scored four tries while Police notched three of their own on a crisp and sunny afternoon. Police got their scores from Mark Adams, Martin Howe and Field while Keith Beattie, Richard Raistrick and Harvey, with two, scored tries for the winners.

Phil Heaney -- who scored all the points for The Rest a year ago -- provided the rest of the punch by connecting on two penalties and two conversions.

Dave Bird, meantime, was two-for-four on conversions for Police.

It was a game that Police, 1-5 in Amstel League play this season, won the hearts of the lively crowd, by displaying a determined, gritty style of play that clearly caught The Rest off guard.

The Blues, however, were low key during the game, with yesterday's funeral of P.c. Troy James obviously weighing heavy on their minds.

The Rest were frequently forced to cope with a swarm of Police tacklers and for a while it looked as if the Blues might pull off a major surprise.

"I was proud of the boys,'' said Field, playing in his ninth Duckett game.

"They showed great commitment and heart. Things didn't go our way, and that has reflected how our season's been. We never gave up and we can build on this.'' Field scored his try when Bird decided to pass the ball to him instead of Davies in one of the nicest plays on the day.

"It turned out they were overplaying Gareth and Dave (Bird) just handed it out to me,'' said Field. "I thought I was going to get tackled, but obviously the cover wasn't there.

"But I would have traded that try for a win.'' PHOTO CROSSING THE LINE -- No one could stop Alvin Harvey from scoring yesterday as he connects on his first of two second-half tries. Harvey helped lead The Rest to a 30-19 victory over Police in the Duckett Memorial game.