Mariners 40 Renegades 0

With Police being unable to field a side, forcing cancellation of their match against Teachers, Mariners and Renegades squared off in the final league game of 2002 on Sunday.

But while it had been expected to be a close contest, Mariners continued their excellent play of late to post an emphatic win over their stunned opponents.

Led by the evergreen Stewart Thomson, Mariners started strongly, mounting constant attacks at the Renegades line. Gades managed to clear on several occasions with some solid tackling but could only hang on for so long.

A chip over the top by the Mariners back line saw Gades out half Mick Williams field the ball within his own 22. He tried to offload to full back Colin Target. But the pass, although good, went to ground and was quickly regained by Mariners with Thomson making strong progress towards the line, passing to Ken Anderson who in turn sent in Brad Lagasse to score in the corner. Anderson was denied by the upright to keep the score at 5-0.

An injury to Renegades debutante Craig Budzynski saw play suspended for some 30 minutes. But Mariners quickly regained their momentum upon resumption of play with Paul Clarke making a solid drive towards the Gades try line. He laid the ball back for Jason Scott who sent it out wide for captain Josh McGavern to score under the posts.

This time Anderson made sure with the ball dissecting the uprights - 12-0 to Mariners.

The first half continued in a similar pattern with Mariners dominating a Gades team who appeared to be suffering from one too many Christmas parties.

A kick and chase from Mariners saw the ball fielded by Gades winger Mike Baker who returned the ball to Mariners centre Thomson. Yet again, Thomson managed to evade the tackles of several players half his age and sent in Steve Rob for the try. Anderson converted to bring the half-time score to 19-0.

With the start of a new half and a Renegades attacking ruck on the Mariners 22, it seemed, briefly, that Gades' fortunes were about to change. But a wayward pass saw Thomson intercept and gallop nearly the length of the pitch before passing to Anderson to score under the posts. Anderson converted to extend the lead to 26-0.

The next Mariners try provoked memories of the 1995 World Cup game between New Zealand and England in which Kiwi winger Jonah Lomu flattened England wing Underwood. A blind side move from a Mariners scrum saw the ball moved out to winger Cian O'Sullivan who, with half a pitch to cover, steamrollered Gades winger Mike (Eric) Williams to score in the corner. Anderson again obliged to extend the lead to 33-0.

With the game now in the bag, Mariners added insult to injury with their prop Rob Baker outsprinting the Gades backline to score under the posts. He converted his own try to bring the final score to 40-0.

All four local teams now head into the Christmas break with very different outlooks on life.

Mariners, having amassed 81 points and conceded only five in the last two games, would want the programme to continue in order to build on their recent success.

Renegades, meanwhile, will no doubt be asking Santa for some inspiration, having given up 72 points without reply in the same two-week period.

Police will certainly be wishing for a healthy New Year, as they finished this term with a number of players on the injured list.

Teachers' only wish might be that no more games be called off for whatever reason.

League play resumes on January 12 at the lower field of the National Sports Complex.

Sunday, January 5 sees the start of this season's Mini Rugby programme. Sessions will be held at Somerfield Academy (Montessori) on Middle Road, Devonshire at 11 a.m., continuing for one hour each week for 10 weeks.

The programme is organised free of charge by Bermuda Rugby Football Union and involves children playing a non-contact version of the game call `touch rugby'.

It's open to both boys and girls aged six to 12. Children interested in playing are welcome to attend on January 5. Further information can be obtained from Dave Worsfold on 295-0071 or via email at dfwrcm.bm; John O'Kelly Lynch on 296-4297 email joklacm.bm or Allan Pinches at 238-4197 email apinchesibl.bm.