Teachers 12 Renegades 11

Teachers retained the Gateway Systems League championship but they were made to battle in the final game of the season against Renegades.

After a clearing kick by fly half, Mick Williams, Teachers were under immediate pressure as the Gateway Systems League came to a close last week.

Good tackling from the Red defence kept Renegades at bay.

When it was Teachers' turn to attack, only a poor pass ruined Jeff Sangster's chance of opening the scoring.

Continued pressure saw the Reds awarded a penalty deep in the Renegades half. Fullback, Andre Simons was unable to convert but then witnessed Renegades' Shane Cowman suffer a similar fate leaving both teams tied at 0-0.

Piercing runs from Greg Garside and Shane Cowman kept the pressure on Teachers, but the Reds always seemed to make that crucial tackle.

However, there was nothing they could do when Flanker, Mike Baker surprised the Reds with a quick tap penalty and drove over the line to open the scoring. The missed conversion left the score at 5-0.

Renegades scored again after the Reds were judged offside. A change of kickers saw Mike `Eric' Williams slot the penalty through the posts to add to the score.

Teachers answered right back. Led by the penetrating runs of No.8 Patrick Cooper, the Reds were awarded a midfield scrum. From this platform Harry Andrews fed Simons who outran the defence to touch down and then convert his score.

At halftime the score was 8-7 to Renegades.

The start of the second half saw Renegades extend their lead to 11-7 with another successful penalty kick.

The Reds forwards turned to the rolling maul, not only to control possession, but to wear down the Renegades defence. The Reds looked certain to score on many occasions, but the defence held firm, thwarting attempts at their line from Cooper and substitute Devrae Noel-Simmons.

A well-worked move between Andrews and substitute Warren Clifford was also shut down when Renegades' scrum half, Andy Trindor made a superb try saving tackle.

However, Teachers were not to be denied. The forwards earned a scrum on the five metre line from which Cooper picked up and drove over the line for the score. The missed conversion left the score at 12-11 for the Reds.

Renegades had the next scoring opportunity, but Eric Williams pushed the penalty attempt wide.

Then it was Garside who broke through the Reds line and looked to be heading for a score, only to be corralled by several scrambling defenders and forced into touch.

A botched attempt at a quick throw in by the Reds gave Renegades the lineout close to the Reds try line. The throw was caught and driven forward, only to have the ball turned over and cleared to end the threat.

Dennis Dwyer's whistle then ended a game that gave Teachers sufficient points to retain the title.

Police 23 Mariners 17

Police seem to be coming into form as they put on another gutsy performance against a spirited Mariner's outfit.

Under ideal playing conditions the scene was set for a fine game of rugby and the teams did not disappoint.

Police took charge from the whistle and had the better of the early exchanges. Good work from the pack saw the first scoring opportunity of the game as Andrew Abdo made Mariners pay for an offside penalty. This put Police 3-0 in front.

The pressure continued after the restart and Mariners did well to hold off a period of sustained attacks by the Police forwards.

However, as the blues neared the Mariners' try line, scrum-half Glen Cork spun the ball wide to Abdo. Great handling saw the ball eventually played inside to Steven Morton who finished strongly in the right hand corner. The conversion was missed and the score stood at 8-0 to Police.

Mariners responded with hard, straight running at the Police defence.

The game became more physical and Mariners suffered a bitter blow as captain Stewart Thomson was sin-binned for foul play. This did little to dampen their physical gameplan and they soon got their reward. A number of consecutive penalties awarded against a tiring Police pack saw Mariners forward Rob Baker charge through the blue defence and get Mariners on the score sheet to leave the halftime score Police 8 Mariners 5.

The second half began as had the first. Police quickly extended their lead following a fine individual run by Peter Elliott who eluded a number of defenders to score under the posts. The conversion, shortly followed by another successful penalty attempt, brought the score to 18-5.

Mariners were not discouraged, though, and were soon back in the game.

Excellent mauling from the Mariners pack allowed second row, Paul Clarke to break away for what has become a pretty regular 20 metre sprint for the line. Ken Andersen converted and the score was 18-12.

Andrea Battiston and Chris Bond anchored the blue's defence against continued Mariners' pressure. However, with 15 minutes left on the clock, Rob Baker again powered his way through to score and close the gap to 18-17.

As both teams went in search of victory, the boot of Abdo once again proved vital. A chip over the defence caused confusion allowing Simon Green to capitalise and score in the corner.

The Police defence withstood the unrelenting Mariners pressure in the final minutes to secure their second victory in the final round of the league season.