Teachers and Mariners narrowly lead the way following the delayed start of this year's rugby season over the weekend.

The four local clubs kicked off a ten-a-side tournament which will conclude this Saturday at BAA Field with the top two teams in each division playing in a Super 12 or Zurich Premiership play-off format.

At the end of play last Saturday there was little separating the sides in the first team division with all teams winning and losing one game apiece.

But both Teachers and Mariners secured bonus points and lead the first team competition with four points each with Renegades and Police on three.

Bermuda coach Alvin Harvey dusted off his boots for Teachers and tried his best to show national team hopefuls how it should be done. Despite struggling to find his hands on several occasions, Harvey showed the magic was still there, if a little rusty.

With the games being so close, disciplinary records could be a deciding factor for teams making the play-offs. Veteran Mariner Stewart Thomson, currently vying for a second row place in the national team, started the season where he left off with a yellow card for not releasing on the floor.

In the second team division, Teachers top the table after securing wins over Police and Mariners.

The Mariners side contained several youth players who have been involved in Keith Hodgkins' programme at Warwick Academy. Hodgkins joked about his own performance playing alongside his charges, saying: “It's definitely a case of do as I say not as I do!”

Given the inclusion of the youth players in the Mariners side, the success of the last several years' work was seen as Ian Scotton, making his first appearance in senior rugby, converted his own try in the game against Teachers.

Action resumes this Saturday at 3 p.m. at BAA Field.