A stunning late try by Frederick (Frenchie) Royer helped Teachers to seal a hard-fought victory over Police in the Nichol Shield final on Sunday.

Teachers held on in the closing minutes to triumph 17-13 and retain the trophy in what was a successful afternoon for the club, as they also won the Second XV Robin Hood Trophy and the women’s Scully Cup to sweep the silverware.

In the Nichol Shield final, Police drew first blood when captain Michael Kane converted a difficult penalty to give his side a 3-0 lead.

But Teachers responded well and a simple crash ball move saw Warren Clifford slip through a flat-footed Police three quarters to score the easiest of tries between the sticks. Standoff Chris Naylor give Teachers a 7-3 lead.

By half-time Police had reclaimed the lead, thanks to their finest try of the season which saw the ball pass through no less than five set of hands.

It started from a scrum on the Police ten-metre line. No 8 Ken O’Shea picked up and passed to standoff Andrew Flint, who stretched the defence even further before Jamie Webb recycled the ball and popped it to a hard-running Nick Superina.

Superina’s raced down the exposed flank and drew the Teachers full back before releasing Kane to score in the corner to rapturous applause. Kane could not convert, but Police led 8-7 at the break.

In the second half, the see-saw battle tilted back the way of Teachers after robust running from Deverae Noel-Simmons set up a platform in front of the posts, from which Police winger Warren Bundy was called up for some overly aggressive play. Naylor slotted the gift to regain the lead 10-8.

Kane narrowly missed a penalty at the other end, but Police continued to press and retook the lead with another impressive try, when Gareth Davies darted through the fringes before finding Adam Cutfield in support, who released Doug Davies out wide to touch down in the corner. Kane missed the coversion, leaving Police with a 13-10 lead.

But Teachers had the final say, clinching victory with a superb 80-metre move. It started with scrumhalf and captain Dave Porter, who dummied his opposite number and darted forward. Outstanding Teachers No. 8 Jean-Francois Mauvis then recycled the ball out to Naylor. He released Harry Andrews, whose sprint forward drew in the entire Police backline, before feeding winger Royer who rounded helpless Police full back Guy Bowker for a converted try.

Naylor’s important conversion meant the Police had to score a try in the closing minutes of the game if they were to stage an upset. In then end, a game but flagging Police team could not penetrate the indefatigable Teachers defence and the final whistle saw the Reds jubilant.

In other action on Sunday, Teachers defeated Police 5-1 in the Scully Cup for ladies rugby.

An early hat-trick of tries from Reds star player Joanna Thivierge put the Police in a hole they could not get out of. Much to their credit the Police fought valiantly to the end and had two tries curiously disallowed by referee Terry Madeiros.

Anna Knapman-Scott scored for the Police but Jennifer Crawford finished the scoring for Teachers with two fine efforts. The final score was unflattering to the effort put in by Police but Teachers were deserved winners of their first Scully Cup.

Teachers were even more comfortable winners in 2nd XV Robin Hood Trophy, triumphing 29-0 over Renegades.

Both sides were fielding sides that reflected the golden age of rugby where age, size and fitness were insignificant details and the only prerequisite was a love of the sport.

Renegades were led by the venerable Des Nash and were bolstered by impish Irish youngsters Eoghan O’Dwyer and Darragh O’Donaghue. Teachers fielded a strong side with veterans Derek Hurdle, John Edwards, Patrick MacHugh, Andrew “Snooze” Corriera and gracing the paddock.

The game was ably referee by the old hand of Dennis Dwyer who even with his newly constructed knee had no problems keeping up with action.

Teachers started off strongly and some sprightly running by Alvin “Stonehands” Harvey dictated play. After some strong forward play Corriera showed his former National team pedigree and charged through to open the scoring. Corriera converted to give the Teachers the lead 7-0 which they never relinquished.

Teachers fullback Greg Frazier ran through a very porous defence to score a converted try. Corriera shortly after knocked over a penalty to extend the lead 17-0.

The second half saw some young players take control-in the form of Andrew Hooks, playing with his father TRFC chairman Ron Hooks, and the lightning quick Geralvonno Williams. Both youths were impressive and showed that they are the future of local rugby.

The sage Harvey displayed remarkable pace to dart through some weak tackling to score. Corriera knocked over the conversion to extend the lead 24-0.

Andrew Hook then scored the try of the game with a fine individual effort powering through some tackles before sprinting down the sidelines from half way, Corriera missed the conversion but Teachers had the game under wraps 29-0 to secure even more silverware for their cub.

The opening game of the day had seen a combined Mariners/Renegades team host the visiting Brown University Rugby Club. The game was highly entertaining and played at a somewhat frenetic pace befitting a university side but challenged some of the older legends playing for the “Marinades”.

In the end the back row of Peter Shillingford, Rod Stewart and Pete Dunkerley proved to street savvy for their youthful and exuberant counter parts and dictated play.

The Marinades, playing champagne rugby, ran out 43-14 victors with Richard Slater (2) , Steve Husbands (2), Tom Heally and Mike Williams scoring. David Meisner and Nick Stoker scored the two consolation tries for Brown University who have been coming on spring rugby tours to Bermuda since 1965 and have two more local fixtures to play this week.