Teachers and Police will contest the Nicol Shield final this weekend after both won their semi-finals with varying degrees of comfort last Sunday.

Resurgent Teachers enjoyed a surprising 20-0 triumph over runaway league champions Renegades. It was the first time Renegades had been shut out all season and was just reward for a dominant display by Teachers’ forwards.

Police beat Mariners 10-3 in a match-up of injury-ravaged sides, which saw tempers tested by some controversial refereeing decisions.

Renegades were widely expected to win, especially with the Reds missing Bermuda captain Bobby Hurdle, who is down in Trinidad watching his cousin Kevin Hurdle play in the Cricket World Cup for Bermuda.

Teachers took the lead from a lineout, executing the set piece perfectly, as Andrew Males won clean ball and powerhouse Devrae Noel-Simmons drove the text-book maul over from short range for the first score. Chris Naylor converted to give teachers a 7-0 lead.

After a spell in which teachers piled on the pressure, a scrum was awarded to Teachers who set up a strong platform from which standoff Naylor had all the time in the world to chip a neat little drop goal over to move the score to 13-0.

Anthony (Church) Cupidor off loaded to Patrick Cooper who would not be denied from 5 metres out. Naylor converted on the final whistle to make it 20-0.

Two weakened sides missing recognised scrum halfs met in the second semi-final involving Police and Mariners.

Mariners failed to capitalise on their early dominance, as Mark Pomeroy missed a kickable penalty.

Police went ahead through a superb move stemming from a line-out on the halfway line. RAF flying officer Ben Beasley, back in Bermuda on leave, caught cleanly in the four-man line and passed to the Andrea Battison, who drove forward.

Battison passed to a charging Dave Bird who powered through some weak tackling, before off-loading to a lively Jamie Billings who barged his way down to the five-metre line. Billings then slipped the ball out of the tackle to Adam Cutfield in support who waltzed across untouched for the game’s first try.

Police captain Michael Kane converted to give a 7-0 lead to the Police against the run of play. Kane converted a penalty soon after to extend Police’s lead to 10-0.

Hodgkins kicked a penalty from under the posts for Mariners, but Police held out to win 10-3.

[bul] In Ladies Rugby, the Scully Cup semi-finals were played out between the same teams and produced the same outcomes.

Teachers took an early lead, but Renegades stormed back with three tries from winger Melissa Field. Teachers retook the lead and led 4-3 at half-time. In the second half the wind seemed to make the difference and Teachers ran in three more tries without answer even though Renegades tried their hardest to keep the scores respectable. Teacher ran off deserved 7-3 winners. Scoring for Teachers were Joanna Thivierge (four), Kim Spencer, Sacha Bearden and Sarah McHugh-Wheddon.

In the second game Mariners took on a plucky Police Team. Mariners scored straight from the kick-off which appeared to lull them into a false sense of security. Even when Mariners quickly scored their second try; the Police girls never gave up and evened the scores at the half at 2-2 with a gutsy display of teamwork.

In the second half both teams were competitive and in a highly entertaining game swapped the lead twice. Scoring for Mariners were Amy Wolfinger, Michelle Berendt, Carolyn Bramford and Jillian Brydon. Scoring for Police were Kate Brown (two), Jen Baird and Robyn Bardgett, to leave the score at 4-4 at the final whistle.

In extra time, Police seemed to have extra energy and desire and with seconds left in the first period the ball was passed quickly down the line and freeing looping winger, Julia Mansfield. Mansfield sprinted into in the corner scoring the Golden Try to win the game for a jubilant Police team 5-4.

So the ladies Scully Cup final will be a carbon copy of the Nichol Shield final with underdogs Police taking on a strong Teachers side.