Renegades stayed in the hunt for Beck's League honours with an almost flawless performance to defeat Teachers on the weekend.

Phil Heaney's kicking helped 'Gades gain territorial advantage and their powerful pack laid the groundwork for a series of attacks near the Teachers' try-line.

Apart from the first 20 minutes of the second half, Teachers gave a flat performance, lacking in the aggression needed to win the ball and gave away too much possession from rucks and mauls.

Gades provided good possession from all phases of play and turned the screw in the last 20 minutes with two tries and a penalty after being ahead only 7-0 at half-time.

Peter Hughes opened the scoring for Renegades after 25 minutes with a try after Teachers fly-half Brian Bailey had a clearance kick charged down.

Captain Patrick Cooper had one of his best games for Teachers and had plenty of support from Bobby Hurdle, Henry Adderley and Dennis Cherry.

Colin Target scored 'Gades second try after an overlap had been created and Brad Adderley crashed over in the final minute with the Teachers defence at sixes and sevens.

Bailey crossed for a consolation try after a strong run down the middle of the field by Cherry.

Mariners 12 Police 31 Mariners gifted Police two soft tries in a disappointing game in which too much use of the boot spoiled the flow.

Police had to rely on the superiority of their back row where Dave Bird, Sean Field-Lament and Gareth Davies defended tirelessly after Mariners had enjoyed territorial advantage in the first half.

Police centre Shane Richmond crossed for two tries, his first after a Mariners defender failed to ground in his own goal area.

But it was Mariners who opened the scoring with an Andy Crichton try after a good driving maul from a lineout.

Alan Oliver struck back with a cheeky try after a dummy scissors foiled his opposite number Keith Hodgkins.

Bird increased the Police lead to 19-7 with his try from a lineout drive and it was all over for Mariners when Field-Lament scored after charging down a scrum clearance by Josh McGavern.

Dave Law made the scorleine look a little more respectable with a late breakaway try for Mariners.

In the Second Division, Mariners thrashed Renegades 43-7 and Police edged out Teachers 21-17.

This weekend league rugby takes a break with the staging of the annual Cunningham Seven-a-side tournament on Sunday.