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Sunday saw league rugby action resume on a wind swept Police field. The opening match saw league leaders Teachers take on reigning champions Renegades in a game that had massive implications for each side's ambitions for the coveted League trophy. Teachers entered the game as the team in form- coming off a crushing victory over Police. Renegades were smarting from a loss to Mariners. Referee Ben Jewitt started the game off and in a stunning 30 minute opening 'Gades ran amok over a surprisingly listless Teachers side. After some incisive running from scrum half Tom Healy who appears to have bulked up over the winter break, No 8 Peter Dunkerley was on hand to crash over from close to open the Renegades account. Standoff Paul Waldburger missed the conversion but shortly made up for it by neatly slotting a mid distance penalty to take the score along to 8-0 with less than 5 minutes played. The mercurial Waldburger took advantage of some less than committed tackling and broke through from deep in his half. Despite having just run a half marathon that very same morning he was able to outsprint the covering Teachers defense for a converted try. Teacher were reeling and on the ropes. They looked to counter attack from a well taken lineout by Derek Hurdle. However, an errant pass in the centers went to ground and 'Gades center Tyler Johansen gratefully scooped the ball up, with the slightest of knock-on's going undetected, and scuttled in from half way. Waldburger knocked over the easy conversion for a 22-0 lead which had most of the Teachers players shaking their heads in disbelief. Their misery was further compounded when Renegades winger John Jackson scored two more scintillating tries before the half. Jackson benefitted from some superb passing between Healy and Waldburger which created space out wide. Jackson made no mistake and took his chances well, all but finished the game off as a contest and securing his side the crucial bonus point for four tries scored.. Walburger converted one out two of the tries to give his side a commanding 34-0 half time lead. Teachers must have done some serious soul searching during the break because they resumed the second in a determined mood and caught their opponents resting on their well deserved laurels. Some gritty 10 men rugby saw the Reds grind their way forward with some strong mauling from Billy McNiven and Anthony Cupidore setting the tone. The Reds relentlessly rolled their way forward and former West Indies captain Bobby Hurdle powered over to get his beleaguered side on the score card. Chris Naylor converted to take the score to 34-7. Teachers continued to improve their play and dominated possession. Once again a tight forward style was adopted and some lusty exchanges took place up front with Renegades burly flanker Conor McGlynn stopping several Teacher rumbles with some stern tackling. Teachers scrumhalf David Porter took a quick tap penalty after the 'Gades had been caught infringing at the break down. The diminutive Irish man's nippy break caught the once impenetrable defense disorganized and he managed to squeeze in at the corner to close the score to 34-12 but that was as close as his team would come. Some unsavory exchanges caused referee Jewitt to sin bin Teachers player Kevin Walsh and Renegades winger Mark Davy- thankfully this remedial action had the desired effect and the rest of the game was played in good spirit. Renegades woke up in the final quarter and once again began to play champagne rugby. Reds fullback Daniel Morgan manfully endeavored to keep the lid on but a slick back line move uncorked 'Gades fullback Eoghan O'Dwyer who scampered in untouched for the final converted try of the game. Renegades secured the bonus point and with the emphatic, six try to two, 41-12 victory resumed their place at the top of the league.

The second game saw Police take on the improving Mariners side in the annual Paul Marsden Memorial match. Paul Marsden was the likeable Police full back who tragically passed away on 22 January 2006 whilst playing against Mariners. The Marsden family was in attendance from the UK and spectator and players alike observed a minute's silence. The ferocity of the opening exchanges showed that both teams were both fired up and committed to winning. Mariners took advantage of the strong wind to their backs and pinned the Police back deep in their half. The Mariner back row of Kris Furbert, Gary Brady and the much improved Ryan Gonsalves were everywhere in the loose and as such the Greens thoroughly dominated time of possession. Police bravely defended and some bone jarring tackles were put in but Mariners slickly recycled and kept the pressure on. Eventually discipline broke down and referee Dennis Dwyer awarded a penalty for Police diving over the top. Standoff Richard Holden knocked over the penalty for an early 3-0 lead. From the restart Police second row Mark Evans deftly snagged the kick off that was hanging in the stiffening breeze and began a promising, if not rare raid, into the Mariners half. Mariners were up to the challenge though and soon the Police were on the back foot again when they were pulled up for another penalty just inside the Mariners half. A confident Holden stepped up and hammered the audacious 55 meter plus penalty kick effort. The wind assisted kick sailed through the uprights to extend the lead 6-0. With the early lead Mariners tails were up, and from the restart, full back Rich Fisher smartly kicked for the corner and once again the Police found themselves under the cosh. A hard driving Gonsalves rumbled towards the line and was brought down short by Police Captain Jamie Webb and standoff Tom Sutcliffe. Unfortunately the two tacklers clashed heads in their unswerving tackle. Sutcliffe had to leave the pitch for stitches to a nasty gash above the left eye and Webb shortly thereafter had to also depart with a concussion. With the injuries, Police had to reshuffle their back line and moved center Jonathan Cassidy to stand off and placed Warren Bundy on the wings. Bundy had been relishing his new role as flanker and had been a fierce force up front. The restart saw Mariners giant lock David Rorke snatch the lineout ball, despite the close attention of Police second row Matt Smith. The Greens drove mercilessly towards the try line and with little option left the Police dropped the maul and gave away yet another penalty which Holden chipped through for a 9-0 lead. Police rebounded well and some surging runs from Dave Bird and Iain Simpson soon found had the large partisan crowd on its feet. Blue scrumhalf Nick Superina ducked through a gap and was powering towards a try when he was dropped dead in his tracks by a high tackle. Michael Kane sensibly had a shot at the points with the awarded penalty. The ball cruelly curled in the wind and when it bounced off the post one could sense it was not going to be the Police's day. Mariners cleared their line with a massive kick and the wind came out of the Police sails. Police fortunes worsened when the irrepressible Simpson had to retire from the game with an injury to his neck. Both sides went at it hammer and tongs in arguably the most physical of game this season. Mariner's front row of Dustin Archibald, hooker Shaun Stafford and Ed Barnes were locked into a fierce-no-hold bars fight with Police counter parts Nick West, Angus Ayliffe and Jamie Billings, with neither side giving an inch. Just before the break Mariners scrumhalf Mark Pomeroy found time hurl a pass out to standoff Holden who was crushed by a ferocious Cassidy tackle. Mariners recycled well and Pomeroy's dangerous looking pass down the blind side was cynically knocked down by late back tracking police substitute flanker Brian Macnab, who was indeed fortunate not to be carded for his professional foul. Holden slotted the penalty to give his side a 12-0 half time lead. The second half commenced with the Police now having the benefit of the wind. Some sensible tactical kicking had the Greens pinned down for much of the half but the Police could not batter their way through a resilient Mariners defensive line. To the casual observer, it appeared the two stand-offs, Cassidy and Holden, were engaged in their own private duel as some immense hits were put in by both. Their battle epitomized the entire game and the general melee was not for the faint of heart. A rare foray into the Police half saw the Mariners put together a string of strong runs finally culminating in their power house hooker Stafford driving a mass of bodies over from close to score an unconverted try for a flattering 17-0 lead. Much to their credit Police never gave up despite being starved of possession and they tackled themselves to a standstill. The final whistle saw two very battle weary teams clap each other off the park in a remarkably bruising encounter- very much played in the spirit that Paul Marsden would have appreciated. Police captain Jamie Webb will have to rally his troops in time for the upcoming Nichol Shield whilst Mariners are increasingly becoming the team no one wants to play.[[In-content Ad]]

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