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Saturday saw the first of the annual club days in the rugby calendar, as Mariners RFC hosted their Mariners Spirit Trophy Day against the Bermuda Select sides at Sommersfield Academy. A large crowd was in attendance to enjoy a fantastic day of rugby.

The first game was the Mariners ladies second team up against the Bermuda Select ladies second team. It was quite a tight affair with both sides finding it difficult to breach solid defenses. Mariners went into the break leading 1-0 after Denika Borden scored a fine try. The Select tied things up when impressive speedster Nicola Jones scored. A beautiful draw and pass from Michelle Hicks set Kelly-Anne Broom through a gap, and she made no mistake to edge Mariners in front again. Hopes for a first win of the day for the hosts were dashed by Jones, who showed great balance down the wing to stay in touch and grab the equalizing score. The final score was 2-2, and as the Select side won last year they retained the trophy.

Mariners Second XV 10,

Select Second XV 12

The second match saw the Mariners men's Second XV against the Select Second XV. The Select side opened very brightly and had registered two tries in the early minutes of the match. Shauntino Simons grabbed the first try after a brilliant run outside the scrambling defense.

The conversion was missed but the Select side increased their lead shortly after as Rob Vieira ploughed his way over the line. Scott Cobon slotted the conversion to open up a 12-0 lead. Mariners responded very well, and Johann Oosthuizen scored a try his performance certainly deserved after running a beautiful line. Steve Robb then drove through to score in the corner to reduce the score-line to 12-10, as both conversions were narrowly missed. The score stayed this way to the half time break.

The second half was a completely different proposition, as the end-to-end flow slipped away. It became a very physical battle with tempers beginning to flare quickly as the game wore on. Mariners ended up with 13 players as two men were sent off, and no more scores were added as the Select team won 12-10 to win the 2nd XV trophy for the first time.

Mariners Ladies 1, Select 3

The next match was the Mariners Ladies first team against the Select team. The Rest opened very brightly and quickly had two tries on the board, as Melissa Field and Rachel McLoughlin both broke through to push them 2-0 ahead. Mariners settled and tightened up their defence, closing the gaps and making the touches.

Eventually the Select team wore them down again with Amy Harvey crossing the whitewash to increase the lead. Mariners came back at them with Karlene Antoine scoring to close the gap, but that was as good as it got as the game finished up 3-1 to the Select side.

Mariners 18, Select 0

The last game was the men's first XV game. The Mariners men were looking to take the win and avoid a sweep of trophy wins for the Select sides on the day. They started superbly and from receiving the kick-off, worked the way up the pitch. With the opposition sucked in tight to defend, Mariners swung it wide and Kory Logan finished in the corner to put them 5-0 ahead early on. They kept up the pressure with some great forward drives and hard running in the backs. The pressure yielded two penalties that Mark Pomeroy split the posts with. The Select side began to counter-ruck excellently and gain more quality possession. They were the stronger team leading up to half time and it took an incredible covering tackle from Alun Thomas to save what looked a certain try, preserving Mariners 11-0 lead at half-time.

The second half was a bruising encounter with neither side willing to yield an inch, and both teams putting up some excellent tackling. Shauntino Simons made a great break for the Select team through the middle, but got an unfortunate bounce right at the end as lady luck seemed to smile on the men in green. Again, Mariners began a slow building drive as wave after wave of attack slowly but surely gained position deep in the Select's '22. They kept it close to the breakdown time and again as they attempted to batter the opposition into submission. With no luck in close, the ball was swung wide to Steve Husbands to power over to pull Mariners further clear, with Pomeroy nailing the conversion. It proved to be the final score of a fantastic encounter as a jubilant Mariners team regained the trophy they lost last year with an 18-0 victory.

Local rugby action now takes a break until after Christmas.

Gary Brady is the public relations officer for the Bermuda Rugby Football Union.

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