January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Mariners learn their lessons from Teachers
Teachers faced off against Mariner at first while Renegades squared up to the Police in the later games.
Ladies
Teachers 7, Mariners 4
The first ladies game of the day was an exciting match with the Mariners overcoming the Teachers in the end by seven tries to four.
Both sides exploited some missed tackles and also worked their magic to score a number of tries, with Mariners finally overcoming a some dogged resistance to secure a vital win.
Amy Wolfinger led the way for the ladies in green with a hat trick, exploiting the gaps brilliantly created from some inventive play. Laryssa Yuel (2), Amanda Swan and Chantal Brown also scored for Mariners. The ever impressive Joanna Thievèrge with two, Marie-Pierre Beaudoin and Christine Rickards all crossed the whitewash for the Teachers.
Renegades 8, Police 0
The second ladies match saw rampant Renegades continue their unbeaten season as they romped to an 8-0 victory over Police. The 'Gades have been dominant all season with their lightning speed out wide and enterprising play inside, and it was no exception on Sunday.
They led 5-0 at half-time with tries from Ruth Leston (2), Amy Harvey, Melissa Field and Karen Peckett. Things didn't get much better for Police in the second half, though their defense was a lot tighter and they managed to restrict the Renegades to only three more tries. Field, Melanie Duchaine and Sue Rebello were the scorers.
They will play their closest challengers Mariners next weekend where a win would all but secure the title again.
Men
Teachers 20, Mariners 7
As has become the norm in the men's league this year, league leaders Teachers and Mariners were involved in a hard hitting, high tempo match where both sets of players left the field battered and bruised. Mariners opened superbly and beautiful passing off a lineout saw Rich Holden ghost over for a wonderful try. Holden converted to put Mariner 7-0 early in the game. Teachers kept their heads however, and came into the game more.
Mariners suffered a double blow when both Dustin Archibald and Steve Husbands left the field with nasty knee injuries. After tireless work from both sides, Teachers gained a penalty that the talented Shauntino Simons slotted over, after they had twice been held up over the line by magnificent tackling. Mariners had two players sin-binned but held firm to go in 7-3 ahead at the half
After the break, Teachers scored quickly when Luke Burgess burst over from a scrum close in which Simons converted.
Dave Porter then burst through the centre from a move off a scrum to increase their lead and with Simons converting, as they forged ahead 17-7. Simons put another penalty between the posts as Mariners failed to score again. The final score was 20-7. It was a crucial win for Teachers as they kept their lead at the top of the table. Mariners were left to feel rightly aggrieved at some very poor decisions that went against them, with a bizarre 16-6 penalty count going against them.
Renegades 25, Police 6
The last game of the day was another tough match, as Police looked to overcome Renegades, with both sides depleted. Renegades needed the win to keep in touch with Teachers at the top, but Police started superbly.
A couple of inventive pieces of counter-attacking resulted in Renegades infringing, with Mike Kane nailing two fine penalties to edge them ahead 6-0.
The 'Gades bounced back though and Ian Henderson kicked a penalty after their pack had forced a turnover. Poor scrum control from Police in their own '22 had the ball shoot out the back, and Jay Roobottom reacted quickest to scamper over and touch down.
Henderson converted and then added another penalty as Renegades went through a purple patch. They ended the half when Rich Slater benefited from a brilliant offload from Paul Dobinson to dive over, with Henderson again converting. They led 20-6 at the half.
Police came out at the half and played very well as they tackled like demons to repel a number of attacks and create some nice passages for themselves.
It took a sublime try for the Renegades to score again, as Pete Shillingford passed out of a tackle to the onrushing John Thompson. Thompson showed great vision and awareness to step in and pop the ball out to Henderson to go over in the corner, which would prove to be the last score.
Renegades were victors by 25-6.
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