January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Mariners, Renegades book finals date with tight victories
Women
Mariners 12, Police 3
It was the lady Mariners who opened proceedings in style with a comprehensive 12-3 victory over a luckless Police side.
Mariners set moves worked a treat as they carved open their opponents defence time and again. The main damage was done by lightning quick duo Abbey MacPherson and Amanda Swan, with MacPherson notching four tries and Swan grabbing three.
A quick-fire double from Amanda Maenpaa, two from Amy Wolfinger and a Liz Breeze score after some fancy footwork completed the scoring for the ladies in green. Saphia Tonkin, Jamie Walker with a wonderful burst through the middle, and Julia Mansfield, able to continue after a nasty collision with the barrier, all scored a try apiece for Police.
Renegades 8, Teachers 1
Mariners opponents in the final will be undefeated league champions Renegades, who were made to work hard in their 8-1 win over Teachers.
The 'Gades are a team you can't afford to give space to and they showed just how ruthless they are when given any room. Melissa Field and Laura Haynes both scored hattricks as they exploited any gap at all, with Ruth Boo Leston and Amy Harvey also chipping in with a try each. Rachel McLoughlin got the lone response for Teachers.
Men's
Mariners 25, Police 21
The opening men's match was a real ding-dong battle as Mariners and Police fought out a thrilling contest. The pace was fast and furious from the opening whistle with both sets of players putting in huge performances.
Police opened the scoring when Adrian Van Der Merwe touched down after a brilliant turnover from Durnferd Davies, with Mike Kane converting. Mariners bounced straight back though, their forwards driving with menace and showing excellent ball retention, which ended with Alun Thomas stretching to touch down under the posts.
Mark Pomeroy converted to tie things up. Police responded positively and Davies ran a superb line through the Mariners defense to swan dive over, Kane again converting. Warren Green stole the ball back for the men in green, and after great work from Tony Stott and Johnny Peacock, Thomas again went over. Pomeroy missed the conversion but the frenetic pace continued, as Thomas completed his hattrick in the first half after waltzing down the blindside. The conversion was again missed as Mariners went in leading 17-14 at half-time.
The second half continued in the same manner, and it was Mariners who extended their lead when wonderful work from the forwards resulted in Gary Brady flopping over the try line. Police made a number of changes and it was one of those replacements that brought them back into it.
They swung the ball out wide to speedster John Jackson who stepped inside the defense to grab a lovely score. Kane converted to leave the minimum between the sides. Mariners pushed on and Pomeroy slotted a penalty after a Police indiscretion to edge them 25-21 ahead with 10 minutes remaining.
Police rallied and laid siege to the Mariners line for the last 10 minutes. However, they were unable to breach it as brave and brilliant tackling kept them at bay until the final whistle. Both sides left everything out on the pitch after a truly enthralling encounter.
Renegades 16, Teachers 13
Renegades will be their opponents in the final in a repeat of last year's final, after overcoming a gallant Teachers side in sudden death.
It was Renegades who opened brightest and good pressure in their pack forced an early penalty, which Eoghan O'Dwyer duly dispatched.
The 'Gades kept the pressure on and a smart, sweeping move saw O'Dwyer scamper clear of the stretched Teachers defense to score under the posts. Darragh O'Donoghue converted and they seemed to be in the ascendancy.
The league champions showed their true metal however, despite the absence of a number of regulars. They got back into the game when the ball squirted out of the back of a Renegades scrum close to their own line, and Rob Viera reacted quickest to pounce on the ball for his first try for Teachers.
The conversion went wayward, and O'Donoghue sent Renegades 13-5 ahead when he was on target with another penalty, with Greg Frasier responding in kind right at the end of the half, to leave it 13-8.
Teachers were clearly fired up as they surged forward, with Tom Greenslade and Mike Barkhuizen both extremely industrious. It was a dogged second half as the cold set in and tiredness crept in.
Eventually, Teachers wore down the resilient defense, Devrae Noel-Simmons powering over in the corner to send the Teachers support into raptures. The conversion was missed leaving it tied at 13 points each, as extra time loomed. Neither side could score inside the remaining time, and 20 minutes more was always going to be tough.
Both teams opted for sensible rugby in extra time, not wanting to give anything to the opposition. After 20 minutes of extra time, both sides had drawn a blank and sudden death was upon the teams. Players from both sides were clearly exhausted as cramps became more and more frequent.
Renegades worked the ball well into the Teachers 22 meter line, and Ian Henderson Kicked a dramatic, fantastic drop goal to win it 16-13 for Renegades.
[[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.