Mariners retain Nicol Shield

Renegades 2, Teachers 0

The Ladies’ Scully Cup final saw the league champions Renegades take on the much-improved and league runners-up Teachers, who had earlier in the season inflicted Renegades’ first defeat in almost four years.

However it was Renegades who were out of the blocks fastest as Melissa Field continued her impressive scoring, darting over in the right-hand corner early on.

This lifted the confidence of the Renegades as they dominated the rest of the first half, keeping Teachers pressurized on their own try line.

Teachers’ only threat in the first half came from a break from newly-crowned player of the season Katie Wright.

However she was quickly closed down by Field and Renegades saw out the remainder of the first half relatively trouble free, 1-0 at half time.

The second half began much the same as the first, with Renegades quickly out the blocks and adding to their first half try tally.

Again it was Field who scored, looping round the outside and taking a delightfully floated pass from Maria Dobinson to race into the corner.

Much like the first, Renegades dominated the second half, and with the wind at their backs saw out the remainder of the game.

Congratulations to the Renegades ladies who captured the Sandys Boat Club title, the League title and the Scully Cup in yet another dominant season.

Nicol Shield Final (men)

Mariners 17, Police 8

The men’s Nicol Shield final saw league champions the Police taking on Mariners, who had only won two games in the league campaign and finished bottom of the ladder.

The Police were clear favourites but with Mariners defending the trophy they won last year, they were not about to give up easily.

Mariners started off the brighter of the two teams and were rewarded with a try from Scott Brown, duly converted by Andy Boyce.

This served as a wake-up call for the boys in blue, and following a period of sustained pressure, Paul Davis created the space for Dave Pringle to round his opposite number and touchdown for Police’s first points of the evening.

The conversion was missed to ensure Mariners maintained their lead.  

The next action saw injuries on both sides. Mariners’ Australian fly-half Lachlan Armour was stretchered off with what looked like an ankle break. This could rule him out of Bermuda’s international match against the Bahamas. Everyone in Bermuda rugby wishes him a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile Police lost the league’s top try scorer Durnferd Davis, to be replaced by Neville Zuill.

The remainder of the first half belonged to Mariners but the seamen were unable to add to their score. Half time score 7-5.

Despite the second half kicking off to the ringing of gunshots nearby, both teams played some enterprising rugby.

Police were first to attack and came close to adding to their try tally through Pringle.

However he was tackled short and Mariners were able to clear their lines.

The wind was proving to be a significant factor and the Police were using this to their advantage to maintain territorial advantage.

Police’s pressure soon told as they took the lead for the first time with a penalty from captain Tommy Edwards.

From the resulting kick-off, Mariners were awarded a penalty straight in front of the posts and Boyce put Mariners back in front 10-8.

Following a yellow card to Pringle, Mariners added to their lead with a try from captain Dave Rourke, converted by Boyce.

Mariners saw out the remainder of the game and clinched the Nicol Shield for another year.

Congratulations to Mariners on their well-deserved success.