Police stave off late challenge to win Duckett

The annual George Duckett Memorial games took place at Police Field last weekend, as Police RFC played host to Rest of Bermuda Select sides in wet and windy conditions.

The opening match saw the ladies second teams finish in a 1-1 tie that saw Police keep the trophy, Rachel McLoughlin scoring for the Rest.

Men’s second team

Next up was the men’s second team match, and Police over-ran the Rest in the first half.

David ‘Curley’ Sidders ploughed over for the opening try, converted by the talented John Jackson.

Jackson then increased the lead when he brilliantly scooped up a loose ball and used his blinding speed to outpace the defence and score under the posts again converting.

Sidders benefitted from a quickly taken penalty as he powered over for his second try, as Police held a 19-0 half-time advantage.

Jackson grabbed his second try when he finished off a superb Jonathan Cassidy break, which he then converted.

The Rest snapped to life, and Ndaviyah Williams scored in the corner to get them off the mark.

Jeff Sangster scored their second try when Adrian Warner had created space and popped out of a tackle. Their third try of the game came courtesy of Phil Hall, working his way over the line well.

They were off target with all their conversions, and Police held on for a deserved 26-15 win.

Ladies' first team

The ladies first team game was a tight affair.

The Rest went ahead after a fine break from Denika Borden released Melanie Frigon Duchaine to ground the ball.

Duchaine scored her second with an excellent break through the middle to hand the Rest a 2-0 half time advantage.

Police hit back through Mika Tomita with a magnificent run from deep.

Things were tight, but Police managed to bring the game level as Madeline Schreuder scored, skillfully keeping her balance down the sideline.

The game looked to be heading for a tie, but Borden broke the Police girls’ hearts with a late break and try, to hand the Rest a 3-2 victory.

Men’s first team

The last game was the men’s first team match and it too was a very tight and thrilling affair.

The Rest pushed ahead after Gareth Williams continued his impressive season and drove his way over the line.

Greg Fraser slotted the conversion, and then traded penalties with Mike Kane to maintain their lead.

Andre Moolman saved a certain try with an incredible tackle, and just before the break Kane kicked his second penalty to leave it 10-6 to the Rest at the half.

They increased their lead after halftime through Tom Healy, who swan-dived over the line after Williams had made a fine break and offload.

Tommy Edwards broke through the centre and fed Dan Cole to score for Police, with Cole making the conversion to close the margin.

Healy intercepted a loose ball from a scrum to scamper over in the corner, which went unconverted. Neville Zuill pulled it straight back for Police with a try in the corner, though the conversion to draw the match level was off target.

As time wound down, Police were awarded a kickable penalty, which Cole duly dispatched to nudge them ahead for the first time in the match, the score delicately poised at 21-20.

The Rest won possession back and worked the ball to the 22 meter line, where they were awarded a penalty that would win the match.

However, a quick tap was taken and the ball turned over, as the opportunity was missed and Police held on at the end.