Renegades remain unbeaten with 1-0 victory

The ladies kicked things off with Renegades continuing there incredible unbeaten run with a tight 1-0 win against Mariners.

Vanessa George scored the game’s only try in the first half to leave her side in pole position to take the league crown for the fourth year running.

The other ladies’ game was a match the Police would rather forget, as they were dismantled by a hugely impressive Teachers’ team.

Katie Wright led the way with four tries, Marie-Pierre Beaudoin grabbed two and Amber Karaz one as they romped to a 7-0 victory.

Both men’s encounters were superb affairs, with Renegades and Mariners taking each other on first. With a very strong wind, kicking was always going to be tricky. Renegades stormed into an early lead with tries after a break from the full back, and Tom Healy also went over thanks to a fine run by Mohamed Dao.

Both conversions were missed but the ‘Gades were in the ascendency, with captain Conor McGlynn causing numerous problems for Mariners at the breakdown.

Mariners finally woke up and after repeated attacks close to the Renegades try line, referee Denis Dwyer lost patience with repeated infringements to kill the ball, and Phiwe Soldati was yellow carded. Mariners took advantage immediately, with Lachie Armour diving over out wide to leave them trailing 10-5 at the break.

Armour nabbed his second try after fine interplay to even things up, but Soldati made up for his earlier indiscretion when he broke through to score. Ian Henderson slotted the conversion, and put another over not long after when McGlynn showed great power to drive over the line.

Soniko Thomas scored a fantastic try for Mariners that Armour converted to bring them within seven points, but Healy and Greg Garside engineered a brilliant break to send Gary Wilson trundling over for his first ever try for Renegades.

Thomas made another beautiful break from deep, and though he was hauled down short of the line, the ball was recycled to Allan Steynor to dive over.

The conversion was missed and Renegades held on for an impressive 31-22 win.

The last match was a clash of the top two sides, and they also didn’t disappoint in another cracking game of rugby.

Teachers were quickest out of the blocks, and Shauntino Simons showed his speed to cross the whitewash for the opening try.

Police responded in the best possible fashion, as Darren Richardson barged over to tie the scores up. Tommy Edwards put Police ahead as a result of his fine break from the base of a ruck caught the Teachers defence napping. Durnferd Davies then scored his side’s third in the corner as they went through a rampant phase.

Greg Fraser scored his side’s second try, with Simons converting to pull it back to 15-12 at half-time to Police.

Simons coolly stroked over a penalty to tie things up early in the second half, but Edwards showed great awareness to intercept a loose pass and outsprint the defence to put Police back in front. Mike Kane made to conversion.

Teachers hit back again, with Bobby Hurdle stepping brilliantly through a gap to dive over near the posts, Simons making the conversion to again tie the game up. Police again fought their way down the park, and were rewarded when Kane struck a sweet penalty to edge them ahead again.

Ugly scene

Teachers won possession again, and Kai Edwards broke through to score right in the corner as they took the lead. Again, Police worked the ball deep into Teachers’ territory and were awarded a kickable penalty that would win the game if it was made.

However, the fly-half attempted a quick tap penalty but the ball never left his hands, which turned the ball over and the final whistle was blown to leave a jubilant Teachers 27-25 victors.

The end of the game was marred by some ugly scenes in the confusion over the game’s ending. n