Renegades women remain unbeaten

The Christmas break sees Renegades ladies and the Teachers men go into the festive season atop their respective leagues.

Renegades are still unbeaten in women’s rugby stretching back over three seasons after overcoming Police 5-2.

Mika Tomita put Police ahead, but Karen Peckett pulled it level with Nicola Jones grabbing two for herself as Renegades led 3-1 at half-time.

Tomita scored again for Police to bring them to within one. Melissa Field restored the advantage for the ‘Gades before Jones sealed victory with her third try.

Teachers leapfrogged Mariners into second spot with a hard fought 2-1 win. Katie Wright and Marie-Pierre Beaudoin scored their tries.

Liz Breeze scored the Mariners lone try.

Renegades 22, Police 14

Renegades were looking for their second win of the campaign in the opening men’s match against Police, and started well with a penalty from Ian Henderson.

Henderson then kicked a spectacular drop goal from around 40 metres to increase the lead.

Police came back strongly, and a after a quick tap penalty caught the defence napping, David Pringle broke through a number of attempted tackles to score. Mike Kane kicked a brilliant conversion as Police went ahead 7-6 at the break.

Renegades made light of the fact that they were down to 14 men for 10 minutes due to Tom Healy’s yellow card, as Henderson was again successful with a penalty, swiftly followed by another drop goal.

Pringle dived over for his second try after again breaking tackles on his way, and Tommy Edwards converted to put Police back in front.

Renegades immediately struck back, regaining the kick off and working the ball down the field for Phil Hall to go over.

Healy redeemed himself as he picked from the base of a scrum late on to score a fine try to seal a magnificent 22-14 win.

Teachers 5, Mariners 0

Teachers faced Mariners in the day’s final game, hoping to capitalize on Police’s defeat to take top spot.

It was a stop-start game in testing conditions.

The physicality was brutal with both sets of players hammering into each other time and again.

Mariners had greater possession and territory in the first half with a strong wind favouring them, but were unable to capitalize. They missed two kickable penalties that would have given them the lead, but the first half stayed scoreless.

The second half was just as tight, with Teachers having the better opportunities.

They too missed two kickable penalties but eventually got ahead. Mariners had broken from deep, but Teachers turned the ball over.

A kick from their own ’22 got a fortunate bounce into the hands of the chasing Kai Edwards, who outpaced the chasing defence to grab what would prove to be the game’s only score.

Teachers held on for a 5-0 win to see them top of the table.