---

Teachers defended their hold of the Nichol Shield against the underdogs Police, who had not beaten the Reds all season long.

Police winger Doug Davies impressed the large crowd with his intensity and delivered some ferocious tackles. Davies charged down a wayward clearance kick by Charles Walker-Smith to set up an attacking lineout. When Referee John Wheeler pulled up Andrew Males for an infringement - Police Captain Michael Kane stepped up and slotted the difficult penalty to give Police a 3-0 lead.

Some good pick and drives by Teachers' Patrick Cooper set the platform up which released his back line. A simple crash ball move saw Warren Clifford slip through a flatfooted Police three quarters to score the easiest of tries between the sticks. Standoff Chris Naylor converted to capture the lead 7-3.

Police then responded with their finest try of the season which saw the ball pass through no less than five set of hands.

It started from a scrum on the Police ten meter line No 8 Ken O'Shea picked up from the base of a scrum and drove forward sucking in the blindside defence before popping to stand off Andrew Flint who stretched the defence even further before Jamie Webb recycled the ball and popped it to a hard running Nick Superina. He drew the Teachers' full back and released Kane to score in the corner. Kane could not convert the great try but Police had retaken the lead 8-7 heading into the half.

The second half saw some robust running from Deverae Noel-Simmons, who set up a platform in front of the posts from which Police winger Warren Bundy was called up for some overly aggressive play. Naylor duly slotted the gift to regain the lead 10-8.

Police battered away at the stout Teachers' defence- runs by David Bird and Mark Evans made good in-roads for the rapier-like Gareth Davies to take advantage of. Teachers then attempted to kill the fifth phase ball but, with Referee Wheeler playing good advantage, Gareth Davies darted through the fringes before finding Adam Cutfield in support who released Doug Davies out wide to score another attractive try in the corner. Kane missed the conversion but Police had retaken the lead 13-10 in a see-saw affair.

On the restart Police continued to control possession and territory but one sensed their legs were going.

When the death blow came it was quick and executed mercilessly with the try of the game.

Teachers had soaked up some strong forward pressure and forced a handling error. A scrum was awarded inside their own 22-meters. Teachers' scrum half and inspirational Captain Dave Porter dummied his opposite number and darted forward importantly tying up Police stand off Andrew Flint with his tackle and creating the overlap.

Outstanding Teacher no 8 Jean-Francois Mauvis then recycled the ball out to Naylor who released a truculent Harry Andrews who sprinted relentlessly forward drawing in the entire Police backline before feeding winger Frederick "Frenchie" Royer who finished off the stunning 80-metre move by rounding helpless Police full back Guy Bowker for a converted try.

Trailing 17 to 13 lead, The Boys in Blue needed a try. The game Police team could not penetrate the indefatigable Teachers' defence, and the Reds held onto the Nichol Shield.[[In-content Ad]]

---