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Teachers were crowned men's league champions in rugby action at the weekend when they overcame Police at a sun-drenched but windy National Sports Center.

Ladies

Teachers 8, Police 3

Ladies action kicked off the afternoon with Teachers ladies overcoming Police by eight tries to three. Joanna Thievèrge once again spearheaded the Teachers attack and was tormenter in chief, as she scored four tries. Their other scores came from a try for each of Kim Spencer, Rachel MacLoughlin, Mona Wierzbicki and Jenny Crawford. Speedster Julia Mansfield grabbed two in response, with Anna Knapman-Scott also getting in on the act.

Renegades 9, Mariners 5

Renegades, having already secured another league title, fought out a thrilling 9-5 win over Mariners in the other ladies game. Mariners opened the brighter with Amanda Maenpaa getting over for the first score. Nicola Jones brought things level when she went over but Mariners bounced back, with the impressive Abbey MacPherson edging the Greens ahead.

Renegades showed why they are champion however, with Sue Rebello scoring a quick-fire double as they went in 3-2 ahead at half-time.

Two quick tries from Katie Partington and Melissa Field put further distance between the sides. Things opened up and five tries in four minutes kept everyone glued to the action.

Fiona Beckerlegge, Vanessa Toet and Nicole Brennan scored for Mariners with Field and Rebello getting on the score sheet for the 'Gades, who found an extra gear to grab late tries from Jones and Laura Haynes.

Men's

Teachers 32, Police 3

Teachers secured the men's title with a victory over Police, but only after Police had given them a scare in the first half. It was a tight opening half with neither side able to breach the try-line. It was two penalties from the boot of Greg Fraser that had Teachers 6-3 ahead at the break. The excellent David Pringle scored the Police penalty, and it was undoubtedly one of the most amazing kicks seen on this island. Unable to secure the use of a kicking tee after opting to go for posts, Pringle removed his kicking boot, placed the ball in it and proceeded audaciously slot the ball between the posts.

The second half was a different affair, as Teachers used the wind to great effect and scored a number of well worked tries. Shauntino Simons got the first, after benefiting from good work on the wing by Dave Porter.

Henry Paddison then raced 40 yards for a fine individual try, although the exertions or excitement seemed to affect him as he almost immediately regurgitated his breakfast for all to see, to the great amusement of the support on the sidelines.

Fraser converted both to leave it comfortable and the lead was increased when Porter gathered his own chip to go over in the corner. The bonus point was then secured when Fraser capped a superb individual display by converting his own try, as he finished with a personal tally of 17 points. The final score was 32-3 to Teachers, whose defence has been fantastic all season having conceded only 7 tries in 11 games.

Renegades 26, Mariners 12

The final match was important to both sides as it would have a bearing on which side finished second or third in the league.

To coin the old cliché, it really was a game of two halves. Renegades dominated the opening 40 minutes and scored two tries in the opening 10 minutes against a lackluster Mariners side. Greg Garside and John Thompson scored the tries after great work in their back line that split the static Mariners defense.

Darragh O'Donoghue and Eoghan O'Dwyer kicked a conversion each as they raced ahead 14-0. O'Donoghue then produced a sublime sidestep to score in the corner as they went further ahead.

Garside then wrapped up a first half bonus point with their fourth try, with O'Dwyer converting to leave it 26-0 at half-time.

Stern words at the break had the desired effect on the Mariners as they upped their performance hugely. Strong running in the forwards, where captain Rich Brown was once again outstanding, brought them close to the 'Gades line.

They forced a penalty which was taken quickly by Gary Brady, and though stopped short of the line, Tony Stott dived over under the posts for his first try for the club. Mark Pomeroy converted and when Scott Brown burst through a number of players to score another try, things became a lot tighter and Mariners self-belief began to rise.

However, they were unable to breach the Renegades try-line again, with Renegades winning 26-12.

Weekend rugby

This weekend sees rugby action on both Friday night and Sunday afternoon. First up, the annual Onions vs Limeys matches take place at National Sports Center. The mini's kick the action off at 5:30pm, with ladies at 6:30pm and the men's at 7:30pm.

Then on Sunday, the annual Renegades Founder's Day takes place again at NSC, where the 'Gades will face off against a rest of the island select side. First match is at 12:15pm in the ladies 2nd team, with the Old Boys game at 1pm, ladies first team at 2:45pm. and men's 1st team at 3:30pm p.m.

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