Teachers start defence of their title with win

Teachers and Renegades opened the men’s rugby league with victories.

MEN

Renegades 23, Police 13

Police would take an early lead through a Mike Kane penalty following a Renegade infringement. 

As the first half wore on the Renegades came more into the game.

Eventualy a Tom Healy cross-field kick was gathered by Curly who dotted down for the games opening try. Renegades would be unsuccessful with the conversion attempt.

The remainder of the first half would see Renegades take control of the match with two quick-fire tries, both scored by Healy, with one coming straight from a Police kick off and winger-like break from fleet footed prop Paul Dobinson. Henderson would add a conversion to give the Renegades a 17-3 half time lead.

The second half started much like the first with Police exerting the early pressure. 

Failure to gather the kick off by Renegades allowed the Police to move the ball wide to their electric full-back who went untouched from the 22 to score out wide.

The coppers would be unsuccessful with the conversion attempt.

The Police fullback came into the line out wide and poor defence by the Renegades in the outside channels allowed him to dot down out wide left. 

Again the conversion attempt would be unsuccessful.

A Police infringement at a ruck allowed Henderson to add three points making it a 20-13 ball game going into the final minutes. Then with two minutes to go Henderson knocked over a dead eye drop goal to wrap up the game and deny the Police a losing bonus point.

Mariners 6, Teachers 8

Game 2 saw the Presidents Cup at stake as Teachers, the reigning league champions, took on Mariners, winners of the Cup competition.

In a closely fought battle where point scoring opportunities were at a premium, it was the league champions who were first on the scoreboard as Greg Fraser converted a penalty in front of the posts after a Mariners’ infringement.

Dave Porter then pushed the league champions further ahead. Mariners were looking likely to score, when Porter intercepted a loose pass and ran through to collect his own chip and dive over in the corner.

Mariners got themselves on the scoreboard just before the break when Teachers conceded a penalty on the edge of their 22 and Andy Boyce converted to make the score 8-3 as the sides turned around.

The second half continued in the same vein with Mariners spending the vast majority of it in Teachers half, helped considerably by continued infractions which saw them dominate the penalty count. However some excellent Teachers defence prevented Mariners from adding to the score.

Their pressure finally told as a second penalty from Boyce made the score 8-6.

Teachers attempted to stretch their lead but failed with two drop goal attempts.

WOMEN

Renegades 7, Police 2

Renegades started brightly in this game with two quick tries from Carolyn Bambford and Karen Peckett.  Mika Tomita pulled one back for the Police following an offside ruling against the Renegades. 

After some quick thinking, she took the quick tap and darted over. 

Melissa Field would add another for the black and whites before the break. 

Renegades dominated the second half with Laura Haynes adding a double and Field adding a further two scores to complete her hat-trick. 

Mariners 4, Teachers 1

Mariners would win this game 4 tries to one, with a double from Gina Newson, and one each from Amanda Swan and Vanessa Toet.  Sarah Weddon scored Teachers only score of the afternoon. n

The BRFU would like to thank Bermuda Sports Network for their coverage of the games.  Highlights can be seen on the BSN channel 82.