Police claim league title with final-day victory

Police secured their second Bermuda men’s rugby league title in three years after an epic 15-5 win in the winner-takes-all finale against Teachers.

Going into the game, Police knew that nothing but victory would be enough and they started the game in strong fashion, albeit coming up against a sturdy and determined Teachers defence.

The breakthrough came when Police vice-captain Paul Davis charged down Tom Gregory’s clearance kick. A fortuitous bounce saw Davis collect the ball and, aided by veteran David Bird, he bundled the ball over for the opening score. Winger Ronan Kane judged the gusty conditions to perfection and knocked over the conversion.

Teachers then showed herculean defending to keep the Blue Machine at bay and a massive tackle by Aldo Campbell created  quick turnover, allowing Andre Landy to show his class and pace by counter-attacking down the blindside. 

His 50-metre run was stopped agonizingly short by the back-tracking Tommy Edwards, who brought down Landy inches short of the line.

Landy showed great awareness to pop the ball off the ground to Harry Andrews who burst a lung to keep up in support and touch down in the corner. Reds scrum-half Shauntino Simmons missed the difficult conversion and Police held a 7-5 lead. 

Police were unlucky not to extend their lead when Ronan Kane hit the cross-bar with a long-range penalty but Kane did add a penalty soon after to extend their lead to 10-5.

The second half saw Police dominate but the action was intense with the league on the line. 

Late on, the ball was scooped up by Police winger Guerhardt Lamprecht but instead of clearing his line with a game-ending kick to touch, the stocky winger counter-attacked and galloped the length of the field. 

A desperate tackle dropped him short but the support play of Davis allowed him to pluck the ball from the base of the ruck and dive over for his second try of the game.

Kane missed the conversion but it was academic as the final whistle blew for an epic 15-5 win.

In the other men’s game Renegades beat Mariners 29-0 with tries from Richard Cumbers (2), Tom Healy (2) and Jahan Cedanio.

In the ladies’ league, Renegades tries from Orla Halpin and Kacie Birch defeated Mariners 2-0, while Police solidified their champion status with a workman-like performance against Teachers to ground out a 2-0 victory thanks to  tries by Jo Godfrey and Jo Hickley. 

The Police ladies team, coached by Anthony Fellowes, have been the most consistent side during the year and secured the club’s first-ever league title in emphatic style, walking away with the league with 20 points to spare.