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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

This weekend sees the start of the new season with the Amstel Leagues kicking off at National Sports Club today and tomorrow (2 p.m. start).

Second XV action today pits Mariners against Police in the first game and Teachers taking on Renegades in the second for the Vice-President's Cup.

Meanwhile, the day after has Mariners facing Teachers in the opener and then Renegades trying to wrestle the President's Cup from Police.

This week's spotlights are on Teachers and Renegades.

Teachers RFC Teachers will be looking to improve on two years of mediocre performances where their lack of depth was exposed by loss of players to injury and their consequent faltering towards the latter half of the season.

Unfortunately they have lost their star player, Bobby Hurdle, to school in Canada. However they have picked up several new players, many of which lack experience but make up for it in hustle and determination.

Mike Dawson and Wayne Washington are new props while Eddie Francis and Matthew Kyle are second XV backs.

"We have a fitter, better prepared back line this year,'' said captain Alvin Harvey. "And with the likes of Scott and Andrew Correia, Andre Simons and a slimmer Mike Montgomery we should more than hold our own against the strength of Renegades.

"Also, our coach Peter Booth and I have been concentrating on second phase ball in an effort to take advantage of the new laws on ruck and maul. The laws should be advantageous to us because of our open, attractive style of rugby.

"We have a fit pack of forwards with people like Billy McNiven, who was our MVP last year, enthusiastic about the coming season.'' Renegades RFC Renegades, last season's league runners-up already have a few injuries with Phil Heaney and Barry Whitehead both sidelined, resting injured hamstrings.

Nevertheless, captain Danny Forsyth is not worried as his team have sufficient depth to cover such injuries. "If anything we are slightly stronger in the backs than last year with a couple of new additions that will give us a lot of strength in depth.

"Wade Temiha, a Kiwi, will be filling in for Whitehead on Sunday at full-back and we have Lawrence Moore who has played for Bridgend. He will fill the out-half role on Sunday. Our forwards are big but we need to work on speed around the field.

"I don't see a drastic change in play with the new laws except the big one involving the new ruck/maul changes, which in my opinion will require the referees to be more diligent on opposition players spoiling or killing the ball.'' SOCCER SOC Three Bermudians are playing big parts in Old Dominion University soccer team's surge toward a national ranking.

Devarr Boyles, Damon Wade and Dean Minors have all had hands -- or feet -- in victories over Boston University (1-0) and San Diego State (3-0) as well as drawing with fifth-ranked Clemson (0-0).

Boyles got on the scoresheet against Boston courtesy of an assist by Wade while Minors scored once and laid on the critical pass for another in the match against San Diego.

The Monarchs' record stands at 6-2-2 -- 1-0 in their conference -- heading into tonight's match against Richmond.

Berkeley Institute and St. George's Secondary each marched away as champions following the completion of the Secondary Schools Six-A-Side soccer competition.

The Junior Division belonged to Berkeley as they swept through the tournament undefeated, beating Warwick Secondary 1-0 in the final on a tally by Damon Ming.

Also counted among their triumphs were wins over Warwick Academy, Whitney and Northlands.

Meanwhile, it took penalty kicks to produce a winner in the Senior Division after St. George's and Warwick Academy remained deadlocked 1-1 after regulation and two periods of extra time.

Tajmal Webb put the east-end school ahead in the first half but Jarizinho Simmons replied for Warwick late in the second after a period of sustained pressure.

Ten penalty kicks were not enough to separate the two sides and it came down to sudden death where Warwick missed their second effort while their opponents made no mistake.

BOWLING BOW Michael Lambe rolled the top series of 605 and third high game of 215 but still could not prevent Sparks from going down 11-16 to Pembroke Juniors in latest Mott's Sportsmen's League action.

Hank Rawlins supported Lambe with the second high men's game of 222 while Dean Lightbourne led Juniors with the third high series 564. Sparks topped the team's honours list with the top series 2,654 and game 962 while Pembroke had the second high series 2,600.

Warwick Reds also won 16-11 over Buy and Sell as they claimed the team's third high series 2,564 and second high game 943. Ed White led the winners with the high game of 247 while Miles Smith of Buy and Sell had the second high series of 579.

Mini Forwarders beat Young Blood 17-10 as Glenn Tuzo of Young Blood had a 551 series. In the other match, Social Club beat Warwick Whites 15-12.

Tonight's schedule: Young Blood v Warwick Whites; Mini Forwarders v Social Club; Sparks v Buy and Sell; Pembroke Juniors v Warwick Reds.

SWIMMING SW Port Royal successfully retained their overall title at Thursday's Primary Schools Swim Relays, sweeping the girls division and tying with Saltus for first among the boys.

Their cumulative total of 104 points -- girls 54, boys 50 -- exceeded that posted by Saltus by 32 points. St. George's Preparatory were third with 68.

BHS were runners-up in the girls division followed by St. George's, who were again third place in the boys division.