Mariners players doused each other with beer and champagne as they celebrated their decisive and stunning 25-3 win over previously unbeaten Teachers in the Nicholl Shield final yesterday.

After a gritty performance that was played at a blistering pace despite the heat, Mariners stand-in captain Keith Beattie had plenty of praise for his side and for regular skipper Dave Conway, who missed the game due to a broken collarbone suffered two weeks ago.

"It's great to finally beat them,'' Beattie said. "Our goal was to play the game tight, especially in the first half and we stuck to that.

"We have some of the best forwards in the game and the biggest boot in Declan O'Laughlin, so we just aimed to play to our strengths.

"Much of the credit for our performance this season goes to Dave Conway, who has led the team by example. It's unfortunate that he was unable to be out there with us.'' Teachers regular vice-captain Richard Raistrick, who led the side yesterday in Alvin Harvey's absence, congratulated Mariners on their win.

"They were the better team on the day,'' he said. "They wanted it more and they managed to sustain their fire throughout the entire game.'' The win gave Mariners their first ever Nicholl Shield trophy.

Just two years ago Mariners were the perennial whipping boys in the Amstel and second team leagues, but that status changed dramatically this season.

They won the second team league this year for the first time since 1989 and were runners up to Teachers in the Amstel League.

For the first time in many years they had both their first and second teams in the final of the Rothman's and Nicholl Shield trophy competitions, though their second team lost 24-10 to Renegades in the Rothman's final.

Andre Simons of Teachers opened the score after 21 minutes with a penalty, but Mariners equalised five minutes later, when O'Laughlin put his effort through the posts at the other end.

Mariners winger Dennis Faries -- with only Darrell Bean to beat -- missed a golden opportunity to give his team five points when he dropped a simple pass from centre John Flett three yards from Teachers' try line.

At half-time the teams were deadlocked 3-3.

After the interval, Mariners started to control the tempo, consistently winning the scrums and lineouts.

O'Laughlin gave his side good field position ten minutes into the second half when his kick bounced into touch just one yard from Teachers' try line.

Mariners won the lineout and John Broussard gave them their first try.

Neil Alexander was next to score, after Simons failed to hold onto a high kick deep in his own half. Mariners surged forward in numbers, with Clive Barker providing Alexander with a precision pass.

O'Laughlin converted to give Mariners a 15-3 lead.

Though obviously rattled by this assault, Teachers surged forward through Scott Correia and Heath (Butch) Robinson, though their attacking moves were quickly defused.

Teachers were penalised in the 64th minute, and O'Laughlin added three more points with a penalty kick.

Ten minutes later, Flett scored between the posts after receiving the pass from Beattie, which O'Laughlin converted.

In the Rothman's final yesterday, Renegades defeated Mariners 24-10 with tries from Andy Cooke and Dave Taylor (two) and a penalty and three conversions from Pat Jones. Mariners' points came from Stevie Allen and Peter Mills.