points on Sunday with a nail-biting 14-7 comeback win over a lively Mariners side.

In mudbath conditions which suited the powerful Renegades pack, the unbeaten Blacks put the game away late in the second half with a try from Ian Mackie in the corner.

The unconverted try sealed this top of the table clash against the Greens, who had led 7-6 at the break and had withstood a long period of second half Renegades pressure on their own goal-line.

Mariners led courtesy of a Danny McGavern try and a Keith Hodgkins conversion.

Earlier Phil Heaney capitalised on strong Renegades forward play and Mariners errors in a frenetic but sloppy first 20 minutes with two penalties to give Renegades a 6-0 lead.

In the second half, Heaney put Renegades ahead 9-7 and had Mariners fiercely defending their try line for much of the last 40 minutes as the Blacks dominated in the scrum and made good use of their back row, led by flanker Rod Stewart and number eight Shane Gill.

In the first match on Sunday, Teachers overwhelmed an undermanned Police side 39-6.

The Reds, now tied with Mariners for second place in the league with six points, were keyed by Heath Robinson, who scored three tries, while Police's only points came via two penalties from the boot of Ian Jamieson.

On Saturday, Teachers and Renegades broke a four-team tie at the top of the second division table with victories over Mariners and Police respectively.

A try on the whistle by Mike Kane helped 'Gades squeak by Police 11-10, while a strong Teachers side led by World Cup campaigners Patrick Cooper and Billy McNiven overcame Mariners 17-12.