Sunday saw the second round of the Gateways Systems Rugby League take place on a cold, rainy and windy afternoon. And the day became even more miserable when it was learned that the second scheduled game between Mariners and Teachers would not take place due to Mariners being unable to field a side.

Police 10 Renegades 31

With conditions far from ideal, both sides suffered from poor handling in a game that was dominated by the wind.

Renegades kicked off with the wind at their backs and quickly had Police pinned in their 22. An inability to find the last man on several attacks saw Police constantly clear their line but due to the strong wind fail to gain any real yardage.

The first score of the game came from a quick penalty taken by Andy Trinder who fed Colin Target to touch down under the posts after Police had been penalised for offside.

In what turned out to be a faultless kicking performance from veteran Craig Roberts, Gades extended the lead to 7-0 with the resulting conversion.

The pattern of play continued with both sides unable to find any real rhythm as conditions worsened with heavy rain.

Police were again penalised for hands in the ruck to give Roberts his second attempt at goal which he slotted over to bring the score to 10-0.

A quick feed from the scrum and a nicely executed chip and chase from Gades fly half Mick Williams saw him stopped just short of the Police line and with Brendon Plessis only needing to gather the ball and drop over the line, Renegades seemed to have taken full advantage of the wind. Again Roberts converted to bring the score at the break to 17-0.

With the change over at half-time, Police used the wind to good effect, pinning Gades in their 22. A wheeled scrum by Police saw Renegades awarded a penalty which, taken quickly, sent Target on a length-of-the-field run before he chipped the Police defence, gathered the ball and offloaded to Duncan Sampson who touched down for the try. Again Roberts converted, this time against the wind, to make it 24-0.

Again Police used the wind to contain their opponents but an infringement at a ruck resulted in Gades being awarded a penalty on which they managed to lose possession resulting in Police taking full advantage of a five-yard scrum, allowing Chris Bond to score from a back row move.

A Renegade lineout on the Police ten yard line saw Mick Williams weave his way through the Police lines to score under the posts, Roberts again obliging to take the score to 31-5.

Police battled on and after several penalties for constant infringements sent the ball wide for Ben Grey to score in the corner.

This Sunday will see the third round take place at Malabar with Police taking on Mariners at 2 p.m. and in a clash between the two unbeaten teams, Renegades go up against Teachers at 3:30 p.m.