Teachers 20 Mariners 12

This was a tale of two halves as Mariners dominated the first only to let Teachers turn the tables in the second.

Mariners, with the wind at their backs, kept the pressure on for the majority of the first half. Tactical kicking, good work from the green pack and the resulting handling errors from the Reds kept Teachers pinned in their own half.

Mariners broke the deadlock when Keith Hodgkins slotted over a penalty after the Reds backline had been judged offside.

Good running in the centre gave Mariners? full back Ollie Collins room to run out wide but Teachers defence stood firm.

Mariners increased the score to 6?0 after Hodgkins made their opponents pay for infringements in the breakdown. The final score of the half came after a Mariners rolling maul saw the ball spun wide and Teachers once again called for a penalty in the breakdown. Mariners led 9-0 at the half.

The second half saw Teachers turn the advantage of the wind into points.

Substitute Graeme Fergusson led a rejuvenated back line as the constant pressure on the Mariners defence resulted in a penalty which Fergusson converted.

Impressive winger Kurt Liebel put Teachers ahead for the first time in the match. Good handling in the back line saw Liebel score in the corner after a timely pass from Chris Way.

The conversion by Fergusson saw Teachers lead 10?9.

Liebel added to the Reds? lead after he finished a fine individual run with a score down the left wing. Fergusson again converted and the score was 17?9.

It was then that Mariners turned on the pressure and were unlucky not to cross the try line on a couple of occasions. First, winger Cian O?Sullivan was halted at the line by a crushing tackle from Liebel and Devrae Noel-Simmons. Soon after Pat Mackay was held up over the line and pushed backwards by Anthony (Church) Cupidore.

This wave of pressure was only relieved after the referee judged Mackay to have performed a double movement ? and Fergusson kicked clear.

The final points of the match came off of Fergusson?s boot after a Mariners penalty from 30 metres out.

This week sees a return to Friday night rugby at BAA with the second team round robin 10-a-side tournament beginning at 6 p.m. this evening.

On Sunday, the final league games before the Christmas break will be played at National Sports Centre?s North Field. At 2 p.m. Police take on Mariners while Renegades face Teachers at 3.30.