Teachers 30 Mariners 12 Mariners produced a much-improved performance in First Division action on Saturday but it was not enough to overcome Teachers who thwarted them with a fine display of open rugby that allowed Alvin Harvey to cross for two tries.

The Reds also dominated the scrum, winning the first five against the put in, as the front row of Tim White, David Cooke and new boy Sanford Seepersad excelled.

But it led to question marks against Mariners' skipper Gavin Corcoran, who allowed national team hooker Billy Tempest-Mitchell to play on the wing while his scrum was getting demolished.

The first 20 minutes was played at a frenetic pace with good handling from the likes of Scott Correia, Harvey and ever-present Noel Capewell, making his last appearance after five years on the Island.

But it was the scrummaging dominance of Teachers which led to Harvey's first try after three minutes and captain Patrick Cooper's touchdown late in a first half which ended with Teachers 17-7 ahead.

Mariners score came from a cheeky individual effort by Keith Hodkins. He threw the ball to himself in the line-out and walked over the Reds' line unchallenged, before converting his try.

Harvey grabbed his second try after the break, latching onto a high kick by centre Peter Rochow which Bill Zuill failed to gather on his own line.

Mariners powered back into the game as Teachers eased off in the last 20 minutes, centre Rob Morgan evading three attempted tackles to make it 22-12.

But in the dying minutes David Hutchinson crashed over from five metres following a penalty against Mariners for going over the top in a ruck and Kevin Harris sent a penalty between the posts to make it 30-12.

Corcoran expressed pleasure with his team's performance afterwards.

"Our boys showed a lot of spirit today following a very physical practice on Wednesday,'' he said.

"At last we are scoring points and we can only get better. We gave a lot of scrum ball away but we are missing a few key players in the front row.'' Victorious captain Cooper was not, however, in such an upbeat mood.

"Our commitment was just not up to scratch and our our attitude has to change if we are to beat Police in a few weeks' time,'' he said.

"We are certainly going to miss Noel Capewell's presence on the field.'' Police 30 Renegades 14 The lead changed hands five times in this bruising battle which saw a determined Police assault in the second half, marked by two tries by the ever-improving loose head prop Rob Steinoff, put the game beyond doubt.

Flashes of running rugby were too often punctuated by close encounters between the forwards who seemed intent on simply diving into rucks and mauls in an effort to kill the ball.

It left players and spectators alike wondering when the sin bin will be utilised. If this yellow card with teeth isn't used in a match such as this, it seems unlikedly to ever be used as a deterrent to a full sending off.

It was Shane Richmond, filling in at fly-half for injured Blues' captain Alan Oliver, who started the scoring with two penalty kicks in the first ten minutes following infringements at a ruck and scrum.

Police won a lot of possession and camped in the 'Gades half for much of the match but the experienced Gregg Lunn and John Cassidy never fully expoited their opponents' weakness on the wings.

'Gades, for their part, excelled on pouncing on Police defensive errors and came close to scoring tries on several occasions. Eventually their persistence paid off when a good forward drive from ten metres resulted in the whole pack taking the ball over for a try. Phil Heaney converted for a slim lead of 7-6.

But 'Gades captain Shane Gill was penalised for foul play and Police took advantage. Lunn chipped ahead and picked up to score under the posts, his great individual effort putting Police 13-7 ahead at the end of the half.

However, Heaney brought 'Gades right back into it within three minutes of the restart, scoring a try which he converted. Police upped the pressure and Sean Field-Lament chipped ahead and touched down to make it 20-14.

Then came Steinoff's tries to finish 'Gades off.