Police succumbed to a heavy Renegades assault and conceded 12 points in the last 15 minutes after only being down five points at half-time.

Both teams were missing key players who were in Trinidad competing in the Caribbean Sevens. Police seemed to suffer more from this and sorely missed the likes of Alan Oliver and Gareth Davies in the back.

Renegades camped in the Police 22 for most of the first half and were rewarded a try in the corner by Sean Kelly from a three-man overlap. Police were resolute in defence and can thank Colin Lunn and Russell Matthews for some fine clearance kicks.

Matthews was constantly harassed by Barry Whitehead, both playing in the unfamiliar role of scrum-half. Renegades took control in the second half and Police tried hard to stop the inevitable victory.

Kelly scored another try after running 40 yards to add to tries by Wade Tihema and Nick Elwig. Phil Heaney had a good day with the boot and nailed the Police coffin shot with two penalties and a conversion.

Mariners 16, Teachers 5 Mariners came back strong in the second half after being 5-3 down at half-time with Dennis Faries scoring two superb tries, which won him the Amstel player of the week.

This upset was on the cards with a depleted Teachers side failing to raise their game against some very determined opposition. Teachers were missing Scott and Andrew Correia through injury and Alvin Harvey and Andre Simons, both at the Caribbean Sevens.

Nevertheless, Mariners thoroughly deserved their win and must thank their pack of forwards who outplayed Teachers in the set-pieces. Dave Conway constantly used his clever chip kicks, which put Teachers under a lot of pressure throughout the game.

The Teachers back row of Anthony Cupidor, Ron Hook and particularly Terry Walsh, stopped several Mariners drives with courageous tackling and were always early to the breakdowns. Teachers scored first after 30 minutes through Tim White who glided over the line after good attacking play by Michael Montgomery, Cupidor and Walsh.

Conway hit back with a penalty on the stroke of half-time for a score of 5-3.

In the second half Teachers were penalised five yards from the Mariners line, Conway counter-attacked and found support from Gavin Dublin and Faries who outpaced the opposition to score in the corner.

Conway added another three points from a penalty and Mariners were 11-5 up with 20 minutes to go. Faries' second try was a result of another Conway kick with Faries showing a lot of guts on the challenge for the touchdown.

Sensing victory, Mariners refused to let some late Teachers pressure develop into points and in the last five minutes gave several penalties away by purposely killing the ball in rucks and mauls, knowing that Teachers had to score two tries to win.

CENTRE OF ATTENTION -- Scrum-half Barry Whitehead gets another renegades attack started.