encounters at National Sports Club on Sunday.

Amstel League Division One leaders Police maintained their title march by overwhelming a committed Teachers side, 23-10.

It was Teachers who seized the initiative after Tim Carr connected on a penalty for Police when veteran winger Tommy Sinclair picked up a stray pass and surprised the Police defence to scorch home from 50 metres.

Then it was league-leading scorer Andre Simons, playing at scrum half, who followed up on a bad kick to score another try for Teachers.

Police then narrowed the gap with a drop goal by Alan Oliver and a try by Calum Welsh. Carr converted to give Blues the 13-10 half-time advantage.

Police proved too powerful in the second half as solid forward pressure set up a stream of useful possession. Welsh side-stepped the wrong-footed Scott Correia to grab his second try. A conversion by Carr and drop goal by Oliver sealed the victory.

Correia, who seems to be having second thoughts about retirement, and Gerry Paddock had fine games for Teachers while Welsh, Gareth Davies and skipper Sean Field shined for Police. Police now lead the division on seven points from three wins and a draw.

Mariners, meantime, finally fulfilled their pre-season promise by defeating plucky Renegades 27-13. Renegades started well when Iwan Jones scored a try, followed by a Phil Heaney conversion.

After that it was all Mariners.

New recruit Dominic Hardy took a switch pass from skipper Keith Beattie to score his first points on Bermuda soil, followed by the conversion from Declan O'Loughlin.

Gavin Corcoran scored another try to give Mariners the 12-7 half-time lead.

Dave Conway opened the second half with a neatly-taken drop goal but the always reliable Heaney narrowed the deficit with a long-range penalty score.

Beattie, leading by example, took two Renegade defenders with him when he crossed for a try which was converted by Corcoran. Heaney scored on another penalty but Mariners pulled away with a five-point score by Danny Soares.

Renegades will hold an "extraordinary'' general meeting on December 8 to replace president John Ryall, a Bermudian who is stepping down after one year on the job because of work committments.

Ryall, a founding member of Renegades, has been a tireless worker on the local rugby scene since the late 1950s. He also served as club president in the 1960s.

"It's a known fact that we're getting busier and busier here and with extra responsibilities, workplace comes before sport,'' said Ryall, an account executive with Butterfield & Vallis.

Mark Carter, long-standing member of Renegades and current player on the squad, is reportedly the leading candidate to replace Ryall. Carter is also a former Bermuda national team player.

Renegades, struggling this year with only one victory and a draw in five First Division matches, have shown some improvement from last year.

"Last year was a disappointing one as far as club went, we lost a lot of our players and it was a year of consolidation. This year our record is showing a bit better on the field,'' said Ryall, who is also involved in organising the World Rugby Classic.

Ryall said he still plans to watch Renegades. "You never get away from it,'' he said. "I think what it amounts to is if you hold an office of anything you have to be prepared to put a lot of work and a lot of time into it. And if you haven't got the time or good quality time you shouldn't be there. That's my feeling toward anything that I do.''