Mariners produced the shock of the season on the weekend when they beat Renegades 29-21 at the National Sports Centre to put the skids under the black-and-whites’ title ambitions.

It was the first league win for Mariners, whose ranks were bolstered by the return from the Las Vegas Sevens of their under-19 players. The green-and-golds also drew inspiration from the presence of Dan McGavern, a former Bermuda and West Indies player, who returned to the Island for his father’s funeral. Ian McGavern was a familiar sight on the Mariners sidelines during the late Nineties and he was very proud of his son’s representation of Mariners and Bermuda rugby.

Mariners set the tone from the outset, with strong forward play that culminated in Ed Barnes, the prop, driving over for a try to open the scoring. Rory Dublin kicked the conversion to give the league’s perennial whipping boys an early 7—0 lead.

However, it appeared the same old story was going to play out when Renegades responded with a period of controlled rugby and ran in three tries in succession.

Prop Jahan Cedinio crashed over the line, shortly followed by centre John Quigley’s strong burst through middle and then a typical poacher’s try from the sprightly Tom Healy.

Greg Garside unerringly slotted over all three conversions and Renegades appeared to be coasting to victory at 21-7 ahead. It looked like curtains for Mariners, but the bottom club showed some fortitude by digging deep and played strong, physical rugby in the forwards. McGavern closed the gap with a storming run to make the score 21-12 at the interval.

The aggressive McGavern continued to show his class with another try. This time the 39-year-old dragged several players over the line to score near the posts. Dublin kicked the conversion to close the gap to 21-19.

Dublin then kicked a penalty goal as Mariners regained the lead 22-21 before captain Steve Husbands charged over for a try, which Kamel Easton converted to hand Mariners a morale-boosting win.

In the early match, Police, the league leaders, fought back to force a 12-12 stalemate with Teachers. The second-placed team showed their intentions early on from a quick lineout, after which the ball was shifted out wide to Patrick Richardson to open the scoring. Shauntino Simons missed the conversion.

A rare foray into the Teachers half led to Tommy Edwards, the Police fly half, striking an upright with a long-range penalty-goal attempt. But it was Teachers who struck next after a chink was exposed in the Police defence and Cory Boyce’s breakaway try gave them a 12-0 lead.

Albert Oberholzer, the Police second-row forward, then showed good passing skills to spin the ball wide to rampaging full back Dan Cole, who drew the defence before attempting to slip the ball inside to Ronan Kane in support.

Kane showed his pace by outstripping the cover to score a try, which Edwards failed to convert, leaving Teachers hanging on to a 12-5 lead at the break.

A long kick by Edwards against the flow of play put the covering Aldo Campbell into some difficulty. The eventual turnover was converted into points when Paull Davis, the centre, pounced for the score.

At 12-12, it was anyone’s game but Police had the momentum and pressed their case. In the dying seconds, scrum half John Stathakis linked well with Roedulf van der Westhuizen, who was on as a replacement, but a determined Teachers defence ensured that honours were shared.

In the women’s division, Police Ladies beat Teachers Ladies 1-0, with Mika Tomita scoring the only try. Dennika Borden scored twice to help Mariners Ladies to a 2-1 win over Renegades Ladies in the other game. Amy Mcglynn responded for Renegades Ladies.