Teachers captain Hadleigh Tucker scored 28 points to ensure his team enjoys a healthy lead at the top of the Bermuda Rugby Football Union men’s league going into the Christmas break with a 57-29 victory over Police on Saturday.

With the players getting time off to enjoy the festive season, Teachers are on top with 19 points. Renegades are second on 14 points, and occupying third position are Police with seven points.

On a soggy Southampton Oval pitch, Tucker scored four tries and the same number of conversions to take his points tally for the season to 91. Centre Jahniko Francis chipped in with three tries, wing Kwame Naylor added one try and a conversion, while fullback Ja'Kee Simons kicked one conversion.

Teachers went three tries up without any response from their opponents. Police did fight back and at one stage seven points separated the two teams, before a late surge gave the champions a big win.

“It was our target to be on top going into the break,” Tucker said. “We had a couple of shaky games at the start of the season, but we were at full strength in this match, and it was nice to come out on top going into the new year.

“We started very hard and then lost focus. We got our urgency back when things got tight, but credit must go to Police who kept on fighting to close the gap. The guys pulled it together towards the end and we got a big win.”

Tucker, the national sevens captain, understands the challenges the men’s game is facing on the island, where numbers continue to diminish. Because the three teams are struggling with playing personnel, players from other sides appear for any of the two playing at any given time.

“Part of playing rugby at the moment is supporting the other clubs and making sure that we get rugby going every weekend,” he said.

“That’s the biggest concern for us at the moment, making sure we play every weekend. Whoever wins, we want to support them, and we share players sometimes just to keep the sport alive on the island.”

Inside centre Jamie Baum crossed the whitewash twice for Police, Jason Chlup had a try and two conversions, while lock Simon Thompson and Guto Roberts scored a try each for Police.

Darren Richardson, the Police captain, was pleased that the two sides had enough players for the match to proceed.

“It was a solid effort from both teams to get numbers down to pull off a game of 15s rugby,” Richardson said.

“Ultimately, Teachers were deserved winners. I've got to credit my team-mates because we were three tries down very early into the game, and we came back to get it within seven points.

“The conditions weren't that great, but the Police forwards pack really showed their dominance. It was always chasing the game in those opening minutes that set us back.”

Meanwhile, rugby action resumes on January 11 when Police Field hosts the Duckett Memorial. The annual fixture is held in memory of George Duckett, the former Commissioner of Police who was assassinated in 1972.