Grey College scored seven tries in their 54-0 thrashing of Southland Boys’ High School at the World Schools Festival in Stellenbosch on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.

Given the difference in strength between the schools, it was expected that Grey would field a more experimental side, but they surprised by naming a XV consisting of first-choice players.

While Grey were clearly not at their best in their final match of the festival, they still had enough power to send them to a big victory.

It took Grey just three minutes to open the scoring when lock Danwich Beukes sniped around a ruck to go over from close range. The Bloemfontein side extended their lead after a brief period of pressure through a breakaway try finished off by outside centre JD Odendaal.

Grey strangely turned to their maul when it was not really needed, but still managed to get a third try when big blindside flank George Cronjé exploited some poor defence to put them 21-0 up at the break.

Ian Small-Smith then broke the line, with the Grey captain and wing showing his pace to score their fourth of the afternoon just after half-time, before hooker Ricardo Fourie added a fifth.

Grey’s sixth try came after a toe ahead was collected by Duan Ludik, who was in a race with teammate Cronjé to see who could get to the ball first with no opposition in front of them.

Further tries came through replacement back Nabo Sokoyi and flyhalf FC du Plessis, who was first to gather another kick over the defence.

Grey College – Tries: Danwich Beukes, JD Odendaal, George Cronjé, Ian Small-Smith, Ricardo Fourie, Duan Ludik, Nabo Sokoyi, FC du Plessis. Conversion: Du Plessis (5), JD Olivier (2).

Photo: Gallo Images