SACS start well in Zimbabwe
A well-drilled South African College Schools (SACS) started the Zimbabwe tour in on a high note, thumping St John'’s College (The 'Rams') 62-10 on the opening day of the inaugural Leabridge Rugby Challenge.
St John's College defence struggled to cope with SACS’ quick offloads all afternoon. As a result the Rams players were getting sucked in and overlaps created for the visitors.
SACS started the game like possessed men, scoring the game’s first five pointer in the fourth minute through their skipper Cameron Calder, while their sharp-shooter, flyhalf Chris Smith, easily added the extras.
They stretched their lead to 10-0 when Smith struck an impressive drop goal from the half way line. St John's College eventually steadied the ship in the second quarter of the match as they started to pin down the opposition with rushed defence which took a bit of sting out of the SACS attack.
The Rams also started to find their rhythm with the backline starting to see more of the ball. The persistence eventually paid off when lock Nick Burnett crashed over for a converted try which cut the SACS lead to three points.
St John's lost then lost their concentration in the last minutes of the first half and conceded two soft tries from prop Yandisa Maqenukana and fullback Thando Rudah, heading to the breather trailing 22-7.
In the second period it was one-way traffic with the SJC defence finally giving in and allowed SACS to score at free will leaking six tries in the second period alone.
SACS lock Dean Basson started the onslaught when he crashed over, then wing Suwi Chibale, replacement Shane Fourie, and Joel Macquene all joined the party grabbing a try a piece. St John’s only points in the half came courtesy of a Sean Coles’s boot, who banged over a penalty.
The scorers:
For SACS:
Tries: Cameron Calder, Gino Lupini, Tando Rudah, Adam de Cavalho, Suwi Chibale, Joel Macquene, Dean Basson, Chris Smith, Shane Fourie
Cons: Smith 6, Shane Fourie
DG: Smith
For St John's:
Try: Nick Burnett
Con: Sean Coles
Pen: Coles
