HARARE - Churchill Boys High thumped St John’s College 32-11 in an ill-tampered Cottco Rugby Festival match here yesterday.

The battle between the two powerhouses of Zimbabwe Schools’ rugby saw tempers flying the entire 60 minutes as indiscipline once again continued to rear its ugly head.

The match was stopped briefly after the Rams coach Garry Hewitt was involved in a scuffle with the Bulldogs flank Takudzwa Zinyu.

Churchill suffered an early setback when they were reduced to 14 men after their elusive prop Gabriel Sipatate was given his marching order for a tip tackle on Tyrone Mathews.

The Rams quickly made their numeric advantage count in their favour when lock Henry Jocelyn scored the first try of the match which Kurt Burger failed to convert.

The Bulldogs were caught napping at the break down and were severely punished by Burger’s boot, who slotted home two penalties to give his team a 13-0 lead.

Churchill managed to reduce the deficit to just two points before the break with two quick unconverted tries by centre Takudzwa Kumadiro and wing Robin Chionyero.

In the second period, the Bulldogs emerged hungrier and took the lead for the first time in the match courtesy of a penalty by Tafadzwa Makonyora.

The Rams ran out of steam in the second half and struggled in broken play.

Churchill finally grabbed the match by the scruff of the neck when Kumadiro doubled his tally after he broke a series of tackles before dotting down to send the crowd in frenzy.

Zinyu and fullback Shingari Madiro put the final nail on St John’s coffin with a try apiece. - Brian Matamba