Colston's Collegiate cemented their position as England's top school with a seven-try hammering of Barnard Castle in the Daily Mail Schools Under-18 Cup final at Twickenham this afternoon. The final result saw them win 48-0.
Back in the competition after a three-year absence, Colston's rattled up the final's second biggest score to leave coach Alan Martinovic drooling over a seventh win for the Bristol school since 1995.
"This is my seventh final and I haven't seen a performance like that," said Martinovic. "In large parts of that game they were outstanding. The boys are very focused and when they get to a place like this they want to put in a good performance.
"This year we will have a current or ex-Colston's player in every England team from 16 Group to full international so we like to think we are doing our bit for English rugby."
Colston's, whose latest success story is England fly-half Olly Barkley, outclassed Barnard Castle and were 10-0 up in as many minutes thanks to a try from lock James Phillips and a conversion and penalty from captain Ryan Davis. The centre will be following Barkley's footsteps to New Zealand by spending his gap year with Canterbury Crusaders development squad.
Phillips scored after just four minutes when he stepped out of Ross Oldroyd's tackle to cross with men outside him after stretching the Barnard Castle defence. Davis converted and then added an extra three points from his Barkley-like kicking style.
It was a day for Colston's locks as Iain Grieve followed Phillips over the line and by the time Olle Mansbridge had cut in and then through the middle on a 45-metre run, his school were well on their way to victory with a 24-0 half-time lead.
Chris Brooker extended that three minutes into the second half when he shrugged off Phillip Dawson's tackle on his way to the line and three minutes later blindside flanker Josh Nowak went over for Davis to land his fifth conversion.
Nowak's second and Shane Geraghty's try from his own hack-on put them two short of 50.
Barnard Castle coach Martin Pepper, missing centre Matthew Tait on England Under-19 duty, admitted: "The writing was on the wall in the first 10 minutes. We were 10-0 down and didn't turn up and play. We are a good team and have only lost twice in two years - both at Twickenham - but this was men against boys."
Colston's Collegiate School: Tries - Josh Nowak (2), James Phillips, Iain Grieve, Ollie Mansbridge, Chris Brooker, Shane Geraghty; Pen - Ryan Davis; Cons - Davis (5).
Other results
Under-18 Vase final: Prince Henry's, Otley 18 St Columba's College, St Albans 11
Under-15 Cup final: John Cleveland College, Hinckley 17 Sherborne School 12
Under-15 Vase final: St Benedict's High School, Whitehaven 24 Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby 15