By MARK CASHMAN

Eastern Suburbs tuned up for their Shute Shield finals campaign with a resounding 81-24 shellacking of Randwick in the Battle of the East on Saturday.

The Beasties scored 13 tries in an extremely complete display that has many saying that they are now the team to beat in the finals.

Skipper Jack Grant scored four tries in a fine all round display that said much about the robust carrying of their big back row and also the support game that they showed throughout the 80 minutes.

Hooker Moli Sooaemalelagi was another to stand out scoring three tries and organising his scrum well and being pretty much perfect at lineout time.

Winger Richie Woolf also got in on the act with a double and his speed on the right edge will be a major weapon for Easts throughout the finals.

Easts coach Pauli Taumoepeau said his side had to work to get the rewards but was happy to get a result like that in the eastern suburbs derby.

“The boys did well but it wasn’t a walk in the park as some would think,” Taumoepeau said.

“Randwick made us work through out that game.

“I thought we did a lot of good things then off the back of that made some really solid decisions and I’m hoping that helps our preparation to play Eastwood this week.

“We learnt a few things and have some work ons leading into the big challenge next week. It’s a whole new competition now.”

A somewhat shell shocked Randwick coach Ben McCormack said hats off to Easts on the day.

“There was a few key lessons we will take out of that – ones that I thought we learnt after big loss Norths but obviously not,” McCormack said.

“Easts were outstanding and hats off to them, but the unfortunate reality was we allowed them to be.

“We don’t have time to sook about it so we’ll grab the key learnings and push forward to try and turn it around for Gordon on Saturday.”

EASTERN SUBURBS 81 (Moli Sooaemalelagi 3, Jack Digby, Jack Grant 4, Henry Paterson, Richie Woolf 2, Nic Shannon tries; Daniel Donato 9 conversions, pen goal) d RANDWICK 24 (Triston Reilly 2, Simon Kennewell tries; Ben Donaldson 3 conversions, pen goal) at Woollahra Oval.

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON