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Aberdeen Grammar ended the season with a victory in a high-scoring game at Myreside.
Grammar raced into an early lead and managed to keep their noses in front despite several attempts from the home side in a thrilling final game of the campaign.
Coach Stuart Corsar was pleased to end an eventful build-up to the game on a winning note.
He said: “Considering the disastrous 24 hours we’ve had, getting the win was great. We lost a couple of players to work commitments on Friday and had to travel with just 18 fit players for the game. A couple of them were late for the bus, which then broke down, and we ended up arriving at Watsonians, having a 20-minute warm up and then playing the game.
"But our support, the Northsiders, were terrific and they were in great voice as they backed us for the whole game.
“It was a really great team performance and a great result.”
A Grant Walker try and a long penalty from Alex Hagart had Grammar 8-0 up inside the opening 10 minutes and the visitors extended their lead to 13-0 when Ali Mackie broke from the line to score his 10th try of the season. Watsonians hit back with two tries and a conversion to make it 13-12.
But the visitors were not to be denied and, from a penalty on the Watsonians 22 metre line, a tap-and-go resulted in prop Matthias Schosser crossing the line to give the Aberdeen team a deserved 18-12 interval lead.
Grammar were determined to end their campaign on a winning note and a great interception from Nacamavuto resulted in his second try of the game, with Hagart’s conversion re-establishing the 13-point lead.
Watsonians rallied again, reducing the deficit to six points with a try and conversion, but Grammar were not to be denied and Billy Bisset scored to make the score 30-19.
The home side was not willing to concede defeat easily, however, and another try and conversion made it a four-point game, but Grammar held on to claim victory.
Corsar believes the display offers great encouragement for next season.
He said: “We only had four players over the age of 22 in the team so to come here and win in the manner we did was pleasing.
“It has been a tough year for us but to see the players dig deep in difficult circumstances shows the bond and the spirit in the dressing-room at this club.
“We’ve learnt a lot this season and we’ve given ourselves a strong platform to build from for next year.”
© Jack Nixon
Watsonians:
Nick Montgomery; Ben Robbins, Ross Aitken (c), Tom Hart, Robbie Greenhalgh; Andrew Chalmers, Reiss Cullen; Martin Christie, Ali Ross, Callum Sheldon; Euan Martin, Callum Harvey; Jonny Neary, Aaron Johnston, Rory Drummond.
Replacements:
Connor Macleod, Tom Gracie, Brian Walls, Craig Barrie.
Aberdeen Grammar: Conor Lavery; Jamie Gilmour, Doug Russell, Peceli Nacamavuto, Grant Walker; Alex Hagart, Morgan Ward (c); Murray McCallum, Matthias Schosser, Colin Neilson; Stuart Smith, Aaron Robertson; Ali Mackie, Chris Jollands, Calum Champion.
Replacements: Billy Bisset, Rob Cessford, Thomas Pinet, Frank Selbie.