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Aberdeen Grammar’s hopes of recording a third successive win were quickly blown away at Riverside Park where a well-drilled Jed-Forest racked up 33 points in the first half.
Grammar had little answer in the first period but rallied well later in the game. Their first-half scoring amounted to a try attributed ti winger Grant Walker converted by stand off Bryn Perrott.
Grammar head coach Ali O’Connor said: “Our new look, understrength side took time to settle in but when the players did they gave Jed a run for their money.
“Outscoring them by three tries to one later in the game was quite a feat, especially given their second position in the league.
“Some of our replacements were quite outstanding, including winger Bailey Walsh and scrum half James Palmer.
“Full back Craig Shepherd was our man of the match. Prop Colin Neilson was also in the thick of things, sparking off our fightback with a driving try, while veteran winger Grant Walker just gets better with age.”
The Rubislaw head coach added: “The second-half comeback against a very good Borders side convinces me we are in a good place and can now realistically plan for the future while pushing for a top-four place.”
After shipping five first half touchdowns, four of which were converted by Jed-Forest stand off Robbie Yourston, Grammar knuckled down.
They took the game to the home side, inspired by the excellent Neilson and the probing runs of centre Nat Clough.
It led to a Neilson try and one each for Walsh and winger Matt Arnold, two of which were converted by stand off Perrott.
The last-gasp effort from Arnold will also be his last fir Grammar as he is moving to Edinburgh and O’Connor says he will be sorely missed.
He said: “He has turned out to be a really first-class winger. We wish him well in all he does.”
In the midst of the Grammar second-half domination, Jed managed a converted touchdown of their own, Making the final score a flattering one for the Borderers.
Grammar’s next game will be on March 3 at home at Rubislaw where they entertain Musselburgh, giving the Aberdeen players a well-earned rest before they make their big push for a top-four place in National 1.
© Jack Nixon
Jed-Forest: Lewis Young; Callum Young, Gregor Young, Monty Mitchell, Robbie Shirra Gibb; Robbie Yourston, Rory Marshall; Connor Hogg, Grant Paxton, Paulo Ferreira; Clark Skeldon, Gregor Law; Andrew Sanders, Jack Howe, Blake Roff.
Replacements: Jamie Oliver, Jamie Hynd, Graham Robson, Elliot Stewart, Sean Goodfellow.
Aberdeen Rugby: Craig Shepherd; Grant Walker, Nat Clough, Alex Ratcliffe, Matt Arnold; Bryn Perrott, James Palmer; Colin Neilson, Connall Howard, Rob Ellinson; Robin Cessford, Drew Whitehead; Alec Dravitski, Will Alton, Greig Ryan.
Replacements: Liam Buchan, Ewan Stewart, Ethan Murray, Bailey Walsh.