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Aberdeen Grammar eased their National League 1 relegation worries with a 10-try rout of winless Hillhead Jordanhill.
Grammar, however, looked less than convincing against the league strugglers, who seem bound to go down after nine straight defeats.
Coach Thomas Pinet was in charge of the Rubislaw tem in the absence of lead coach Stuart Corsar and he was pleased with the performance and, in particular, the collection of five points.
Pinet said: “They delivered. The boys stuck to the game plan which was to drive hard, create the space and then use it, and that’s how we were able to score so many tries.
“OK, mistakes were made when they were trying to play without making space, but it didn’t happen too much. The result takes us away from the relegation zone.”
Grammar took only seven minutes to assert themselves on the hapless Hillhead who were split twice in as many minutes by the veteran centre Peceli Nacamavuto who despite losing pace in his advancing years, proved he has lost none of his guile, stepping cleverly inside the cover defence to give the hosts the perfect start to the afternoon.
Alex Hagart kicked one conversion to give Grammar a 12 point lead.
In the 10th minute, in a rare foray to the home half, Grammar conceded a penalty which was converted by the Hillhead stand off David Paterson.
Grammar replied immediately with a neat effort to extend the lead with an unconverted try from Calum Ruxton, making it 17-3.
The Aberdeen side continued to dominate, but over-anxiety led to passes being dropped.
First winger Lemarre El Bouchehati raced in for a try, followed by livewire scrum half Morgan Ward getting his name on the score sheet.
Not to be out done his fellow half back Hagart nipped over and converting all three of the touchdowns to make it 38-3 at half time.
It was more of the same from Grammar in the second period who added to their tally with tries from prop Murray McCallum, two fine efforts from the excellent Chris Jollands, who is a flanker on whom Corsar might build a team.
Full back Sam Knudson converted the Jollands’ efforts, while Hagart added the extras to McCallum’s try. Dutchman El Bouchehati finished the days try-scoring, giving Grammar a handsome 61 point advantage.
The win sets up a derby ay Mayfield on Saturday when a win against Dundee High would take them above the Taysiders, and the security of a mid-table position.
© Jack Nixon
Aberdeen Grammar: Sam Knudson; Calum Ruxton, Doug Russell, Peceli Nacamavuto, Lemarre El Bouchehati; Alex Hagart, Morgan Ward (c); Matthias Schosser, Mike Cox, Murray McCallum; Stuart Smith, Callum Harvey; Ross Lumsden, Billy Bisset, Ali Mackie.
Replacements: Chris Jollands, Colin Neilson, Alex Middleton, Andrew Ovenstone, Sean Murray.
Hillhead Jordanhill: Richie Graham; Andrew Gallagher, Scott Halliday, Freddy Machado, Rory Harte; David Paterson, Craig McLennaghan; Juan Phyfer, Harry Perreston, Cammy Kerr; Luke McKinney, Max Boidart; Mungo Ryan, Connor Ferguson, Angus Lean (c).
Replacements: Adam Plunkett, Matt Royce, Craig Bryson, Domingo Gaglione.