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berdeen Grammar's long-suffering supporters were finally given a treat to take into the close season after their team turned in its most convincing performance of the campaign.
The Rubislaw men have lost 16 of their 22 league fixtures but came good on Saturday with a 46-35 home victory against Jed-Forest.
Talk of a possible merger with Aberdeenshire was put on the back burner as Grammar ran in seven tries, three of which were scored by winger Grant Walker.
The veteran was the most outstanding player on show, inspiring and cajoling his young team-mated who also rose to the occasion in Grammar’s final game of the season.
Jed-Forest ran in five tries of their own, this despite being 10 players short on duty in a sevens tournament at Langholm.
Head coach Ali O’Connor was delighted to have finished the season on a high and said: “This was a great way to sign off, even if our defending was not good, there have been lots of positives in a difficult season.
“Despite some poor performances, this team has stood up to be counted. The players have been a pleasure to work with. I am proud to have had the privilege of coaching them. The youngsters will have learned from a roller-coaster season. Grant Walker has been a continual source of inspiration for them.”
Grammar took the lead in two minutes when centre Tom Aplin kicked a penalty, though it took the home side until 18 minutes to score the first try of the afternoon – this despite playing with a strong wind – when Walker raced over. The same player then created chances for fellow winger Calum Ruxton, who jetted over the Jed line twice by which time the Border side had opened its account through centre Monty Mitchell who also scored two tries, going on to complete his hat-trick in the second half.
Centre Matt Arnold widened the gap to make it 25-14 for Grammar by half-time.
The tries continued into the second half with scrum half Jake Gray leading the way to make it 32-14, only for the visitors to rally through tried from Mitchell, Blade Roff and Robbie Yourston, who kicked all five of his side’s conversions to lead 35-32.
But the day belonged to Grammar, who killed off the game with two converted tries by the irrepressible Walker, making it 46-35.
“These young players are great to play with, keeping me on my toes,” said the Grammar hat-trick scorer.
© Jack Nixon
Aberdeen Rugby: Doug Russell; Grant Walker, Matt Arnold, Tom Aplin, Calum Ruxton; Sam Knudson, Jake Gray; Ross Anderson, Fergus McKenzie, Shane Clark; Aaron Robertson, Matt McCall; Calum Sangster, Dom Wallen, Andy Little.
Replacements: Yasseen Ahmanache, Tighearnan McLoughlin, Cameron Robertson, Bryn Perrott, Craig Shepherd.