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Aberdeen Grammar surged back to winning ways at Rubislaw with an eight-try rout of Cartha Queens Park, giving their team manager John Stewart the perfect send-off on his last day in charge of the BT National League 1 side.
The delighted Stewart, who is leaving the area to take up a new post in Bristol, said: “This was a great way for me to sign off after three years in the post of team manager.
“There were key performances from back rower Robin Cessford and the ever-improving Bryn Perrott at stand off, while winger Grant Walker just gets better with age.
“I just hope this generally young team goes on to build on this good campaign next season.
“It has been a great privilege and pleasure to work with these guys.”
Grammar took their time getting into their stride against a limited Glasgow side but when they made the breakthrough after 19 minutes it was a try worth waiting for.
Cessford showed a great turn of pace to run in from 50 yards after a fine passing move sparked by scrum half Jake Gray. Perrott kicked the difficult conversion to set the tone for the afternoon but, just as the noisy home crowd were settling back and hoping to enjoy a one-sided contest, Grammar slipped a sloppy unconverted try to Cartha prop Juaniel Bryan.
Thereafter it was all Grammar who added three more tries before the break, attributed to Perrott, Gray and Walker, two of which were converted by Perrott, giving the home side a 26-5 lead at half-time.
To no-one’s surprise Grammar continued to dominate in the second half, running in four more tries, but aided by some poor tackling from the visitors.
Walker sparked off the second half procession to the Cartha line, while fellow winger Calum Ruxton got in on the act with a brace of his own.
The excellent home centre Nathan Clough also chipped in with a driving run to the line. Perrott added one conversion to give him a personal tally of 13 points for the afternoon.
Cartha had the last word when, on the stroke of the final whistle, flanker Milan Marinkovic nipped through a hesitant home defence for a late unconverted try.
But the day belonged to Grammar who can now look forward to a derby at Mayfield against Dundee High on Saturday with a chance to leapfrog their rivals in the league.
Walker, who will be calling time on a long and distinguished career on the wing for the Rubislaw side after the last game of the season at home to Falkirk on April 7, said: “We have been threatening to turn someone over. This was a good allround performance.”
© Jack Nixon
Aberdeen Grammar: Craig Shepherd; Calum Ruxton, Nathan Clough, Greig Ryan, Grant Walker; Bryn Perrott, Jake Gray; Calum Reddish, Matthias Schosser, Ross Anderson; Aaron Robertson, Drew Whitehead; Robin Cessford, Dom Wallen, Alec Dravitski.
Replacements: Colin Neilson, Tighearnan McLoughlin, Ewan Stewart, Scott Renfrew, Tommy Morrison.
Cartha Queens Park: Jonny Campion; JC Gallissaires, Ewen Campbell, Liam Howieson, Alex Boyle; Andy Scott, Andrew J McDougall; Juaniel Bryan, Fraser Paul, Shabaz Kahn; Graham Williamson, Dave Evans; Milan Marinkovic, Tony Hondleschwiz, Peter Hollier.
Replacements: David Irvine, Marcus Goodwin, Callum Spriddle, Istoc Totic, Ross Gillies.