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There was no incredible escape. Aberdeen Grammar were relegated from the Premiership after turning in their poorest performance of the season, going down with barely a whimper against a vastly superior Currie side.
Head coach Kevin Wyness was devastated by the defeat which confirmed the Rubislaw side will be playing National League rugby next season.
“That’s sport, there’s got to be a winner and a loser and, unfortunately, this season, we have been the losers,” he said.
“Hopefully, we will now be able to prove ourselves in the Scottish Cup. We missed stand off Rob Aloe’s steadying influence. He was out with a rib injury picked up in last week’s game with Melrose. That was the poorest we have played for a while. I think the occasion got to us.”
Currie made an explosive start to the game, scoring a try in the first minute when stand off James Semple raced over for an unconverted try.
Grammar rallied after this early shock and after 14 minutes Glasgow professional Byron McGuigan, who took over the kicking duties from the injured Aloe, slotted a penalty to reduce the arrears.
But with the visitors leaking penalties on a regular basis it was Currie who looked the more likely despite a fierce and difficult wind. Just before half time winger Ethan Pollock cashed in on incessant home pressure to touch down to make it 10-3 at the interval with another unconverted try.
Currie pushed further ahead just after half time. Scoring a third unconverted try through David Cherry to leave Grammar a near impossible task, although they did manage a score when winger Will Wardlaw nipped over just before the hour.
It was not to be as the game petered out, notable only for yellow cards for Currie’s Sean Cox and Grammar’s Sean O’Connor. Joe Reynolds kicked a Penalty and James Semple was on target with a late drop goal to make the game safe for Currie.
Grammar now have a week off, returning to action on March 22 for what is now a meaningless fixture against Glasgow Hawks before taking on Heriot’s in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, representing an opportunity to end an otherwise unhappy season with a flourish.
© Jack Nixon
Currie: George Horne; Ruaridh Smith, Joachim Rodriguez, Ethan Pollock; James Semple, Richard Sneddon; John Cox, David Cherry, Alastair Hamilton; Sean Cox, Petre Neascu; Mark Cairns, Malcolm Peacock, Ross Weston.
Replacements: Graeme Carson, Fraser Watt, Gary Temple, Michael Vernel, Harvey Elms.
Aberdeen Grammar: Steve Aitken; Will Wardlaw, Harry Duthie, Greig Ryan, Byron McGuigan; Sam Knudson, Morgan Ward; Matt Dixon, Sam Bingham, Nicki Fraser; Stuart Smith, Jamie Metcalfe; Ally Mackie, Tony McGinness, Tom Preece.
Replacements: Sean O’Connor, Struan Cessford, Calum Harvey, Folau Niua, Jamie Lauder.
Referee: Neil Paterson.