Aberdeen GSFP 37 - 24 Watsonians: Aberdeen back in top league as Watsonians drop out

ABERDEEN Grammar surged back into Premier 1 after displaying a greater appetite for winning than Watsonians who, nevertheless, made a great contribution to an enthralling game of rugby, vindicating the new structure which has made every game meaningful since the spilt in November.

The unconfined joy at the end of the game certainly suggested the Rubislaw faithful approved of the set up. It now remains to be seen if the Aberdeen side can live with the big boys of Scotland's top flight. Watsonians, for their part, would be desperately disappointed to drop down to Premier 2, though on this form a quick return to the elite of the club game should be on the cards.

Grammar were quickly out of the blocks, pressurising the Myreside men from the first whistle, gaining an immediate reward in four minutes through prop Nicki Fraser, one of the young, aspiring young guns of North-east rugby.

Watsonians hit back when flanker Niall Dennis breached the home defence for a touchdown converted by stand-off Ross Aitken, who stunned the home crowd with a long range penalty to make it 10-5 for the visitors. Grammar then enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure which yielded three tries, giving them a 26-10 lead, only to concede a late first-half effort to centre Ben Di Rollo, converted by Aitken, who sustained a shoulder injury early in the second period and was replaced.

Grammar took advantage, but could only manage two penalties from stand-off Rob Aloe to add to his three first-half conversions. The game looked over when lock Martyn Faville plunged over to make it 37-17, only for the capital side to stage a grandstand finish, coming within a converted try of snatching the spoils.

"This is a big day for North-east rugby," said Grammar assistant coach Kevin Wyness as the celebrations began.

l Kelso produced the goods to resist the challenge from Kirkcaldy for the last spot in Premier Two next season, the players' decision to stay away from their annual club dinner on Friday proving worthwhile as they won 17-5 at rivals Jed-Forest. Kirkcaldy did all they could, beating Falkirk 44-27, but it was to no avail.

Scorers: Aberdeen: Tries: Fraser, Ryan, McGuiness, Walker, Faville. Cons: Aloe 3. Pens: Aloe 2. Watsonians: Tries: Aitken, Di Rollo, Forbes. Cons: Aitken 2, Rowe. Pen: Aitken.

Aberdeen: S Aitken; G Walker, S Ryan, F Lyle, A Aplalati; R Aloe, R Lawson; N Fraser, B Russell, C McConnachie, M Faville, R Barrie, S Warnock, T McGuiness, M Douglas. Subs used: R Allen, N Shannon, C Allan, C Philips.

Watsonians: J Forbes; D Brown, T Hart, B Di Rollo, A Rowe; R Aitken, J Blackwood; D Moussa, N Hart, K Coertze, D Gorman, D Seed, N Dennis, H Grant, J Ellis. Subs used: S Laird, C Sorbie, M Ker.

Referee: F Balharry.