Heriot’s 31 - 19 Aberdeen Grammar: Heriot’s make it day to forget for Grammar

Aberdeen Grammar’s team bus was delayed, they lost three key players to injury during the match and despite their best efforts they did not even pick up a losing bonus point at Goldenacre.

SCORERS:

Heriot’s – Tries: Bryce, Goudie (2), Scott, Hill. Cons: Wilson (3).

Aberdeen Grammar – Tries: Douglas, McGuiness, Oag. Cons: Hagart, M Ryan.

As days go, it was not the best for the men from the north east, but credit to Heriot’s for sticking to their task and picking up their third win of the campaign.

With the match delayed to the bizarre time of 3.18pm after the Grammar team bus had taken over four hours to get to the capital, both teams looked sluggish in the opening exchanges. Grammar stand-off Alex Hagart miscued a penalty attempt after three minutes and it was Heriot’s who started to get into their stride quicker.

Their first try was a great team score, with the passing and angles of running no doubt impressing the club’s juniors who were watching on.

It came in the 11th minute and after good work by winger Colin Goudie and stand-off Graham Wilson it was hooker Kevin Bryce who touched down, with captain Wilson converting.

The visitors fought back well and five minutes later second-row Murray Douglas was credited with the unconverted try in the corner.

Midway through the half Grammar lost influential skipper Stuart Corsar to suspected concussion and by the interval Heriot’s had built up a 17-5 lead.

The two further tries came from wingers Andrew Scott and Goudie, the former having been set-up by a great break by prop Struan Cessford.

As Edinburgh Accies had done to Heriot’s in their previous home match, Grammar came out of the blocks flying after the interval and had reduced the deficit to five points within 60 seconds.

Back-row Tony McGuiness was the man who got the score, with young Hagart converting, and suddenly it was game on, with the visitors having much more zip to their game.

Soon after they lost former Heriot’s man Matt Reid to injury, and that disrupted things, Goudie claiming Heriot’s fourth try to make it 24-12.

Winger Erlend Oag’s converted try did once again cut the lead before – with Grammar having now lost Douglas to injury as well – a well-worked score from Heriot’s No 8 Jason Hill sealed things.

For the hosts Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Wilson are building up a good understanding at half back while for bottom- of-the-table Grammar centre James Knight was a constant threat.

Heriot’s: M Penn; A Scott, M Learmonth, R Carmichael, C Goudie; G Wilson, S Hidalgo-Clyne; G Cameron, K Bryce, S Cessford, R Nimmo, B Morrissey, F Brown, J Hill, C Mulligan. Subs used: C Owenson, J Shepherd, J Nayacavou.

Aberdeen Grammar: S Aitken; E Oag, P Nacamavuto, J Knight, A Hales; A Hagart, M Ward; M Dixon, S O’Connor, S Corsar, S Smith, M Douglas, M Reid, C Eyre, T McGuiness. Subs used: L Reid, C McConnachie, G Ryan, M Ryan, S Knudson.

Referee: M Changleng.