Aberdeen claim consecutive Scottish titles

Aberdeen Warriors emerged victorious from the Deuchars IPA National League Grand Final at the weekend, beating Edinburgh Eagles by 30 points to 20.

The game, held at Hazelhead Academy in Aberdeen, was largely controlled by the Warriors, who were looking to prevent Edinburgh from winning their tenth Scottish title.

Aaron Robertson emerged as the star man for the Warriors, opening the scoring with a try after just eight minutes. The game then see-sawed in exciting fashion, with Aberdeen’s goalkicker Tom Aplin giving his team the edge in the wet conditions.

Half-time saw the teams turn round at 16-8 in the Warriors’ favour. Edinburgh fought hard to find a way back into the game after the interval, but Aberdeen always looked dangerous on the counterattack.

Tries from Billy Bissett and Grant Walker took the score to 26-8 to Aberdeen around the hour mark. Edinburgh then launched a fierce assault on the Warriors’ defence, with Tom Murray scoring a try on 70 minutes.

Just as it looked as though they may have clawed their way back into contention, a knock-on lifted the pressure on the Aberdeen line. Ali O’Connor capitalised to take the score to 30-14.

A consolation try for the Eagles came too late, with Neil Williams crossing the line to give the scoreline some respectability at 30-20.

Aberdeen held on to become only the second team in Scotland, after the Eagles, to claim consecutive national titles.

ABERDEEN WARRIORS – G Walker; D Genocchio, B Bissett, D Hazzard, D Wallen; A O’Connor, T Aplin; A Robertson, M Sexton, S Gray, M McCall, C Robertson, A Little.  Interchange: S Clark, A Grindlay, S Barlow, C Hume.

EDINBURGH EAGLES – G Nixon; M Robertson, N Broere, C Anderson, N Alexander; T Johnson, L Clarke; C Gilbert, R Grady, C Jarvis, B Blundell, N Williams, T Murray.  Interchange: L Scotcher, E Grindlay, T Skeet, R Stitt.

ABERDEEN WARRIORS MAN OF THE MATCH – Aaron Robertson

EDINBURGH EAGLES MAN OF THE MATCH – Colin Jarvis

REFEREE – Mick Henry