Rugby was the winner at Rubislaw where a substantial Boxing Day crowd were treated to a feast of tries in a game of open and attractive play. Although it was the returning Exiles who had the most to smile about after scoring nine of the 13 touchdowns.
“It was a great day, made all the better thanks to the perfect weather. It was good to win, but more importantly we have kept an 83-year-old tradition alive,” said Calum McNiven, the Exiles secretary who also made a brief appearance at stand off.
Ayr’s Peter Jericevich got the afternoon off to a great start, taking advantage of some uncertainty in the Select defence to nip in for the opening try.
The former Garioch player went on to run the show, prompting his eager back division who included his brother Ranji who scored touchdowns either side of half-time to hand his side the initiative after the Select had grabbed the lead.
Tries from the Gordonians duo of Eric Edgar and Dougie Russell had briefly threatened to change the balance of the game in favour of the Select side.
Danny Usugo, Ranji Jericevich, and Jamie Gilbert restored order in the more organised Exiles side. However, a late first half effort from Grammar’s Chris Allan promised to keep the game alive in the second half as they closed the score to 26-17.
The Exiles upped the pace in the second 40 minutes, running in five tries to one, but they were greatly helped by Peter Jericevich kicking eight conversions from his nine attempts.
Ross Lumsden added one try for the Select while the Exiles had Ranji Jeri- cevich, Zak Triplet, Sean Murray, Sean Mills and Dick Murdoch to thank for their match winning efforts.
“It was a fine, open game of rugby with full on contact. The result is of little consequence, but it was good to win. There were some fine individual performances out there, including some of the local boys. Rugby in the region is in good shape,” said Jim Sugden the Exiles coach who made his 25th appearance in the fixture, albeit a brief one.