Aberdeen Grammar’s prospects of surviving in the top flight of the Scottish club game looked to be slim after an appallingly poor second-half performance by the home side handed Currie a first league win and a lifeline at the bottom of the Premiership.
While Currie coach Ally Donaldson was able to hail his side’s qualities, opposite number Kevin Wyness admitted to being embarrassed by the performance after watching his lacklustre charges fade out of the game.
Yet Aberdeen had put in a sound three-try opening half-hour based on solid scrummaging and back-row play boosted by the effervescent Tony McGinness and the ball-carrying skills of Tom Preece.
An angry Wyness tried to fathom what had gone wrong with a side which had looked full of promise, only to disappear as an attacking force, enabling a determined, gutsy Edinburgh outfit to not only come into the game but to go on and win it.
“I have never been so angry with a group of players,” said Wyness.
“We had steamrollered them up front and were set to pick up a fourth try when it all went wrong.
“Our front row had been dominant, while McGinness and Preece were running the show from the back. Our decision-making then let us down, and what followed was embarrassing.
“Players and coaches must take collective responsibility before we take on Heriot’s. It’s not going to be an easy week in training.”
A lone Mark Ryan penalty accounted for all of Grammar’s second-half scoring.
Yet Aberdeen seemed to have scored a match-clinching try in 70 minutes when replacement scrum half Luke Earle-Wright went over in the corner under a pile of Currie players.
Referee James Matthew’s decision not award a try was difficult to understand, though it would have been hard on the enterprising Edinburgh side which ended the match in control.
The early forays had given no indication of the final outcome as Grammar surged into the lead after the temporary setback of conceding a fourth-minute penalty, kicked by Currie stand off George Horne.
Grammar scored tries through winger Angus Rennie, centre and captain Harry Duthie and flanker Rob Cessford, two of which were converted by Ryan.
Currie had, however, shown their intent with a try of their own when centre Joe Reynolds cut through a non-existent home defence for a converted try.
Currie took over in the second half, boosted by an early converted try from flanker Mark Cairns, setting the stage for teenager Horne to cap a fine day with two late match-winning penalties, to the disbelief of a shocked Rubislaw crowd.