Haddington 21-10 Orkney

HADDINGTON bounced back from a thrashing at Dumfries by beating Orkney on Saturday.

The Reds returned to Neilson Park for the only club match in Scotland on Saturday – with kick-off at 10.30am to allow both teams to watch the last day of the Six Nations.

It meant an early start for the islanders, who had travelled overnight by ferry to Aberdeen, and on to Haddington early on Saturday morning.

Hadddington head coach Rhodri Thomas handed a 1st XV debut to Ewan Cunningham on the wing, with Andrew Durkin and Mark Robertson among the long-term absentees, and Kyle Hamilton and Liam Parker both away.

The Reds made a good start and took the lead when scrum-half Jack Hamilton dived over from close range for the game’s opening try. Stand-off Gareth Pritchard added the conversion, and the Reds led 7-0, before Orkney got on the board with a penalty.

In difficult conditions, neither side was able to add to their tally in the first half, which was held up for a lengthy injury delay to Haddington hooker Kyle Munro.

When the second half got under way, the Reds’ forward pack were dominant, but the visitors struck first and took the lead with their first try of the match.

The conversion put them 7-10 ahead, before home scrum-half Hamilton found Connor Munro down the blindside, and Munro, in his less accustomed position on the wing, barged over.

Pritchard landed a tough conversion to put the Reds 14-10 ahead.

Haddington sealed victory when they scored a third try, when full-back Kyle Adams showed the Orkney defence a clean pair of heels before diving over.

Pritchard again landed the conversion, ensuring the Neilson Park club completed a league double over the Orcadians.

Haddington’s final home league match of the season is this Saturday, when they host already-relegated Livingston.

The 2nd XV host Edinburgh Accies Blues, having had their place in East Reserve League Division 1 confirmed for next season.