Haddington 53 Livingston 20

HADDINGTON rounded off their league campaign by thrashing already relegated Livingston at Neilson Park on Saturday.

James Ferguson was the star of the show for the home side, as he crossed for a hat-trick, while there was a notable 1st XV debut for teenager Paul Cunningham – son of ex-president Andrew – as he crossed twice.

Former North Berwick man Kyle Hamilton also helped himself to a brace for a depleted Reds side, which featured veteran prop Alan Laidlaw and teenager Aarron Thomson among the pack.

The visitors made the brighter start, and scored first, before Kyle Adams went over under the posts to level. Ferguson then crossed for the first of his treble following a powerful Haddington scrum.

Kyle Hamilton scored the hosts' third try of the opening 40 minute to open up a comfortable lead, and when the impressive Ferguson went over for his second, the Reds led 26-10 at the break, with the visitors scoring a second try late in the half.

Teenager Cunningham, a Scotland U16 cap, was then introduced from the bench early in the second half, and scored his maiden 1st XV try after a deft offload from Liam Clutton.

Kyle Hamilton grabbed his second of the game shortly after, out-sprinting the defence to score, before Cunningham helped himself to a second try – sprinting 80m after Ferguson's offload.

Th Reds' outside centre wrapped up his hat-trick, while Connor Munro went over to round off the Reds' scoring efforts.

Haddington currently occupy sixth place in National League Division 3, some way off their pre-season target of promotion, and could even fall to seventh if RHC beat Orkney in the league's final match on Saturday.

Livingston, meanwhile, scored twice themselves to leave Neilson Park with a losing bonus point as they prepare for life in East 1.

Haddington: K Adams, K Hamilton, J Ferguson, L Clutton, E Cunningham, A Ferguson, A Peace; M Dunlop, A Cunningham, A Laidlaw, C Stuart, A Thomson, I Watt, G Dykes, C Munro