Published: Friday, 24th April, 2009 4:00am
Scarlets inflict shock cup exit
Haddington RFC 39 v 16 Dundee HSFP
Haddington turned in their best performance of the season to destroy Premier Two champions Dundee in the quarter-final of the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup on Saturday.
The Haddington coaches had reverted back to their seasoned campaigners for the crucial clash and made eight changes from the side beaten the previous week in the league match with Dundee.
Haddington came out of the blocks the fastest and Dundee were struggling from the first minute to contain the Neilson Park men.
Neil Watt was first on the score sheet with just five minutes played, Captain Donald Snodgrass created the space before feeding the livewire winger who still had to beat two defenders on his way to the tryline. Jamie Peters missed with his first kick.
Three minutes later the lead was increased to 12-0. A great take at the lineout by Quinton Caulfield was quickly spread wide with Snodgrass and James Warren both involved before the latter offloaded to the supporting Callum Cockburn to pounce for a second try right out of the top drawer.
Peters added the extras on this occasion. Dundee responded with a penalty to keep them in the hunt although Peters redressed the balance with a penalty for the home side soon after.
The Scarlets then increased their lead. From a solid scrum, Peters offloaded to Craig Adam who carried on the move and, having sucked in the defenders, released the energetic Sam Johnston to race home for an excellent score.
Craig Harrison was yellow carded for indiscipline on 35 minutes and Jones kicked the resultant penalty to reduce the deficit to 20-6. However, even with 14 players Haddington never sat back.
They continued to take the game to Dundee with the forwards hugely prominent with their driving play and it was no surprise that another Haddington try was added before the break.
After several darts at the visitors" line it was Snodgrass who eventually took the direct route and stretched over for a fourth home try on the stroke of half time. Peters again kicked the conversion.
Dundee narrowed the gap within a few minutes of the restart with another Jones penalty as they battled to get back into the match. However, the result was beyond doubt after 50 minutes with a fifth try for the Scarlets.
From scrum ball, Callum Mark, who was back to his best, cut a great line and fended off a couple of tacklers on his way to a terrific individual effort. The reliable boot of Peters added the conversion as Haddington were now coasting at 34-9.
On 55 minutes, a charge down kick gave Dundee good field position from which they got their consolation try, scored by the impressive Aubrey Horton who had looked dangerous throughout.
Jones added the conversion to trail 34-16 going into the last quarter.
Dundee had their best spell during the next 10-minute period but
Haddington defended stoutly and once the ball was cleared down the park, with it went any hopes of a revival.
Haddington continued to play with the same intensity for the remainder of the match as they had started and after several surges towards the Dundee line over a sustained spell of pressure it was left to sub Bob Snodgrass to snatch a try from half a yard out.
Peters missed the conversion as the referee brought an end to the highly entertaining encounter.
The squad now has the mouth-watering prospect of a trip to face Premier One side Melrose tomorrow (Saturday) for a place in the final at Murrayfield on May 10.
Kick-off 3pm at Melrose.
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