Haddington kicked-off their National League Division 2 campaign at the weekend in disappointing fashion, going down 72-8 at the hands of Ardrossan Accies.

The county side travelled west without a host of regulars, and made four changes from their loss to Whitecraigs in the cup the week previous.

In came Donald McKenzie, Richard Crichton, Calum Cockburn and Ruari MacKay – the latter making his first league appearance in over a year after injury.

The home side seemed keen to avenge their defeat to another county club, Preston Lodge, in the cup last week, and made the perfect start, scoring within the first 90 seconds.

It was to be a long afternoon for the Reds, who tried through the returning Cockburn, and the industrious Sandy McCutcheon, to get back into the match, but the Ardrossan defence held firm throughout the first half.

The hosts scored two tries on the stroke of half-time to wrap up a bonus point, and Haddington were unable to live with the pace and power of the Ardrossan back division.

The visitors were dealt a major blow shortly after half-time when McCutcheon was forced off with a serious-looking knee injury, forcing a reshuffle of the Reds’ pack, with Gavin Stewart’s departure shortly after further hampering the club’s cause.

Head coach Bryan Craig was left bemoaning a number of set-piece errors that starved the Reds of possession, while the impressive home side look in contention to push for the upper echelons of the league this season.

With the match long-since lost, and an Alex Ferguson penalty all the visitors had to show for their efforts, Kyle Adams gave the travelling support something to cheer about as the full-back went over in the corner.

The Reds will be hoping to bounce back at Neilson Park tomorrow (Saturday), with Falkirk the visitors.

Haddington: K Adams, R McLuckie, E Herkes, R MacKay, C Cockburn; A Ferguson, R Crichton; G Cockburn, R Watt, P Smith, G Stewart, R Martin, C Stuart, S McCutcheon, D McKenzie.