IT WAS another difficult afternoon for Haddington on Saturday, as they went down to a third consecutive heavy defeat.

Falkirk were the visitors to Neilson Park, and the hosts handed a recall to full-back James Ferguson and winger Ewan Chalmers, while Doug Crichton and Charlie McLean made their league debuts, as did Paul Hendry and Murray Fairgrieve from the replacements bench.

And despite tries from Kyle Adams – his second in as many games – and Ferguson, plus two conversions from his brother Alex, who also added a penalty, the Reds were never in the game.

Bryan Craig’s men found themselves 43-10 down at the break, the visitors having already wrapped up the try bonus point, with the Reds facing a second half where restoring pride was once again all that was at stake.

And with ex-Scotland and Edinburgh lock Craig Hamilton looking sharp in the Falkirk pack, they continued to cause damage and ran out comfortable 72-17 winners.

Winger Graham Lindsay was the star of the Falkirk show, scoring a first-half hat-trick, while centre Gary Dempsey, who helped himself to a first-half brace, was joined on the scoresheet by midfield partner Benji Cottie and flankers Matt Larsen and Stuart McCulloch.

The procession of Falkirk try-scorers continued after the interval, despite Craig’s best efforts to use the bench to get his side back into the match. Number eight Lawrence Miller added a try shortly after the restart, while Lindsay crossed for a fourth time in the second period, before Cottie completed his brace and lock Cole Ronald also crossed the whitewash, barging his way over from a ruck.

The total could have been worse, with Falkirk stand-off Logan Bonnar adding only six of a possible 12 conversions, The Reds face fellow strugglers Livingston tomorrow (Saturday) knowing that a win is vital, even at this early stage of the season.

Both sides are without a point so far, and whoever loses tomorrow faces an uphill battle to remain in the league.

Haddington: J Ferguson, K Adams, D Crichton, E Herkes, E Chalmers; A Ferguson, R Crichton; G Cockburn, K Munro, P Smith, R Martin, C McLean, C Stuart, M Fairgrieve, D McKenzie.