Haddington 3 Highland 16

HADDINGTON suffered a second successive league defeat at the hands of a promoted side, as they fell to Highland.

Rhodri Thomas handed a recall to Ben Laing in the second row, meaning forwards coach Quinton Caulfield was needed only from the bench, where Callum Low was absent through injury.

Mark Robertson also returned, replacing the injured Andrew Durkin on the left wing for the hosts.

The first half was a scrappy affair, with neither side able to dominate possession or territory at Neilson Park.

New vice-captain Kris Paterson and lock Harry Hamilton were to the fore of the hosts' efforts up front, while centre pairing Liam Clutton and Kyle Hamilton linked up well once more.

The Reds were unable to unlock the Highland defence in the opening 40 minutes, and a penalty from Scott Fraser was all that separated the sides at the break.

A 42nd-minute penalty from Gareth Pritchard got the Reds on the board to level the scores, but Highland struck early in the second half, with a try from Stephen Murray, converted by Fraser, to reclaim the lead.

Further penalties, one apiece from Fraser and Craig Irvine, sealed a second straight loss for Haddington, who had back-row Jonny Riddell sent to the sin bin for the third time in as many weeks.

The Reds are on the road this weekend, and face a long trip to Orkney as they look for their first win of the season.

A travelling party is set to leave the town in the early hours of Saturday, before flying from Edinburgh Airport to Kirkwall for the match, which kicks off at 3pm.

Meanwhile, the club's 2nd XV fell to a 15-55 defeat at the hands of Murrayfield Wanderers in their league opener.

Haddington: J Ferguson, K Adams, K Hamilton, L Clutton, M Robertson, G Pitchard, J Hamilton; M Dunlop, K Munro, G Cockburn, B Laing, H Hamilton, J Riddell, K Paterson, C Stuart