Ardrossan Accies 39 Haddington 24

HADDINGTON fell to another defeat in their bid to avoid the National League Division 3 trapdoor, going down to Ardrossan Accies on Saturday.

The Reds started slowly and the home side built up an early two-try lead.

Haddington got back into the match when stand-off Sam Morley scored from a 5m scrum, the New Zealander exploiting a gap on the blindside to go over.

And they hit back with a second score when the pack drove to within a few metres of the Ardrossan line, allowing lock Charlie Hamilton to pick up and barge over.

Morley converted one score to keep the visitors in touch at half-time.

The second half started much as the first had, with the home side running in a couple of tries to extend their advantage before the visitors mounted a response as the half wore on.

Haddington’s third try again came from several short carries from the pack, who were aided by their three-quarters colleagues. Stand-in skipper James Ferguson picked up and burrowed his way over, Morley adding the extras.

And the Reds secured a valuable try bonus point when good hands from Ferguson and Alex Peace found Mark Robertson, who went over in the corner.

Haddington, who welcome St Boswells to Neilson Park on Saturday, are now just a point behind Orkney, but the island side have a game in hand.

Haddington: E Cunningham, M Robertson, J Ferguson, K Hamilton, J Dewar; S Morley, A Peace; G Cockburn, C Stuart, D Bergvall, C Hamilton, H Hamilton, G Grillfors, R Turner, M Renton.