Duns 3 Haddington 22

Haddington got 2023 off to a winning start with a 22-3 win away to Duns in Tennent’s East Region League Division One.

Playing into the wind in the first half, Haddington had to work hard defensively in the first quarter of the game as Duns were eager to get their first win of the season.

However, Haddington’s defence remained strong, denying Duns any points.

With the Haddington forwards providing a solid platform at the scrum, this allowed Donald Bathgate to feed his backline and James Dewar managed to get on the end of a pass from Kyle Hamilton to go over the try line to take a 5-0 lead.

After a period of sustained pressure from the Reds, the forwards again provided a lot of go-forward momentum, Dillon Ball providing a lovely tip-on pass to Hugo Elder to burst up the middle.

Play was then taken back out wide to winger Ben Moffat, who cut back inside and offloaded to Kyle Munro, who managed to beat the Duns scrambling defence and go over in the corner.

The conversion was missed but the county side had a 10-0 lead.

Duns were able to get on the scoreboard after a poor decision from Haddington led to a penalty.

The Duns fly-half slotted the kick to take the scores to 3-10 to Haddington at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Haddington piled on the pressure and were duly rewarded after a great scrum. Elder picked from the base and crashed his way over the try line.

Bathgate was able to add the extras to take the scores to 3-17.

With less than 10 minutes of the game left, Haddington had a bonus try firmly on their minds and threw everything at Duns.

However, it took until the final play of the game for the Reds to finally be able to break the Duns defence.

After being awarded a penalty, Haddington opted to kick to touch and won the lineout.

With a peel off the back, the Reds pack carried the ball upfield and a quick ruck allowed Nick Bell to spin the ball out to Freddie Cunningham.

Captain Andy Durkin was then able to pick a gap in the Duns defence and sprinted over the try line from the opponents’ 22-metre line.

Bell was unable to add the extra two points and the game finished 3-22 to Haddington.

Haddington now face Forrester at home this weekend.

The bar will be open from 1pm for those wanting to support the team.

Meanwhile, in the same league, Ross High’s home fixture against Broughton did not go ahead as the visitors did not have a sufficient number of players available.

Ross High, who currently sit third in the table, have no fixture this weekend and next face Portobello away next Saturday (January 21).