ROSS High RFC coach Adam Hook praised his players despite being reduced to 11 men in their East League Division 1 defeat to Duns.

The Tranent side lost full-back Liam Law to an early red card on Saturday while injuries forced a further seven players off the field.

With a squad of 18 making the trip to the Borders, Hook’s side were forced to start the second half two men short, and they saw out the game with just 11 players as injuries further took their toll.

The referee sensibly blew for full-time with just over an hour on the clock – ensuring the result stood just after Lewis Edmond’s consolation try.

Hook (pictured below) told Courier Sport: “It was a bit of a nightmare. We lost seven players to injuries – even one of the subs who’d come on had to go off. I’ve never been involved in a game like that.”

But he praised the 11 Ross High players who finished the game, adding: “The opposition only scored two tries while we were down to 11 men, and we even scored one ourselves.”

He had little complaints with Law’s red card for throwing a punch, adding: “There had been a few incidents at the breakdown and the referee said that the next one would be a card.

“Something happened at the next ruck and he sent Liam off. I can’t complain – it was right in front of the referee.”

Hook is likely to be without “one or two” of the weekend’s casualties as Ross High welcome Portobello to Tranent this weekend.

He said: “We’ll likely need to call up a couple of guys from our 2nd XV but we’re hoping one or two of the injured guys will pull through. We’ll be without two or three of the boys though.”

l See match report on Page 44