Covid has impacted on many things, not least our Annual Sevens Tournament, the 10th oldest in the World, cancelled alas for the second year in a row.

We will be back.

To fill the void of this Saturday, our regular date for the Sevens, we are indebted to the late John Golightly’s grand-daughter Naomi for this week’s Peeps into the past.

This was the famous day on Saturday 5th April 1969 when Haddington A played Haddington B in the final, after the late withdrawal of another team.

The teams can be deduced from the autographed programme as follows:

In my head I have Ian Scambler playing for Haddington B. However he was also a back, if so a back would have to play in the forwards, unusual in those days.

Fascinating match ups:

• The Skea brothers against each other
• Erskine v Cunningham, both excellent hookers at Sevens and Fifteens
• Six Club Captains and two vice captains, and some very good sevens players
• Naomi’s “Grumpa John” and Great Uncle Allan in the same side.
• Finlay Guy playing in his early 30s against youngsters like Colin Young, who in turn would add age and experience to a largely Colts Seven some 14 years later.

Records state:
“There were many heated touchline arguments before the final was played as to the likely victors, but the judgement of the selectors was vindicated when the A team won quite convincingly”

This youngster was certainly impressed by how good Haddington were at Sevens!

We have attached a picture of the first sevens squad of that season, but we have none of the Final itself or the two teams, so if anyone can help, and the line-ups can be confirmed, then great.

Rugby and HRFC was the winner!