Tennent’s East Region League Division 1
Saturday 3rd of September
Leith Rugby Club vs. Haddington RFC
Final Result: 34 – 27 to Leith Rugby Club

Match Report

Haddington travelled to Academy Park last Saturday to face newly promoted Leith in the opening game of the season. After a successful preseason campaign, with wins against Clitheroe RFC and East Kilbride RFC, the away side were looking to continue this form going into league action.

Leith started strongly with two scores within ten minutes, from wingers Andrew Baxter and Ross Marwick, both converted by fly-half Ross Johnston.

Haddington managed to get on the scoreboard in the 18th minute, through a well worked try finished off by young prop, Aarron Thomson and fly-half Donald Bathgate adding the extras to make it 14-7 to Leith. Bathgate was up again shortly after to convert a penalty, to reduce the gap to 14-10 to Leith.

Haddington ended the first-half leading 14-17 thanks to a try from outside centre, Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton managed to cross over out wide after some great counter attacking play from the Haddington back three players. Bathgate managed to slot a difficult conversion from the side-line to end the half, 14-17 to Haddington.

Hamilton was on hand again for Haddington, crossing the whitewash after only two minutes of play gone in the second-half. Bathgate added the extras to make it 14-24 to Haddington.

Unfortunately, Haddington were unable to keep the pressure on Leith. After being reduced to 14 men due to a yellow card, Leith capitalised through Ross Marwick with the winger going in for his 2nd try of the day. With the conversion missed, the score remained at 19-24 to Haddington.

Haddington were awarded a penalty on the 55th minute mark, with Donald Bathgate stepping up to the slot the penalty, to make the score 19-27 to Haddington.

With a Ross Johnston penalty and two tries from Gus Weir and Stuart Wilson in the last quarter of the game, Leith managed to end the game on top, with a 34-27 win.

Head Coach Clifford Livingstone said after the game: “The players and coaching team are naturally disappointed with today's result. After being 14-0 down with only ten minutes gone in the game, we did really well to be in front by 24-14 after fifty minutes. There are a lot of positives to take away - especially with such a young team taking the field. The key will be for this young team to learn how to control a game right to the end."

Assistant Coach Rhodri Thomas said of the game: “after a slow start, we put ourselves in a good position at 24-14 up and are disappointed that we were unable to close out the win. It’s important we now regroup as a squad and get a home win this weekend to get our campaign up and running.”

Next up sees Haddington back in action at Neilson Park to face Duns RFC at 3pm, with the clubs Former Players Lunch commencing at 1pm.