Haddington welcomed Broughton RFC to Neilson Park on Saturday for their Tennent's East Region Division One clash. The home side were looking to make amends for the disappointing loss on the road last weekend at Linlithgow RFC.

After a solid week of training, the Haddington coaches made some tough selection decisions, with Dan Witko coming back into the backrow for Alex Leven and Colin Stuart made his return to the openside flank, with Rob McLuckie dropping to the bench. Dillon Ball made his return to the 1st XV squad on the bench.

The first quarter of the game was a quiet affair, with both teams not giving an inch. Unfortunately, on the 26th minute mark, Haddington prop Aarron Thomson was yellow carded for an infringement. With the home side now down to 14 men, Broughton managed to use the extra man to their advantage and score a well worked try. With the conversion missed, Broughton took a 0-5 lead.

With Broughton now pinned on their own try line, scrum half Jamie Paterson managed to charge down the Broughton clearance kick, to force a goal line drop out. The kick was sent high up the middle of the field and Haddington fullback Andy Durkin, collected and made his way back into the away sides red zone. Durkin managed to get a great offload away to his fellow winger Ben Moffat, who picked a superb supporting line and managed to beat a few Broughton defenders in the process. Captain Connor Munro was on hand to support Moffat and go over for the home sides 1st try of the day. Flyhalf Donald Bathgate was able to add the extras, to give Haddington a 7-5 lead.

With only minutes left to play in the 1st half, Haddington were awarded a penalty and opted to kick for touch. Unfortunately, the kick to touch was missed and Broughton managed to counterattack. The away side were rewarded for their efforts with a converted try to end the 1st half, 7-12 up.

With Haddington now playing back down the hill, Broughton managed to clear their lines after some sustained pressure from the reds. Andy Durkin was on hand again to collect the clearance kick and take the ball back into Broughton territory. From the base of the ruck, the Haddington forward pack decided to take play down the blindside. Play was then taken back into the midfield and Ben Moffat nearly finished off with a try, had it not been for the solid Broughton defence. However, prop Steven Tennant was on hand to make sure Haddington got a reward for their efforts and crashed over the whitewash. With the conversion missed, the scores remained locked at 12-12.

Haddington were awarded two penalties in quick succession and opted for the sticks on both occasions. Bathgate was able to extend the Haddington lead to 15-12, after missing the second chance at goal.

As the game moved into the last quarter, Haddington were again awarded a penalty and Bathgate extended the home sides lead to 18-12.

With only 10 minutes of play left on the clock, both teams threw everything they had at the game to set up a nail-biting finish. With Haddington in possession at the lineout, unfortunately the throw was too long and Broughton collected the ball at the back of the lineout. Play was then taken wide by the away side and after some great passes along the backline, they managed to score in the corner. With the conversion missed, Haddington now only had a one-point lead, 18-17.

From the kick off, Haddington opted to kick the ball deep into Broughton's half and the away side knew they would have to run it from deep. The Haddington defence remained solid and the boys managed to turn the ball over. This allowed Bathgate to feed his backline and Freddie Cunningham broke through the Broughton defence and had a clear path to the try line. However, the referee decided to blow his whistle due to an injury to a Broughton player.

With the last play of the game, Freddie Cunningham managed to get his just reward and score for Haddington to seal the win for the reds, 25-17.

Haddington now take a break from league action but will face Dunbar RFC at home this Saturday (29th of October) in a friendly. Kick off 1pm.

The next Tennent’s East Region Division One game will be away to Ross High on the 12th of November with a 2pm KO. Please come along and support the club for this local derby.