The Reds went into the match without winger Kyle Adams, meaning James Ferguson moved to the flank and Stuart Miller started at full-back, although there were recalls for Champion and captain Cockburn in the pack.

The visiting Reds got off to a poor start when they conceded an early try to winger Mark Wilson, who carved through after a lost Haddington line-out.

However, the Reds struck back shortly after with a penalty from stand-off Nick Bell, before that man Ferguson struck again.

He ghosted through the Lasswade defence to score and duly put the Reds in front for the first time. Bell was again on song with the kick to make it 7-10.

However, from the resulting kick-off, the Reds conceded a penalty and the visitors rumbled their way over the line. Lock Blair Smith was the man who came up with the ball to claim his third try of the season for Lasswade.

There was to be only one further addition to the scoreboard, and it came deep into over 10 minutes of added time at the end of the match, as patient build-up play allowed vice-captain Euan Herkes to slice through and score.

That try, and Bell's conversion, sealed the Reds' a losing bonus point, but head coach Bryan Craig admitted he had hoped for more.

He said: "We'll take this on the chin and learn that there are no easy games in the league. Lasswade were far more aggressive and quicker to every breakdown than us.

"I applaud them for showing the same hunger and desire our players have shown all season. What it shows us, is that we cannot rest easy for a second. If we do, we lose."