Haddington Rugby Football Club

Colts v Portobello Sat. 14/11/09

 





  
 

Colts v Currie Sat. 31/10/09

Colts v Boroughmuir Sat. 24/10/09

Colts v Lasswade Sat. 10/10/09

Tauranga Sun. 27/09/09

A selection of pictures taken on a memorable day:

"before"

  


  

Tauranga Sun. 27/09/09

"during"

  
   
  

 

   

   

Tauranga Sun. 27/09/09

"after"

 
 
"will never know why someone would want to drink a pint of coke with a dash of orange so quickly - probably something to do with the taste!!"

Colts v Musselburgh Sat. 26/09/09

 
  

 
  
 

Colts v Dunfermline Sat. 19/09/09

 
 
 

 
   
 

Colts v Biggar Sat. 05/09/09

Colts v Tauranga

Many thanks to those of you who came to Neilson Park last Sunday to watch the match against Tauranga from New Zealand. The tone for the day was set by the pre match Haka - you could almost feel the tension in the air. This was a fairly "physical" encounter with neither side willing to take a backward step - you only have to check the injured list for confirmation. Some excellent rugby was played by both sides but the superior technique and strength of the Tauranga squad won the day for the visitors - their power was way above anything encountered previously by the home side. The commitment of the entire Haddington squad could not be faulted but bravery alone, unfortunately, was not enough.

A special thank you to Niamh, Marion and Joshua for playing the bagpipes. A big thank you also to all those who generously donates raffle prizes and of course to those of you who bought tickets on the day. 

This very enjoyable weekend would not have possible without the support of the parents who "billeted" the visitors during their stay - many, many thanks for your help.

PS - photos to follow!

Colts v Perthshire Sat. 29/08/09

The first league game of the new season resulted in a 26 - 14 victory

 

Colts v Stirling County 22/08/09

 

Colts v Melrose Sat.15/08/09

Colts v Melrose Sat. 15/08/09

Colts v Gala Wands. Sat 15/08/09

   

Colts v Gala Wands. Sat. 15/08/09

Colts pictures from Jed

you tube photos..Click the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQrpPMg0Hb4

Colts win Jed 7s

Going to Jed has always been the final blast for the boys moving up to senior rugby. We have over the years failed to live up to our expectations and usually exited the competition at the 1st or on a good year the 2nd round. This year we gave something back to what is a fantastic 7s tournament.

This year the theme for Jed was celebrating the life of The Hoff  

    

I think the boys thoughts were, girls like... The Hoff

 

Ok the rugby...

1st round versus Langholm and us wearing Jed Thistle strips was as expected a win but we were made to battle for it with Langholm defending hard and running into space when they had the ball. We won comfortably in the end by 27-7.

2nd round versus Tynedale was a tough physical encounter. We were expecting to be playing Melrose wasps in this game but Tynedale had fought hard to dispose of them in the 1st round. They play hard so we knew this would be a battle to be ground out if we wanted to reach the semis. It ended up 2 tries apiece but we scored both ours under the posts and crucially converted them to give us the victory 14-10. Our defence in this tie won us the game with one tackle in particular when a Tynedale player was in the act of scoring under the posts. Dan Barber and Sam Atkin double teamed him knocking the ball from his grasp.

Semi final versus Selkirk The only team to have beaten us throughout the King of the 7s series were Selkirk, who are a quick and clever 7s outfit but we shook that monkey of our back with a comprehensive victory, which we can put down to direct running and aggressive defence. Final score..27-12

The Final versus Gala Wanderers We made it our goal to reach one more Final after we won at Peebles and now we had acheived that we were in it to win it! We had played Gala and defeated them in the 1st round at their own 7s tournament a couple of weeks previous so we knew we had what it takes. Gala had just won their Semi final against Jed Thistle in a very hard game which had gone to extra time so we knew if we could hit the ground running and set the pace of the game they would tire as the 10 minute each way final wore on.

We got of to the perfect start and scored first under the posts from our livewire on the wing Kyle Adams. Gala responded well and not looking too tired after all ran in under the posts to equalise the score at 7-7. Our experience we have gained this year kept us in the game at this point as Gala were threatening each time they had the ball. Our defensive line stood firm though and one of our strengths over the circuit has been our ability to turn ball over at contact areas so we won ball back time after time. Gala were tiring but still had enough energy to score at the posts with them making the most of a sloppy pass from ourselves to counter attack and score.14-7 to Gala.. Again we had to dig deep and James Ferguson was the Hero of the Half as he made up for his earlier mis timed pass which led to the Gala try, to race in for 2 tries in the last couple of minutes of the first half. Half-time score 17-14 to Haddington...

These 2 tries hit Gala hard and we sensed their players were running out of steam, mainly down to the physicality of our play, their semi final exploits had started to take its toll on them. We capitalised on this and Sam Atkin ripped through the Gala defence on the Halfway line to score out wide the score was now 22-14 to us and gave us a small bubble of breathing space. No time to relax and Gala were as expected straight back on the offensive and grafted out a score on the touchline to be within touching distance of us at 22-19.

After allowing Gala to claw us back it was too close for comfort and with grim determination we dipped for the line and made it when our Captain Alex Spence as he has done throughout the season, showed power and pace to burst through the middle of Gala defence and score under the posts..Final Score 29-19 to Haddington

Nothing less than the squad deserved. Over the six tournaments we only made 2 changes to the squad. This continuity paid off with our best ever Border King of the 7s placing in 2nd place behind deserved winners Melrose. Keith and myself are incredibly proud at how the boys acquitted themselves in the top sevens tournaments at their age level. We played in one tournament less than the other clubs at the top of the table, which leaves us with that thought in the back of our mind..You never know!! 

Semi-junior Sevens Series 2008-2009

ML: Melrose Wasps: Aug 24	Peebles Colts: 29 Mar	KL: Kelso Quins: Apr 04
HK: CANCELLED	GL: Gala Wands: Apr 18	SL: Selkirk YC: Apr 25
JD: Jed Thistle: May 02

Team	ML	PB	KL	HK	GW	SL	JD	TOT
Melrose Wasps	7	7	3	.	10	10	.	37
Haddington Colts	.	10	3	.	5	5	10	33
Selkirk Youth Club	3	3	7	.	7	7	5	32
Hawick Wanderers	10	5	5	.	.	5	.	25
Tynedale Colts	3	.	10	.	5	.	3	21
Gala Wanderers	.	5	3	.	.	3	7	18
Jed Thistle	5	.	5	.	3	.	5	18
Kelso Harlequins	.	3	3	.	.	3	3	12
Peebles Colts	.	.	.	.	3	3	3	9
Hawick PSA	.	.	.	.	3	.	3	6
Berwick Colts	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	3
Boroughmuir	.	3	.	.	.	.	.	3
Duns Colts	.	3	.	.	.	.	.	3
Musselburgh Colts	.	.	.	.	3	.	.	3
Wellington School	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	3
Edinburgh BATs	.	.	.	.	.	3	.	3

Colts

Selkirk 7's Update

The Colts cruised past Hawick PSA in the first round - it had taken extra time to beat them the week before at Gala. In round two Kelso were the opponents - the first meeting of the sides on the circuit this year - another comfortable victory. With the sun shining brightly things were looking good for the scarlets. The home side, with a vociferous support in the stand, were next up in the semi final. The match was played at a furious pace but taking wrong options at important times combined with some "unusual" refereeing decisions meant that for the second consecutive week Selkirk were the victors. The lads in green deserved their victory - they are a young, well drilled side who know how to play good sevens. The travelling support were visibly perplexed by some of the referees interpretations and officials from two separate clubs who had watched the game also made mention of the "strange" decisions in favour of the home side. Such is life!!

With Melrose beating Selkirk in the final, and with only one tournament left, they look to have an unassailable lead in the Junior "King Of The 7's" table. Things might have been different if we had been invited to the Melrose tournament at the start of the season!! 

  

Semi-junior Sevens Series 2008-2009
ML: Melrose Wasps: Aug 24			PB: Peebles Colts: 29 Mar			KL: Kelso Quins: Apr 04
HK: PSA / Wands: Apr 11 Cancelled			GL: Gala Wands: Apr 18			SL: Selkirk YC: Apr 25
JD: Jed Thistle: May 02
Team	ML	PB	KL	HK	GW	SL	JD	TOT
Melrose Wasps	7	7	3	.	10	10	.	37
Selkirk Youth Club	3	3	7	.	7	7	.	27
Hawick Wanderers	10	5	5	.	.	5	.	25
Haddington Colts	.	10	3	.	5	5	.	23
Tynedale Colts	3	.	10	.	5	.	.	18
Jed Thistle	5	.	5	.	3	.	.	13
Gala Wanderers	.	5	3	.	.	3	.	11
Kelso Harlequins	.	3	3	.	.	3	.	9
Peebles Colts	.	.	.	.	3	3	.	6
B.A.T.S.						3		3
Berwick Colts	3	.	.	.	.	-	.	3
Boroughmuir	.	3	.	.	.	.	.	3
Duns Colts	.	3	.	.	.	.	.	3
Hawick PSA	.	.	.	.	3	.	.	3
Musselburgh Colts	.	.	.	.	3	.	.	3
Wellington School	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	3

   

10 points - winners: 7 points - beaten finalist: 5 points - reaching semi final; 3 points - reaching second round

 

Colts

The Colts reached the semi-final of the Gala Wanderers tournament on Saturday at a bright but cold Netherdale. Drawn against the hosts in the first round it was always going to be a tough opening. The team showed what they were made off - with the scores tied at 19 -19 and full time looming they scored a well worked try in the right hand corner. The silence from the stand was deafening. Victory had come at a cost though, injuries had been picked up by Spency and Smit - the later taking no further part in the tournament. Next up were Hawick PSA who scored a late try to take the match into sudden death extra time. A neat chip in behind the defence (wonder where that idea came from?) was gathered and touched down to the delight of the scarlet supporters. Selkirk were the opponents in the semi final. Following another tight contest extra time was again required to split the sides. Unfortunately Selkirk broke through in midfield and romped home to set up a meeting with Melrose in the final.

This week the circus moves on to Selkirk.

Colts win Borders 7s

 

 

Colts win Peebles 7s

Setting a target of getting to a final during the Border 7s circuit was duly reached at the first attempt and winning against a powerful Melrose team was the cherry on top!

The Colts improved on each round with committed performances from all the squad.

In the 1st round they dispatched a young Berwick outfit, easing home by 31-0. The 2nd round threw up Boroughmuir our rivals this season from the Edinburgh youth league. They were made to pay! and after some great handling and tenacious defence we put them to the sword 27-0. Semi final time and the King of the 7s from the last 2 seasons were Haddington next opponents, Hawick Wanderers. We conceded our first try of the tournament against the wiry Hawick team but again the lads cranked it up a notch and we ran away with the tie by 29-7.

The Final, ok target reached!

Suddenly we had to set ourselves a new target, focused the sights on Melrose and set about winning. We scored the first try of the match with a runaway effort under the post going to Kyle adams. Melrose responded well and scored the next one, 7-5 to Haddington. Melrose were a fine team with strong players and we had to defend with all our strength and courage to keep them out, Smit in particular for the umpteenth time during the day nailed the runner time after time with text book cover tackles round the boot laces. We would not lie down to them and the game was turning into a classic. Melrose scored again and the score was 14-7 to them. At this point, up stepped Alec Spence. He Scored for us in the corner to take the score to 14-12 still in Melrose's favour. With only 2 minutesto go Spencey burst away on the half way line to score under the posts to put us in the lead 19-12, nearly there! 1 minute to go! Melrose were having none of it and almost scored in the corner but one of those tackles from Smit nailed their player into touch 5 metres short of the Haddington try line. The ref indicated that this was the last play. Our throw and they managed to win the ball, we needed to tackle them, get it off the park or kill it somehow but Melrose had their own inner strength and fighting till the death they moved the ball wide to score out on the far touchline, they narrowly missed the kick and the game went into sudden death extra time.

We knew we had thrown everything we could have at them but they were still in the game. Straight from the restart we tore into Melrose and took the fight to them as we had done throughout the final. Last effort..Sam Atkin made a burst through a half gap to be dragged back, he off loaded to Alec Spence who with 20 meters to go looked like he was in but no! a last gasp tap tackle brought him down 5 meters short, with defenders gaining he sprang to his feet and lunged for the line arm stretched out with 3 tacklers hanging off him managed to win the game and tournament..Yes! Get in there!!

 

Squad....

Alec Spence

Donald Logan

James Ferguson

Ronnie Spinks

Chris Patterson

Dougie Symington

Sam Atkin

Euan Smith

Dan Barber

Kyle Adams

 

     

      

   

Colts v Perthshire 2

         

Colts v Perthshire 3

   

Action from Colts v Perthshire

 

Colts Update

Due to "technical difficulties" updates on the Colts recent results have not been posted on the website. These "difficulties" have now been overcome and recent results are as follows:

06 Dec. v Musselburgh (League - Home)

Haddington 35 v Musselburgh 7 - a commited performance full of strong running and crunching tackles

13 Dec. v Ross High (League - Away)

Haddington 48 v Ross High 0 - this was an opportunity to blood some of the younger squad members with only three of the starting team from the previous week taking the field initially.

03 Jan. v Strathaven (Friendly - Home?)

Haddington 79 v Strathaven 5 - due to frost match played at Dunbar - many thanks to Bobby Peters for his help. All available squad members were given the chance to run off any Christmas excess.

10 Jan. v Portobello (League - Home)

Haddington 72 v Portobello 3 - another high scoring match against a young Porty side who will be a lot stronger next season.

17 Jan. v BATS (League - Away)

Haddington 44 v BATS 5 - due to building work at Raeburn Place had to change at Edin. Northern. Two quick scores set the tone for the day. First half was played a fast pace but following "mass" changes at half time the tempo dropped but the scores kept coming.

24 Jan. v Perthshire (Friendly - Away)

Haddington 58 v Perthshire 0 - without a doubt the best all round performance of the season. Against the biggest team the boys have played this year, on a pitch that was "just" playable, this was a wonderful performance. The forwards played as a group, "hunted in packs," dominated the loose and controlled the scrums. The backs ran fast and direct, offloaded well and tackled ferociously. 

Due to re-scheduling of the East of Scotland Cup fixtures the Colts were to be without games for the next three weeks. This week (31 Jan.) a game has now been arranged against a Heriot Watt Univ. XV at Riccaton, 2.00pm kick off. No fixtures as yet for next week (07 Feb.) - working on it!. Possibility of a match against Howe of Fife on 14 Feb. - awaiting confirmation - watch this space.

Colts Play well to beat Murrayfield Wands

Last Saturday the Colts defeated Murrayfield Wanderers 59-5 in a league game. Once again the performance was of the highest quality with some fine tries scored by both backs and forwards.

The next league game is against Lasswade away next Saturday

This will be our last game in preparation for the Quarter Final of the Scottish Cup against the holders and favorites Stirling County on the 29th November.

The Colts don't have any game this weekend but are taking part in the world record kicking attempt as detailed below.

Colts defeat Dunfermline in Scottish Cup win

Final Score ....Haddington Colts 30--Dunfermline 0

Haddington Colts moved into the Quarter finals of the Under 18 Scottish Cup with a well earned victory over Dunfermline.

In atrocious conditions the Haddington players found good form to overcome a Dunfermline team intent on pushing the boundaries of the laws to their furthest extremes.

Not giving an inch to the fifers the Haddington boys stood strong from the start with aggressive tackling, battering anything Dunfermline could muster and keeping us on the front foot and them on their backsides.

Although the weather was howling a gale and lashing the players with tsunami style rain Haddington were still able to add width to their play and it proved successful after 10 minutes with fullback James Ferguson diving over in the corner after some excellent handling from the backs. Dunfermline had a weakness in the backs which was exploited 2 more times by Ferguson at fullback who was having a field day bagging a hat-trick after 25 minutes and his side first 3 tries.

Haddingtons captain Alec Spence was as usual leading from the front in stats with ball in hand, tackle, turnover and general mayhem count up there off the richter as per normal. At one point after Dunfermline had gone and kicked the ball out of defence but Spence had caught it and counter attacked one of their demoralised players was heard saying "Jesus Man! Ya idiot, why'd you go and kick it tae him for?"

Haddington went on to score 2 more tries a conversion and a penalty and ran out worthy winners 30-0.

Strangest decision of the day went to the disallowed try after 20 minutes when Haddington scored another perfectly legitimate try and were in the process of taking the conversion when the Dunfermline touch judge thought he'd better do his bit for his team by bringing it to the refs attention that the ball had not gone the 5 metres at a lineout 5 minutes previously (not his call to make being the teams coach and all). If you can believe it the ref then disallowed the try in favour of a free kick to the other team. Dunfermline obviously had a joker to use and to be fair, timed use of it well, pity they didnt have 5 more to use up and things might have been a bit different.

Well done to all players involved again and another good scalp well taken..Roll on the next one

pictures will be posted on colts page shortly

Colts pictures against GHA

 

   

   

       

Colts defeat GHA

Final Score....Haddington Colts-69, GHA-10

Another convincing win for the under 18s 

 

Haddington played some exciting handling rugby to win against a well capable GHA team who defended well but were ultimately overrun in what became a one sided affair in the end.

 

Again it was the forwards who set the platform and with Alec Spence they had the best in show on the day, he delivered on all counts and bagged a couple of tries in the first half to set the team on its way. Interplay between the forwards was powerful and direct with the support play and offloading as good as its been and Garry Cockburn was to the fore on many of these surges.

 

The Backline also had its say with Kyle Adams running in another 3 tries and Sam Atkin scoring with his first touch of the ball after entering the fray at halftime, nothing simple for Sam as he made an 80mtr run straight from kick off look like a 5mtr stroll over.

Next week ...Biggar away