Dunbar RFC v Haddington RFC
Saturday 18th October 2025
Match report By Alex Coull, Photos by Alex Coull and Rich Taylor
Dunbar 39 Haddington 34
Dunbar welcomed league leaders and near neighbours Haddington to Hallhill for this latest game in East Region League 1.
Both teams and the large crowd respectfully observed a minute’s silence for club member John Peebles, father of current and past players John and Gary who had recently passed away after a short illness.
The visitors kicked off playing towards the clubhouse and after the kick was mis fielded they used the scrum to set up a series of forward drives which were met with staunch tackling and excellent kicking by both stand offs saw Dunbar first clear their lines but an excellent reply kick and subsequent lineout saw the determined Haddington pack keep up the pressure and they were rewarded with a penalty close to the home tryline. The alert James Ferguson took a quick tap and drove over for the game’s first try. The conversion attempt went wide for the visitors led 5 – 0.
Roared on by the vociferous home support Dunbar’s forwards and backs combined well to launch a series of moves deep into the Haddington twenty-two and the probing driving by the home pack saw possession retained and slick handling up the blindside saw winger John Peebles given the room to drive over for a try. Gregor Ronan nailed the conversion to take the score to 7 – 5.
Both sets of supporters were encouraged by the commitment from their team whether in attack or defence and it was nip and tuck with each side trying to play expansive rugby and it was the home side who again threatened with a series of combined drives by both forwards and backs sucking in the Haddington defenders which allowed another blindside attacking opportunity again creating the space for John Peebles to again crash over from close range. The conversion attempt drifted wide.
The visitors appeared shell-shocked at the pace and intensity of Dunbar’s play, and they contributed to their misery by over kicking a clearance kick to set up Dunbar with another scrum in the Haddington half. With possession retained and good patience in their build-up play Dunbar again found themselves in the twenty-two and slick passing by the backs created the overlap for John Peebles to stroll over for his hat-trick try. A successful conversion took the score to 19 – 5.
The visitors redoubled their efforts and after an excellent touch finder they found themselves within five yards of the home tryline. A secure lineout take allowed Haddington their opportunity to test the home side’s fringe defence and a pre-planned backs move from a quickly taken penalty saw space created for Donald Bathgate to slice through and outsprint the covering defence for a deserved try. A successful conversion saw the deficit cut to seven points.
Buoyed by this score Haddington redoubled their efforts to breakthrough only to be met with outstanding tackling which resulted in a home penalty for offside. Both teams adopted a high-risk strategy of running from deep and both teams were guilty of handling errors and from one such mistake it was a grateful Euan MacRury who plundered possession to set off on a powerful driving run before eventually being hauled down by several defenders. The referee signalled half time and a breathless first half which was high in commitment and skill from both sides was over allowing the players an opportunity to regroup.
Dunbar began the second half when the dropout went deep into Haddington’s twenty-two and a sweeping breakout move by the visiting backs was only halted by a penalty awarded in the home twenty-two. Undeterred by this blip Haddington again threatened and an excellent kick saw another lineout awarded close to the home tryline. With possession retained the forwards combined to maul towards the tryline and they were rewarded when James Ferguson was driven over for his second try. A successful conversion followed, and the scores were now tied at 19 – 19.
Both teams continued to play at a breathtaking pace and when Haddington were penalised for a high tackle up stepped Gregor Ronan to send his kick between the uprights to regain the lead for Dunbar. The visitors were next to threaten, and their big forwards were stretching the home defence, and the ball was moved swiftly creating the space for winger Joshua Jack to break the tackle and sprint clear to score in the corner. The conversion attempt drifted wide, but the visitors now led by two points.
Dunbar then had two further opportunities to regain the lead after having been awarded a penalty but on each occasion the flags stayed down.
These misses appeared to galvanise the visitors and with astute kicking encamped themselves in Dunbar’s twenty-two and after securing possession from a lineout they pack again drove towards the line from close range and their reward was James Ferguson plunging over for his hat-trick try. Again, the conversion kick slid wide of the posts, but Haddington were now leading 29 -22.
These scores marked a change in Dunbar’s resolve as they set about taking the game to the visitors and they secured another penalty for a lineout infringement and after displaying nerves of steel Gregor Ronan goaled his hick to make the deficit four points.
This score clearly lifted the home side and after yet another unforced area from the visitors the forwards and backs combined well to encamp themselves in the twenty-two and after another penalty they stretched the Haddington defence with strong running they again moved the ball at pace creating the space for debutante Thomas Usher to romp over and touch down close to the posts for an excellent team try. A successful conversion followed, and the score was now 32 – 19.
The delirious home support raised their decibel level and this encouragement saw the home side again secure a scrum in the twenty-two and a solid scrum afforded Gregor Ronan the space to break blind and sprint towards the tryline only to be hauled down by the line however he had the presence of mind to stretch out and score an excellent individual try. With his confidence sky-high he sent the difficult conversion between the uprights to increase the home side’s lead to ten points.
With full time approaching and roared on by their own considerable support Haddington again drove deep into the home twenty-two and after a penalty was awarded they took it quickly and their forwards created the space for James Ferguson to drive over from close range for his fourth try. After a missed conversion Referee Jake Garrod blew for full time ending one of the best rugby games seen at Hallhill for many a year.
An excellent game for the watching spectators to absorb with the home side ending Haddington’s unbeaten league start but all had to marvel at the commitment and skill levels shown by two well-matched teams.
The game also saw the Wooden Spoon Society trophy being played for and it was a grateful Dunbar captain Callum Harding who was on hand to accept the trophy.
This week sees Dunbar travel to Kings Park Dalkeith for another tough match against a side looking to climb up the table.