Playing towards the pavilion end Kirkcaldy dominated the early play with their forwards in charge and regularly dispossessing the home side. The only surprise was that it took them as long as 12 minutes to open their account through a Mark Wallace try after Haddington had coughed up the ball.
Even with Quintan Sanft back in harness at inside centre, the Kirkcaldy backs lacked fluency reflecting an erratic delivery from the base. There was also an over anxiety to get over the line when a couple of easy passes would have delivered a score.
Over half an hour had gone, with Haddington barely reaching the Kirkcaldy 22, before the Blues added to their score. It took a 47 metre penalty from young stand off Craig Letham, right on the limit of his range to put them 8-0 ahead.
The first half ended messily with Kirkcaldy camped in the Haddington 22. Home flanker Simon Gilmour, trying to stop quick possession, went to the bin but even with an extra man Kirkcaldy managed to fluff a series of clear try chances.
Top scoring No 8 Craig Wilson, made his first appearance of the season from the bench late in the first half and ten minutes into the second period he made his presence felt with a barn storming run down the right touchline for the second Kirkcaldy try well ,converted by Letham from near the touchline.
Only the bravest Haddington optimist could have forecast a home win at this stage with the Blues hunting for more tries. Even with Gavin McKenzie yellow carded they remained in charge. Then completely against the run of play Haddington’s Neil Watt caught the Kirkcaldy defence asleep to open his side’s account, converting his own try.
This score lifted Haddington spirits with every tackle counting and some excellent backing up stretching the Kirkcaldy cover. Almost inevitably a second try arrived with less than four minutes of normal time remaining. It was Watt again with the try.
The Neilson Park crowd, silent for most of the game, were now in full voice, urging on their side and rejoicing in Kirkcaldy errors which were now aplenty. Forcing play into the left pavilion end corner, they found an extra man and flanker Simon Gilmour did the business for his side with the match winning try,
This was a sorry ending for Kirkcaldy for the second week running. With the powerful Howe of Fife side awaiting them next Saturday some self analysis is needed.
TEAMS
HADDINGTON
N Watt, A Symington, J Ferguson, E Herkes, K Adam, N Bell, D Symington, A Laidlaw, C Harrison, G Cockburn, C Stewart, B Laing, C Davies, S Gilmour, K Paterson
Replacements:- D Bergvall, C Hamilton, D Barber, S Millar
KIRKCALDY
R Low, D Frew, M Wallace, Q Sanft, R Hancock, C Letham, G McKenzie, R Girdler, G Wallace, W Gray, S Orr, S Oliver, L Neilson, D Turner, M Harvey
Replacemenst:- R van Rensberg, D Guthrie, C Wilson, G Welsh
REFEREE
N Kearns (Edinburgh RRS)
STAR CHECK
3 Mark Wallace
2 Matt Harvey
1 Dayle Turner
Cumulative
15 Harvey
7 Neilson
4 M Wallace, Turner
3 Mann, Littlejohn
2 Letham, Fisher, Girdler
1 Oliver, Harper, G Wallace, Wilson, McKenzie, Gray
