Rugby: Haddington's survival hopes take a knock

HADDINGTON'S bid to survive in rugby's Scottish Hydro Premiership Division Two took another jolt when they suffered a 21-0 defeat at home to Biggar.

The result means the Scarlets face two crucial matches against Borders opposition as they bid to remain in the second tier ahead of their forthcoming centenary year.

The Neilson Park men went into the game desperate for league points but buoyed by a much-improved performance against Hawick seven days earlier. But the visitors, for whom promotion remains an outside possibility, produced a strong second-half performance to post a 21-0 win.

Two of the division's current bottom three will take the drop and Haddington's fate could be sealed on Wednesday night, when they travel to face fellow strugglers Jedforest.

Stewart's Melville's chances of prolonging their season with a run in the Premier Cup were extinguished when they exited the competition away to a rampant Ayr.

The Inverleith men trailed only 22-8 at the break but were handicapped by injuries to key men during the second period and eventually went down 77-15, with the Stew-Mel points coming from tries by Sam Blackwood and Rob Primrose plus a conversion and a penalty by Alex Godsmark.