By coincidence, today is the 22nd anniversary of our epic win against the Giants in the 4th round of the 2003 Challenge Cup at South Leeds Stadium.

Adrian Jinks tells the story of the match…….

Before this tie, the contrast between the two clubs could not have been more different. Huddersfield, newly promoted to Super League, were on a world record 29 consecutive game winning run, winning the Northern Ford Premiership (only one league below Super League in those days). In contrast Hunslet came 2nd from bottom with only three wins and a draw from 27 games, only Gateshead Thunder below them. On top of that the club had to axe the “A” Team and Academy Team for cost cutting measures.

There were signs early in 2003 that this was to be a different Hunslet, a shock 3rd round 28-18 win over French team Pia Donkeys hinted at better times.

But Huddersfield were a step up and the two teams had met three times in 2002, the results being 68-6, 60-4 and 40-0, an aggregate of 168-10 in the Giants favour. How wrong we were – Hunslet produced the performance of their lives, winning 18-14.

After conceding a try to Brendan Costin in the first two minutes, the turning point came with two quick tries before half time through forwards Jonlee Lockwood and Dan Briggs (with his first touch of the ball) which put Hunslet 16-8 up at the break.

Coach Roy Sampson, Hunslet through and through, had done a great job with the side.

The teams on that historical day were:-

Hunslet – Richard Baker; Bryn Powell (1 try) Iain Higgins, Wes McGibbon, George Rayner: Jon Liddell (3 goals) Phil Hasty: Craig Ibbetson, Gareth Naylor, Mick Coyle, Wayne Freeman, Danny Fearon (man of the match), Paul Seal; Subs were Jonlee Lockwood (1 try), Dan Briggs (1 try) and, amazingly, Joe Hawley and Gareth Brain were not used, so we played with 15 men.

Huddersfield – Ben Cooper: Hefin O’Hare, Julian Bailey, Matt Calland, Marcus St. Hilaire (1 try): Brandon Costin (1 try, 1 goal), Paul White: Mick Slicker, Paul March, Darren Fleary, Eorl Crabtree, Jim Gannon, Jarrod O’Doherty: Subs Matthew Whitaker (1 try). Darren Turner, Jeff Wittenberg, Iain Morrison.

Attendance was 1,256 and the referee Steve Presley of Castleford.