As it’s St. Patrick’s Day, a look at Hunslet’s Irish connections. The first is a bit tenuous, Danny O’Brien signed from Cardiff St David’s in 1902 but was believed to be an Irishman playing rugby in Wales. Next was John Keating in 1924. He was playing for Leinster RU and Blackrock College in County Dublin whe he signed for Hunslet. In 1937 James O’Sullivan signed from Wigan. He was a native of Cork and had played Rugby Union in ireland. He played in the 1938 Championship final. A noted sprinter and high jumper.
Players who have represented both Hunslet and Ireland are David Bates, Callum Casey, Lee Child, Elliott Cosgrove, James Coyle, Scott Dyson, Michael Haley, Chris Hall, Lee Hanlan, Sean Hesketh, James Lowes, Craig McElhatten and Brad Singleton.
In 1891 Hunslet undertook a two match tour of Ireland. They beat Lansdowne (Dublin) 12-0 and lost to Belfast Albion 0-4. Belfast visited Hunslet in 1889 and 1894, one win each.
The papers reported today on the second Lazenby Cup “friendly” and the first at Parkside in 1913. It seems the players didn’t get the message as a bad tempered game saw Davies, Ward and Webster of Leeds together with Hunslet’s Billy Jukes and Jack Smales being dismissed by Mr Dickinson. Hunslet won 13-8 and junior football benefitted to the tune of £149.
It was also reported, in 1933, that stand-off George Todd had scored 6 tries against Hull KIngston Rovers whiuch was a new club record at the time.
Having signed on yesterday from Burley RU for £300, John Christopher “Jack” Walkington was today registered with the Rugby League. In 22 seasons at Parkside he achieved everything you could in the game except for a Great Britain cap. Initially a centre, he made the full-back position his own. He played in both the 1929 and 1931 Yorkshire Cup finals, getting a winners medal in the second, the same season that he also got a Yorkshire League winners medal. In 1931 he scored 11 goals against Featherstone Rovers to set a new goals in a match record and the following season he kicked 113 goals for 226 points, again new club records. In 1933 he was appointed club captain, a position he held until 1945/46 and in which time he lifted both the Challenge Cup (1934) and Championship Trophy (1938). On the representative stage he was awarded 15 Yorkshire caps, 4 England caps and in 1936 he played in a Tour Trial. Even in the war, in 1942/43 when Hunslet did not compete, he didn’t take a rest, turning out 21 times as a guest for Leeds. His Hunslet stats were 577 appearances, 35 tries, 576 goals and 1,257 points. Truly a great player and rightly in the club’s Hall of Fame.
Representative games were few and far between at this time of the year but today Ernest Winter was at Wilderspool, Warrington playing for a Rugby League XIII against France. Playing at centre he scored a try in a 32-16 win for the RL.
The last game of the 1896/97 Yorkshire Senior Competition season was played today. Hunslet finished 4th out of the 16 teams, won 16 and drew 4 of the 30 games. Billy Hannah was top try scorer with 19 and Albert Goldthorpe top goal scorer with 23 and points with 78 (goals were valued at 4 for a drop, 3 for a penalty and 2 for a conversation). Hannah was top of the league try soring list. Albert was also top of the goal scoring list and 2nd in the points scorers.
The 1899/1900 season also ended today with a 0-2 loss in the 1st round Challenge Cup tie at Stockport. The League competition had ended the previous week, Hunslet finishing in mid table with 14 wins and 2 draws. Albert Goldthorpe was top goal and points scorer with 29 and 64. Hannah was top try scorer with 7.
Two other cup ties today – 1894 and a trip into North Yorkshire to play Ripon, an easy 31-5 win for Hunslet in this 1st round Yorkshire Cup match. No success in 1945 Challenge Cup though as Hunslet lost the 1st round 1st leg 8-11 to Keighley at Parkside. Walkington was injured early in the game so Hunslet played with 12 men and although they scored two tries to one, goal kicks gave Keighley the advantage. Still, it’s only 3 points and every chance at Lawkhome Lane next week.
