When he signed from Hull Kingston Rovers in January 1954 (£2,000 + George Ellener going to HKR), hooker Sam Smith was already a county player and would go on to be one of Hunslet’s most capped players. After playing against Lancashire in the 1954 County Championship Sam was selected to play in the inaugaral World Cup to be held in France in October and November. He played in the three Round Robin matches and after both Great Britain and France had beaten Australia and New Zealand and drawn 13-13 when they played, it was decided to have a play-off for the trophy. Played in Paris, France were hot favourites but GB came through to win the tournament.
He went on to win another 11 caps and on this day in 1958 was invited to take part in a Tour Trial. A trip to Australasia would cap his representative career. Playing for The Whites, he was hooking against the man who would replace him when his Hunslet career was over, Bernard Prior. Club colleagues Bran Gabbitas and Brian Shaw were alongside him. The Whites were well beaten 41-18 and Tommy Harris (Hull) and Alvin Ackerley (Halifax) were selected as the tour hookers, Gabbitas and Shaw also missing out. That was the end of Sam’s representative career. On the domestic front he played 281 games for Hunslet playing in the 1956 Yorkshire Cup and 1959 Championship final.
A round up of today’s cup ties – 1892 was the start of the Yorkshire Cup and Birstall were the visitors to Parkside, Hunslet winning 41-0. The 1904 Challenge Cup continued today and after the away win at Dewsbury a trip to Leigh was the reward. All the scoring was done in the first half as Hunslet won 8-0. In 1910 it was another trip into Lancashire to face Warrington. Unfortunately it was be Hunslet’s exit form the competition as they lost this Challenge Cup quarter final tie 0-8.
Another Challenge Cup quarter-final in 1954, this time at Hull. A fairly even first half saw Hull 5-2 ahead at the break but in the second half with the kicking of Arthur Clues constantly pegging back the Hull forwards and Sam Smith out-hooking the man who beat him to a tour place, Tommy Harris, Hunslet had enough field position and possession to get the try they needed, Alan Snowden touvhing down with only his second touch of the ball and Arthur Talbot landing a goal from touch. On to the semi-final. 2017’s 4th round brought Halifax to South Leeds Stadium and they saw off the home side 20-6.
