In the papers today, there were reports of an incident in last weekend’s 1908 league match against Merthyr Tydfil at Parkside. Towards the end of the game which Hunslet won 5-3 W. H. Wood, the referee, sent off John Higson of Hunslet for kicking and Merthyr’s W. Thomas for a foul charge. At the end of the game a section of the crowd showed their displeasure at the referee and one spectator kicked him. The police got the official back to his changing room and the crowd dispersed. However a summons was issued to the offender. At the hearing his defence was that the kick was accidental and that he had apologised to Mr Wood and they had shaken hands. The magistrate suggested that the charge be withdrawn and the prosecution agreed. Hunslet were still ordered to post warning notices and pay the court costs
The debut today of another of the Goldthorpe brothers in 1886 at Dodworth. William made 33 appearances over 4 seasons. He played in the forwards unlike his brothers and had previously played for Leeds Parish Church.
In 1985, Jimmy Irvine played his first game at home to Hull Kingston Rovers. Playing for the club for five seasons, Jimmy made 82 appearances and scored 21 tries and a solitary drop goal. He featured in 24 games during the 1986/87 promotion season. He left at the end of 1988 for Hull Kingston Rovers and also turned out for Batley, Halifax and Huddersfield.
Moving north from Newport in Wales for £400 and registered by the club today was Tyssul “Tuss” Griffiths. A full-back, he played just 1 game in his first season but was soon appointed club captain for three seasons as he made 168 appearances, scoring 184 goals and 7 tries. He played his first game for Wales in 1946/47, following up with a second appearance in 1951 after transferring to Doncaster. He later played for Halifax.
Appearing for the first time up at Workington was winger Scott Limb. He signed from Featherstone Rovers and was with Hunslet for 4 seasons making 53 appearances. In January 1995 he scored 5 tries against Rochdale Hornets which was a record for the re-formed club at the time. He also played for Doncaster and York City Knights.
Having played two previous games in the Lazenby Cup series, todays 1915 encounter would be the last for four years due to the Great War. The clubs had won one match each, both at home. On a nice spring day over 6,000 turned out at Headingley to see a Hunslet team lacking Harold Buck and John Smales from their usual line up. Leeds had by far the better of the first half leading 15-2 at half time and this continued as they ran out 25-5 winners.
In 1897, Hunslet’s progress in the Challenge Cup ended at the second stage as they closed their season with a 0-15 defeat at Swinton.
