On This Day….24th April

In 1965 with a Wembley appearance coming up, Hunslet had a top 16 Play-off match to negotiate at Yorkshire League Champions Castleford. They were short of four of their likely Wembley line up due to minor injuries. Behind 8-2 at half time Hunslet resumed short of stand-off Brian Gabbitas who had a shoulder injury, Fred Ward substituting, and later in the half scrum-half Alan Marchant was carried to the bench with an injury and, with substitutes only being allowed up to half time, Hunslet had to play the rest of the game with 12 men. Castleford won the game 18-7 but what was important to Hunslet was that neither of their injured half-backs were seriously hurt and were looking good for Wembley.

On debut in the match was young hooker Peter Dunn having signed from Hunslet Intermediates. Peter played 117 games for Hunslet and scored 25 tries and 30 goals, 22 of which reputedly were drops. He moved to Leeds in 1970 and later played for Bradford Northern.

Back in the Union days a charity game was played annually between the South Of Leeds and the North Of Leeds. These games were seemingly taken seriously by the participants and today in 1885 is the first instance of Hunslet players being involved – Charlie Lapping, Tom Groves and Albert North turned out for the South at Leeds Parish Church, the North winning by 1goal to nil.

The Lazenby Cup was also a charity game played for the benefit of playing fields in Leeds. In 1926 after a break of two years, the match was played at Parkside and Hunslet won 22-5.

The 1949/50 drew to a close today with a home match against Featherstone Rovers. It had been a decidedly average season, finishing 15^th out of 29. Winger Keith Bowman was top try scorer with 20 and Tuss Griffiths topped goals and points – 65 and 130.

At the end of New Hunslet’s 4^th season in 1977, a 4^th place finish ensured their first promotion to the First Division had been achieved. Alan Griffiths was top try scorer with 15, a record for the new club and Frank Davies had 54 goals and 133 points. In the last match today, a 50-12 win at home over Halifax, Dickie Brown became only the second New Hunslet player to score a hat-trick.   

Back in  the Second Division in 1982/83, the season ended with Hunslet in 6^th place. Billy Foley got 10 tries and Eric Fitzsimons got 109 place kicks and 245 points, both new records.

1993/94 finished with Hunslet 14^th out of 16. In the last game at home to Swinton, it seems the defences stayed at home as Hunslet lost 34-40. Eric Kibe was top with 15 tries and Andy Precious 32 goals.

 In 1922 a benefit game was played at Parkside against Leeds, who included a number of guest players for Billy Hannah and James Ramage who had given great service to Hunslet firstly as players and were now first and second team trainers respectively. Neither team took it seriously with a final score of 37-26 to the Leeds team.

 Back in the Union days a charity game was played annually between the South Of Leeds and the North Of Leeds. These games were seemingly taken seriously by the participants and today in 1885 is the first instance of Hunslet players being involved – Charlie Lapping, Tom Groves and Albert North turned out for the South at Leeds Parish Church, the North winning by 1goal to nil.

The Lazenby Cup was also a charity game played for the benefit of playing fields in Leeds. In 1926 after a break of two years, the match was played at Parkside and Hunslet won 22-5.

The 1949/50 season drew to a close today with a home match against Featherstone Rovers. It had been a decidedly average season, finishing 15^th out of 29. Winger Keith Bowman was top try scorer with 20 and Tuss Griffiths topped goals and points – 65 and 130.

At the end of New Hunslet’s 4^th season in 1977, a 4^th place finish ensured their first promotion to the First Division had been achieved. Alan Griffiths was top try scorer with 15, a record for the new club and Frank Davies had 54 goals and 133 points. In the last match today, a 50-12 win at home over Halifax, Dickie Brown became only the second New Hunslet player to score a hat-trick.   

Back in  the Second Division in 1982/83, the season ended with Hunslet in 6^th place. Billy Foley got 10 tries and Eric Fitzsimons 109 place kicks and 245 points, both new records.

1993/94 finished with Hunslet 14^th out of 16. In the last game at home to Swinton, it seems the defences stayed at home as Hunslet lost 34-40. Eric Kibe was top with 15 tries and Andy Precious 32 goals.

 In 1922 a benefit game was played at Parkside against Leeds, who included a number of guest players, for Billy Hannah and James Ramage who had given great service to Hunslet firstly as players and were now first and second team trainers respectively. Neither team took it seriously with a final score of 37-26 to the Leeds team.