As the winter seasons were coming to an end and the cup competitions were reaching their conclusions, the club moved into it’s close seasons. Players finished training for a few weeks, the committee started to look at the players they wished to retain and those they may like to strengthen the squads. Of course some players also pondered their futures – is there more money elsewhere! For a lucky few there was the honour of being selected for the four-yearly Lions Tours.
As the summer seasons came in the cups tended to be played early in the season so Hunslet’s participation had mainly ended, the seasons were mid-way through, squads were largely settled and there was very little representative rugby which would involve the club’s players.
Consequently, there are days when there is very little of interest I can find so we’ve decided to link quiet days together to hopefully make an interesting article.
6th May
In 1935, France came over the Channel to play a representative match to mark King George V’s Silver Jubilee against a Rugby League XIII at Headingley. Stand-off George Todd was selected to play alongside Hec Gee of Wigan and obviously something clicked as George touched down four times. The French were relatively new to Rugby League and the papers were generous in describing their play and progress even though they lost 25-18.
Mick Appleyard made his debut today in 1986 at Doncaster. He only played two games for the club as he had played his entire career in the amateur clubs around Hunslet, Brassmoulders, Garden Gate and Bisons. He represented Great Britain and was captain on BARLA’s first tour down under. He is said to have spurned numerous offers from professional clubs to maintain his amateur status.
7th May.
Long serving players had always been granted benefits and in the early days they would nominate one of the league matches where a good crowd was expected and a few quid could be collected. This gradually gave way to benefit matches usually played at the end of the season against invitational sides. One such was today in 1938 for Jack Walkington, Jack’s team playing against a side assembled by Leeds’ Australian player Vic Hey. For the match the value of a goal was dropped to 1 point and Hey’s team won 34-27. Referee Frank Fairhurst asked to try out a new scrummaging rule involving the field side props crossing their legs to close the tunnel and keep the ball in the scrum. It was considered a success.
1954/55 season ended today at Bramley with a 34-10 win giving a 14th place finish with 20 wins from the 36 fixtures. Eric Backhouse kicked 71 goals and with a try had 145 points. Alan Snowden was comfortably top try getter with 26.
A first visit today to new Welsh club Celtic Crusaders’ Brewery Field in Bridgend was unproductive as Hunslet lost 18-36.
