17th May….
After a successful season, gaining promotion as league leaders under the stewardship of David Ward and Peter Jarvis, there was the new end of season Premiership Play-off to add to the trophy cabinet if a victory could be gained against second placed Swinton at Old Trafford. It was to be played first as part of a double-header with Wigan and Warrington playing for the Stones Championship title later.
The league games were shared, Hunslet winning their home game 12-4 and Swinton the away game 12-14, Hunslet finishing 3 points clear of Swinton in the league.
Hunslet were without injured captain Terry Webb but Swinton’s doubt Les Holliday passed a late fitness test. Swinton took the lead on the seventh minute when Bate scored in the corner. Les Holliday dropped a goal and tried again five minutes later with the ball bouncing back off the upright into Derbyshire’s hands and he scored a simple try. Andy Bateman scored a try for Hunslet before half-time and Swinton led 11-4 at the break.
Hunslet fought back at the start of the second-half with another Bateman try and Alan Platt goal but Swinton then took control with tries by Grima and Lee. Holliday attempted another drop goal which again rebounded, this time for Ainsworth to gather and score and it was 27-10 to Swinton.
The match marked the end of the season with winger .Mick Bell top try scorer with 17 and Alan Platt getting 102 goals.
Coincidently the following season also ended on the 17th May with both Hunslet and Swinton relegated with 10 points.
18th May….
1978/79 season was drawing to an end and Hull were to be champions, unbeaten in league games and one last game at home to runners-up New Hunslet to play. Hull had won the game at Hunslet 18-6 and should they beat them at home would be the first team ever to go through the season unbeaten in the league. Hunslet however were not going to be the whipping boys in front of a record second division crown of 12,424 and coach Bill Ramsey being a former Hull player and his team on a 17 match winning streak . The pitch was heavy, both sides trying to play open football but both teams also defended so tightly “ it would have been difficult for an ant to squeeze through”. Hunslet benefitted from a 19-9 pull in the scrums and Steve Norton’s drop goal being the difference at half -time (Sammy Lloyd did miss four goal though). Tony Dean levelled matters and Lloyd finally landed a goal and it stayed at 3-1 into the last five minutes until eventually there was a defensive lapse at a play-the-ball, unfortunately by Hunslet, and Charlie Stone dived over.
Season 1992/93 ended today with a Premiership play-off game at Keighley and a 6-34 defeat. A mid-table finish saw David Brook top try scorer with 20 and Andy Precious landing 83 goals.
