23rd May….
With news breaking that Rugby League was to become a summer sport, the Rugby League put proposals forward that clubs would have to merge and clubs would have Australian / American style suffixes. Fortunately it was not proposed for the Leeds teams to merge and Hunslet acted quickly to adopt the “Hawks” name. Today in 1995, in a mid-week fixture at York, was the first time “Hunslet Hawks” took to the field, starting with a 21-10 victory.
On debut today in 1997 was St. John Ellis. A product of York junior rugby he played 43 games for Hunslet scoring 17 tries, 117 goals and 6 drop goals. He was a Great Britain international when playing for Castleford.
24th May….
A visit to Lyon today for Great Britain for an international with France. Jack Evans was at full-back, kicking a goal in a 28-17 defeat.
In 1914 the Lions touring team played their first game against South Australia at Adelaide. Much like the UK where rugby league is largely a northern sport, in Australia it was based around Sydney. South Australia was an Aussie Rules area and this is reflected in the score, the tourists shaking the dust off their six week passage with a 101-0 win. Fred Smith was at half-back an Jack Smales in the pack, scoring one of the 22 tries.
Making his first appearance today in 2009 was forward Neil Lowe. Coming to Hunslet from Keighley Cougars he was what I think we now call an impact player, playing 56 of 64 games off the bench. He sored 11 tries and represented Scotland 16 times in his four seasons at the club.
25th May….
At the meeting of the new sub-committee of Hunslet Cricket And Football Club today in 1883 it was agreed that the club colours would be blue and white in quarters and adverts placed in the papers looking for fixtures.
The Yorkshire Post And Leeds Mercury reported in 1950 on last night’s Special General Meeting to discuss forming a limited company. President Hector Rawson revealed that liabilities of £13,632 included £5,850 for the purchase of ground, ££2,778 overdraft and £1,281 income-tax. Income was expected from various rugby league sources of £950. The new club would have capital of £20,000, maximum £50 per member
