22nd June….
The 1910 Tourists played their second game against Newcastle and Districts. Freddie Farrar was on the wing for one of his only four appearances on the tour, Billy Batten was on the other wing and Fred Smith at half-back. Freddie got a hat-trick and Batten two as the tourist won easily 40-20.
The 1954 team were in Mackay to play Sothern Zone with Alf Burnell and Geoff Gunney in the side. The time-keeper forgot to re-set his clock at the start of second-half and the match finished eight minutes early. GB were well in front 28-7 so won the game. Whether something was said in the bar after the game is not known but there was a rumpus leading to GB’s John Henderson having stiches in an ear cut by glass and Jack Wilkinson having beer thrown over him. Evidently Jack’s retaliation discouraged any further trouble!
23rd June
Dual registration wasn’t exactly popular with the supporters, especially as we’d gone in with arch rivals Leeds Rhinos. But Hunslet did get a few from the deal from which they benefited, and today in 2013 was one of those days.
Signing initially on Dual Reg the club obviously saw something in Jimmy Watson and, after making the full back berth virtually his own, he put pen to paper and signed on as a Hunslet player, making his “official” debut today. 2014 saw him start out at centre, but he was at full back in June and it’s been his position virtually ever since. A great club man, Jimmy has had to deal with a couple serious injuries but is still with us this season and still going strong.
His record is 233 appearances before the start of this season, with 85 tries. He played (and scored a try) in the 2014 Grand Final against Oldham at Headingley.
24th June….
A once in a lifetime trip across the Atlantic today in 2017 for Hunslet’s only ever match with Toronto Wolfpack. Hunslet gave a good account of themselves in the first-half but fell away 12-56 to big spending Toronto. A memorable trip for club officials, players and supporters (except me – I already had a holiday booked to Bali and I couldn’t convince the wife Canada was better).
In Newcastle NSW today the 1914 tourists with the three Hunslet players (Guerin, Smith and Smales) on show took on Northern Division and came away with a 35-18 win.
And in 1954 in Cairns the opposition was Far North Queensland. Dickie Williams was out of position on the wing, Ginger at half-back and Geoff Gunney in the pack. All three scored tries in a 39-18 win.
We learn from the Retained and Released List that Trevor Taylor and Phil “Ned” Thurlwell signed on today in 1971. Both were with the old and new clubs Tevor playing 53 games with seven tries and Phil nine games.
