In 1902 Hunslet visited the Watersheddings, Oldham. Hunslet had to field a greatly understrength side due to an engineer’s strike. Striking players were classed as not in employment and barred from playing under the bye-laws. There were already players on the injured list and the patched up side were no match losing 0-26 in a match delayed due to a defective train from Leeds. The result was the most points conceded and the widest margin of defeat since their formation in 1883.

Known as the “Human Bullet”,  Vic Hey was an Australian stand-off who had played six test matches for Australia, toured England on the 1933/34 Ashes tour playing 23 games and represented both Queensland and New South Wales. He had played for Western Suburbs in Sydney. In 1937 he left Australia to play for Leeds making his debut at Headingley in the Lazenby Cup game against Hunslet. He played in the 1937 Yorkshire Cup final and the 1938 Championship Final at Elland Road. In the war he played in two Challenge Cup finals. He is the only player to score a try on Headingley’s cricket ground when the posts were moved over from a frozen rugby pitch for a match against Salford. In 1944 he signed for Dewsbury as player-coach and, as his ship home was delayed, in 1947 moved to Parkside, debuting today at Salford. He played nine games, scoring four tries and assisted George Todd with coaching the “A” Team. He returned to Australia in January 1948 and played for Parramatta.

Vic Hey

In 1992 Hunslet signed well-travelled scrum-half Paul Harkin, Bradford Northern and Hull Kingston Rovers being his main clubs before coming to Hunslet. He played 42 times and scored 3 tries. He had previously played for Great Britain Under -24s and the full side. He coached Wakefield Trinity after leaving Hunslet.

Paul Harkin

The 1978 Australian tourists faced Great Britain Under-24s today at Hull Kingston Rovers. Winger Peter Muscroft was in the GB side which lost 8-30.

Australia were also on tour in 1952 and it was the 1st Test at Headingley today. Jack Evans was at full-back in game dominated by Britain’s forwards in a 19-6 win.

A match was played to support the Lord Derby Memorial Fund in 1950 between the 1950 Tourists and Rest Of League at Wigan. Playing for the Rest was centre Les Williams. It was all level at the break 10-10 but the tourists controlled the second half to win 23-16. The tourists’ half-backs outplayed the Rest pair and the match report said it was a marvel that centres Willimas and Broome achieved such outstanding success.

In 1909 Cumberland played Lancashire at Barrow and James Parkinson was in the Cumberland side which won 8-3.

Hunslet kicked off their second season as a rugby club today at home to Dodworth, winning by 2 goals to nil.