Hunslet 24 vs 29 Barrow Raiders
Hunslet scored 4 tries in the last quarter of their Betfred Championship clash with Barrow Raiders today at the South Leeds Stadium but it wasn’t enough as the Cumbrians held on for the victory.
Barrow were sitting in 3rd place before kick-off and were strong favourites, but Hunslet were the better side for long periods and gifted their opponent’s points at crucial stages in the game.
Hunslet started off well and had the visitors on the back foot. Billy Jowitt went close and Lee Gaskell’s kicking was pin-point, and even though Barrow had a try chalked off for a forward pass The Parksiders took the lead on 12 minutes when Billy Jowitt converted a penalty for a high tackle. 2-0
Dan Abram was lively and all the play was in Barrow’s half, until a wild pass to Bureta Faraimo gave the visitors a gift set of tackles, after a knock-on from a kick Ryan King forced his way over near the posts with Ellis Archer converting and suddenly Barrow led 2-6 on 18 minutes.
Hunslet were again throwing out wild passes, but with Darcy Simpson defending well and Gadwen Springer running with strength they created opportunities and Lee Gaskell came close to putting Harrison Gilmore over for a try but for a superb Barrow tackle.
Barrow took 2 points on 30 minutes for a late tackle (Archer Converting) but although Mackenzie Turner nearly got clear on the right wing The Parksiders knocked on near their posts and Brad Walker took a sneaky one pointer for the visitors to stretch the lead to 2-9 on 40 minutes.
Hunslet then committed near suicide. Kicking off short they failed to get 10 yards and gave Barrow a set of tackles on their line in added time. Luke Cresswell scored from close range and with Archers conversion Hunslet trailed at the break 2-15 handing a gift to their opponent’s on the hooter.
It was definitely an uphill task now, but Hunslet came out well. Zak Lloyd was held up and The Parksiders came again. A Lee Gaskell kick looked to have been ran in-goal, but the Ref deemed it to have been taken on the full and Barrow were awarded a tap, still The Cumbrians worked it well and Curtis Teare finished off a good try, Archer converting 2-21
A Lee Gaskell 40/20 seemed to change the momentum. On 53 minutes the man himself dummied his way over and got Hunslet back in it at 8-21, Billy Jowitt having converted.
5 minutes later Hunslet attacked on the left through Myles Harrop, then switched right and Dan Abram put Charlie Graham away to score, the big man showing great pace. 12-21
It looked like Barrow were wobbling. Abram and Gaskell were kicking well, and both Faraimo and Battye had half chances to score, but on 69 minutes it looked like game over when a Barrow kick was taken by Tee Ritson who out-jumped Hunslet to score and with Brad Walker converting Barrow looked safe at 12-27.
A 70 minute penalty by Brad Walker stretched the lead to 12-29, but the visitors now tired as Hunslet threw caution to the wind.
On 77 minutes Abram and Lloyd combined well for Graham to score in the corner, then 2 minutes later a good team try saw Billy Jowitt score, having converted both it was now 24-29
Although Gadwen Springer made a half break and Lee Gaskell put in a testing kick it was too little too late as Barrow held on to win an exciting game.
Hunslet have now only won 1 from 6 games, but are on only -2 points difference. They are pushing teams near the top of the table, but are just not getting over the line. It feels like it will come, but suicidal plays are costing them when they are in the ascendancy.
Dan Abram picked up the Tricks of the Trade Sponsors Player of the Match, whilst Charlie Graham the Phoenix bar Supporters Player of the Match, there were also good performances by Harrison Gilmore, Zak Lloyd and Tom Nicholson-Watton.
Head Coach Kyle Trout thinks his team deserve to be in these games, but knows that Losing as well as Winning can be a habit. A win away at Oldham next Sunday would be a great place to start a winning habit.
HUNSLET – Jowitt, Faraimo, Graham, Harrop, Turner, Gaskell, Abram, Hallas, Misky, Nicholson-Watton, Gilmore, Darcy Simpson, Battye, Berry, Whittel, Lloyd, Springer, Carr.
BARROW RAIDERS – Cresswell, Knott, Teare, Toal, Ritson, Bradley Walker, Archer, Bullock, Wood, Thomas Walker, Robson, Costello, King, Bishop, Stack, Makin, Richards, Watson.
