Hunslet 34 vs 32 Newcastle Thunder

Hunslet won their first game at home in over 600 days as Billy Jowitt converted a last minute penalty at the South Leeds Stadium today.

With the scores locked up at 32-32, Hunslet was awarded a penalty for offside and the Parksiders Captain hit it low and hard to clear the posts after the hooter had sounded, cueing mass celebration in the home stands.

Hunslet had nearly thrown it away leading 32-18 on the hour in what was an exciting end to end game.

Buoyant after a win at Keighley last week Hunslet took the early initiative and threw the ball around well, but a 40/20 gave Newcastle good field position and after nearly 3 sets Bradley Ward went over to score. Roberts converting. 0-6 on 5 minutes.

With a number of players recalled to York it was an ex-Hunslet man to register next for the visitors. Quick hands to the left saw Jude Ferraira go over to score, Roberts converting. 0-12 on 13 minutes.

Hunslet started to get into the game, and although Hallas knocked-on close to the line and Charlie Graham was ankle tapped on his way to a certain try, good pressure from Littlewood and McCormack resulted in Eddie Battye putting Harvey Hallas over under the posts. Jowitt converted and it was 6-12 on 20 minutes.

4 minutes later and Hunslet were up-field again. This time a Gaskell kick was dribbled by Myles Harrop who picked up to score. 12-12

With Newcastle being penalised for offside Billy Jowitt sensibly took the 2 points on offer to edge Hunslet ahead. 14-12 on the half hour.

Mo Agoro had halted Jude Ferreira well as Newcastle tried to get back in the lead, and a kick through had bounced off the post for Newcastle, but they couldn’t score and King Vuniyayawa kicked the ball away in frustration and was then sin-binned for dissent.

On 39 minutes with Newcastle a man down Hunslet attacked, and after Eddie Battye drove well Ben Littlewood broke the line and passed inside to a supporting Billy Jowitt to score, converting his own try. 20-12

That should have been it for the half, but after Newcastle attacked and Hunslet defended well a scrum was packed down with the feed to the home side. With only one tackle remaining Lee Gaskell tried to kick over for a chase, but Thomas Inman charged the kick down and ran on to score. Tyler Pemberton converting 20-18 at the break.

It was a suicidal move by Hunslet, but they came out in the second period the stronger team. Dan Abram and Harrison Gilmore had gone close, before on 45 minutes Ned McCormack picked up a Billy Jowitt kick to score. 26-18

6 minutes later Lee Gaskell took on the Newcastle line, and as the ball was ripped Ben Littlewood swept up to score.  32-18

Hunslet now looked to push on and wrap the game up, but with Cam Berry having to leave the field they had to shuffle the pack.

On 61 minutes a nice ball on the right to Andy Djeukessi saw the big winger dive over in the corner to make it 32-22.

Although Harrison Gilmore made a great tackle Newcastle had found another gear and Hunslet were under the pump. Mo Agoro stopped Brad Ward on the left hand side, but on 68 minutes after a Hunslet forward pass a mix up in defence saw Jordan Lipp walk through to score. 32-28 and game on.

With 5 minutes remaining after a penalty Brad Ward scored his 2nd try diving over in the left corner. Tyler Pemberton missed the kick, but Newcastle looked the most likely for the win. 32-32

Hunslet turned it around though, and with Jowitt making good yards a Drop Goal was set up, but the defence got in Lee Gaskell’s face, the big half back slicing his attempt.

Newcastle attacked, but in added time with Hunslet again pushing for a Drop Goal the Referee awarded a penalty for offside giving Billy Jowitt the match winning opportunity.

Jowitt’s kick went low and straight and at last Hunslet had got that monkey off their back and a home win.

There was relief around the South Leeds Stadium at Full-time, Hunslet had been in control of the game, but had had to win it a second time. With this and last week’s win at Keighley, Hunslet now look a team who can dig in for the win.

Billy Jowitt won the ‘Tricks of the trade’ Sponsors Player of the Match for his cool nerves, whilst Eddie Battye won the Phoenix Bar Supporters Player of the Match for his 100% effort over 80 minutes. Ben Littlewood and Ned McCormack impressed on loan from Leeds as did Jordan Baldwinson on loan from Doncaster, but everyone played their part in what was a good team effort.

Hunslet travel to Oldham next week in the 1895 Cup to try and make amends for a below par performance there a fortnight ago.

HUNSLET – Abram, Agoro, McCormack, Harrop, Graham, Gaskell, Jowitt, Hallas, Berry, Nicholson-Watton, Gilmore, Littlewood, Battye, Carr, O’Hanlon, Baldwinson, Butterfield, Ward.

NEWCASTLE THUNDER – Lipp, Djeukessi, Ferreira, Reynolds, Ward, Hunter, Roberts, Sagaga, Pemberton, Santi, Whittingham, Foster, Vuniyayawa, Inman, Jackson, Antrobus, Tennison.