Sheffield Eagles 28-26 Hunslet RLFC
Aiden Doolan scored a late brace of tries to give Hunslet a chance of a well-deserved point at The Home of Football Stadium, against 7th placed Sheffield Eagles, but it wasn’t to be as Doolan’s injury time conversion went wide of the posts agonisingly, leaving Sheffield 28-26 up.
Hunslet looked out of it on the hour trailing 28-16, but the lively hooker gave The Parksiders a chance with his late tries.
The early attacks were all Sheffield as Jimmy Watson was called into action to prevent a Billy Walkley try, but on 7 minutes the hosts got the lead on the last tackle as Sheffield put two kicks up and palmed back a loose ball for Joe Brown to score a fortunate try. Jordan Abdull converting 6-0
Hunslet’s restart went straight dead which added to the pressure, and losing the ball early in the tackle count could have made things worse but for Watson clearing up at fullback.
Eventually Hunslet got the ball and started to play, on 15 minutes Lee Gaskell put a good kick up and Jayden Hatton reached highest to take the ball and score, Doolan converting 6-6.
Both teams lost possession, but on 21 minutes after a penalty for interference Connor Bower found a gap and went over to score, Abdul converting 12-6.
Hunslet were defending well, but Abdull’s kicking was causing problems. However with the ball Hunslet looked sharp and dangerous.
On 30 minutes Eddie Battye tore into the Eagles’ defence and from the next play Ant Walker set up an attack to the left for Myles Harrop to hit at pace and score. 4 minutes later after Sheffield fumbled a kick Harrison Gilmore looked to have been tackled but reached out to score. 12-16 with Doolan adding the extras.
Although Sheffield finished the half strongly Hunslet deserved the lead at the break in an entertaining and even game. Half time 12-16
Hunslet needed composure at the start of the second period, but made a mistake in the first set. The ball went loose on the last tackle and Sheffield retrieved the ball well into The Parksiders’ half.
Although Hunslet defended well at first on 43 minutes Alex Foster touched down by the sticks and with Abdul’s conversion Sheffield led 18-16.
The Eagles smelt blood and went for Hunslet. A loose pass had been ruled to be a knock-on and from the resulting scrum quick play to the left saw Billy Walkley show a clean pair of heels to score. 22-16
The next try was going to be important, but all the play was in Hunslet’s half. A chance to get out was lost when Lee Gaskell’s kick was just a touch too strong.
Hunslet looked to have survived when Mo Agoro fielded a kick, but the ball came loose and ex-Hunslet man Greg Eden was there to sweep up and score, Jordan Abdul adding the extras 28-16 with a quarter of the game to play.
With O’Hanlon and Baldwinson running well Hunslet started to head up field, but near to the line they lacked that killer ball to unlock the Sheffield defence.
It looked like the 12 point gap was too much, but on 73 minutes after more pressure Aiden Doolan scooted from acting halfback and found a big gap in the Eagles defence. Converting his own try it was now 28-22.
Lee Gaskell was putting in tricky kicks and even Jimmy Watson put a kick in for Mo Agoro, but the Eagles’ defence batted it away at the last second.
With O’Hanlon, Hallas and Gilmore making inroads Aiden Doolan again broke the Eagles line to score way out to the left of the posts on 80 minutes.
Doolan, on-loan from Castleford would be fourth choice kicker at Hunslet but for injuries, stepped up to take the conversion, but it just drifted wide and although Hunslet tried to snatch it with a late Gaskell bomb Sheffield knocked it into touch and took the win on the hooter.
It was harsh on Hunslet, who would feel they deserved at least a draw. Save for a poor 15 minutes early in the second half they were impressive with ball in hand and dogged in defence.
Aidan Doolan again had a superb game, as did Harrison Gilmore, Myles Harrop and Jimmy Watson who retires at the end of the Season after 13 Seasons at the Club.
Sheffield Eagles: Eden, Millar, Brown, Gill, Walkley, Johnson, Abdull, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Foster, Griffin. Interchange: Fitzsimmons, Bussey, Butterworth, Peachey.
Hunslet RLFC: Watson, Agoro, Hatton, Harrop, Graham, Gaskell, Battye, Larroyer, Doolan, Grice, Gilmore, Carr, Baldwinson. Interchange: Berry, Hallas, O’Hanlon, Walker. 18th Player: Darcy Simpson.
