Recap
A trip across the Pennine’s to the Leigh Sporting Village as the Hawks took on the Leigh Centurions in round 2 of the Championship was always a daunting test as Leigh were on the back of a heavy defeat they would be looking to back to winning ways.The conditions across in Lancashire looked bleak and as kick off approached both sets of fans would be hoping that their side would put up a good performance. Hunslet suffered from the powerful Leigh attack and no team can afford to give their opposition a 12 point lead especially with only 7 minutes on the clock. Tries from Sean Penkywicz and Martyn Ridyard left the Hunslet boys on the back foot and struggling to find a way of getting back into the game. Attempting to bounce back from the early domination Danny Ansell opted to use the boot with long down field kicks in an effort to allow the Hawks some time to recover from the continuous defending sets. With 4 of the first choice players now off the field with injuries the Hawks were really looking down the barrel and poor defence again in centre field left Kainy struggling to pull off a try saving tackle and Matt Gardener crossed the Centurion line to reward his side with the 4 points. Sam Hopkins took the inside ball perfectly and crossed for another and 22-0 at was disappointing. Hunslet looked to have regained composure and 10 minutes before the break they were almost across the line twice themselves. Welham and Lee Brickwood working effectively with the ball in hand and having one try disallowed for a dubious knock on decision, was about the only positive to come from the first half.
The side weren’t beaten yet and had the potential to get back from 22-0 or at least fight for a bonus point but the Hawks again struggled to make any yards against a punishing and well organised Leigh defence. The teams were locked at 22-0 for the duration of the second half as Hunslet tried hard to put up a more determined convincing effort.
Now down to 2 available substitutes we held the Centurions at bay for long periods before Michael Ostick hit a gap and caught out the right side defenders to cross left of the posts, Ridyard had his kicking boots on and landed the conversion, 28-0. A trip to Leigh was never going to be an easy one for the Hawks but after a brilliant game last week the boys may have been hoping for a better result. There was still time left though and reliable second rower Oakesy attempted to with recently dual registered Richard Moore but the ball was ripped away and awarded to the home side. A decision that potentially cost the Hawks a try they desperately needed. With the game all but over, the Leigh outfit were determined to play until the death as Ridyard put through a grubber Prycey thought he had had dealt with it but it bounced around in play and Beswick dived over for the last of the afternoon. The final whistle blew at a score of 40-0.Not a score anyone was happy with but Leigh had put out a strong team who were well prepared and the Hawks had been hit with a few injuries this week. Hopefully the return of some halfbacks a more structured and confident Hawks team will take the field for the game against Dewsbury and will soon be back to winning ways!A word of praise for Richard Moore who played for 75 minutes and got through a huge amount of work making several breaks and proved a real handful, let’s hope he’s available next week and we can get David March, Danny Grimshaw & Luke Helliwell back on the field.
Hunslet RLFC Line up
1. Stuart Kain
Sponsored by: Beth Hampshire
2. Lee Brickwood
Sponsored by: Eric Simon
3. David Clayton
Sponsored by: Barry & Norma Harding
4. Liam Welham
Sponsored by: Adrian Jinks
5. Waine Pryce
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
6. Danny Ansell
7. Paul Hughes
Sponsored by: The Mortgage Guide 0113 2198395
8. Luke Menzies
Sponsored by: Fred & Jane Hopkins
9. Luke Haigh
Sponsored by: Elliott & Ewan Green
10. James Houston
Sponsored by: Stephen Bower Bespoke Joinery
11. John Oakes
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
12. Tommy Haughey
Sponsored by: Dawn Caley
13. David March
Sponsored by: A & R Construction
14. Andrew Yates
Sponsored by: Village Urban Resorts South Leeds
15. Liam Hood
Sponsored by: Colin & Kath Smith
16. Steve Lewis
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
17. Richard Moore
Sponsored by: Available Call 0113 2712730