Recap
After getting off to a flying start against the Cougars in a must win game the Hawks suffered yet another defeat. Efforts were there but a late second half fight from the home side meant the Hunslet outfit come away from the weekend with just a bonus point.
A 40-20 in the opening set followed by a challenge for the line from quick centre Brickwood was all the encouragement for the first try. Tommy Haughey had suffered an injury niggle earlier in the set but storming across the line he got the ball away to Andy Yates who touched it down on 8 minutes. The point scoring spell continued as a high tackle gave the Hawks the opportunity to push further in front and David March took over kicking duties and slotted it between the posts. The fans were out of their seats and the players convinced they had scored again. Pryce chipped the ball through, picked it up and put it over the line but the official blew for the earlier decision and the try wasn’t given. The first Keighley try came after some sloppy defence and mistakes in the counter attack, the Cougars scored another minutes later as the quick succession pushed them back into the lead as the break neared. Brendan Rawlins and Scott Law getting their names on the scoreboard and both tries converted. Coming into the game with a string of disappointing results a strong Hawks pack looked determined to put things right. Coyle was going to control the rest of the opening half storming through the opponent’s first line he broke clear with only the fullback left to deal with and a late ball to Jimmy Watson finished off a lovely try for Eaton’s side. March had his kicking boots on and landed the conversion to make the score 14-12 at half time.
3 penalties in the space of 15 minutes allowed for easy points on the board and the Hawks had quickly put themselves 8 points clear of the Keighley side. Their composure had meant they could relax a little Welham and Kain both questioning the home side but no tries came from it. The quiet spell soon changed and the Hawks suffered when James Haley slid over for a controversial try, the ball looked to have been knocked on but after consulting the linesman it was given. The Hawks were quickly losing grip of their ideal start as the ball was passed down the line the defence failed to move with it a spiralling pass out to the centre Cosgrove who scored in the corner. From here the Hunslet outfit couldn’t control the ball enough to put any pressure on Paul March’s side and would suffer disappointment again when James Feather crossed on 73 mins putting them out of the game. Tempers flared and as a bust up broke out twice on the Hawks line it was youngster Jimmy Watson sent to the bin in the final minutes of the game.
20-28 a tough fixture in the heat and the Keighley side are certainly big opponents especially at Cougar Park. Taking away a bonus point will have been a positive and hopefully with some players to return from injury means for an exciting game at Doncaster next week.
Hunslet RLFC Line up
1. Jimmy Watson
2. Waine Pryce
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
3. Lee Brickwood
Sponsored by: Eric Simon
4. Liam Welham
Sponsored by: Adrian Jinks
5. Stuart Kain
Sponsored by: Beth Hampshire
6. Thomas Coyle
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
7. James Coyle
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
8. Andrew Yates
Sponsored by: Village Urban Resorts South Leeds
9. Liam Hood
Sponsored by: Colin & Kath Smith
10. Michael Haley
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. Luke Haigh
Sponsored by: Elliott & Ewan Green
15. Luke Menzies
Sponsored by: Fred & Jane Hopkins
16. Lee Mapals
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
17. Matthew Tebb
Timeline
00:08 Andrew Yates Try
00:09 David March Goal
00:20 David March Goal
00:35 Jimmy Watson Try
00:36 David March Goal
00:50 David March Goal
00:54 David March Goal
00:60 David March Goal