As there was nothing of note to report on today, except that we entertained Mayfield ARLFC at the Greyhound Stadium in 1975, it might be a good time to look back at the other junior teams we’ve faced in the cups since 1895.
Initially, there were many junior clubs in the intermediate or first rounds of the Challenge Cup but after around ten seasons this reduced down, usually to two a season, so opportunities for them were rare and the chance of a good payday gratefully received. From 1971/72 they were also admitted to the John Player / Regal Trophy.
Our first junior opponent were in the first Challenge Cup competition in1896/97 where Broughton Moor were seen off 75-5 The following season saw much closer affair, 8-3 over Lancaster.
Other clubs prior to WW1 were -1898/99 Maryport – 1899/1900 and 1900/01, their Cumbrian neighbours, Wath Brow – 1902/03 Cleckheaton and Outwood Church – 1904/05 Parton and 1905/06 Saville Green in the Yorkshire Cup.
All these clubs were defeated reasonably comfortably with no signs of a shock result.
After WW1, it would be 1938/39 before United Glass Blowers of St Helens were our next non-league opponents. 1949/50 saw Worsley Boys Club (Salford) in a 2-legged tie, as were the Yorkshire Amateurs in the 1950/51 Yorkshire Cup. This was a representative side of players from the Yorkshire region.
1958/59 it was the turn of Kells Centre, 1961/62 Oldham St Annes, 1970/71 Thames Board Mills (Warrington) and in 1972/73 Millom. Mayfield from Rochdale were the 1974/75 visitors and in 1977/78 the National Dock Labour Board (Hull) were the visitors in the John Player Trophy.
1985/86 and 1991/92 saw Kells again in opposition with a tie at Leigh Miners Welfare in between in 1987/88.
1993/94 Barrow Island and 1994/95 Wigan St Patricks were the opponents in the Challenge Cup and 1995/96 it was Ellenborough in the John Player Trophy. In 1996 and 1998 we took on Skirlaugh with a tie against Woolston Rovers in 1997.
All the matches to this point had ended in Hunslet victories, but in 1998 came the low point in Hunslet’s matches against junior clubs, a 12-14 defeat at Ellenborough. Ellenborough had beaten Bramley in the previous round. In the first half Chris Ross and Rob Wilson were dismissed and this proved to be too much to overcome to secure the victory.
Throughout the summer era it was most seasons we saw the amateurs – 1999 Townville – 2001 Thornhill Trojans – 2002 Woolston Rovers – 2004 Featherstone Lions – 2005 Haydock – 2006 East Hull – 2007 Rochdale Mayfield – 2008 Bank Quay Bulls – 2009 Kells – 2010 Leigh East – 2011 Warrington Wizards – 2013 Royal Navy – 2018 Oulton Raiders – 2019 West Bowling – 2022 Siddal – 2023 Heworth and this season………..
Of course, amateur sides were not always the opposition. Twice we have had pay disputes with the players at the start of the season. 1948/49 the players were on strike and East Leeds stepped up to fulfil our first two fixtures at Wigan and Bramley.
1970/71, again a strike caused Hunslet to bring in the Juniors, two selected Leeds and District teams largely based on Bison ARLFC, took on Oldham and Bramley. Needless to say, all the games were comfortable wins for our opponents.
