Recap
June 15th seems a long time ago, when Hunslet pushed and should have beaten Featherstone on their own patch. The Flat-cappers were in no mood for another close game at the South Leeds Stadium (July 11th) as they ran out easy winners against a lacklustre Hunslet.
After the departure of Head Coach Dean Muir interim Coaches Kyle Trout and Michael Knowles inspired a great defensive display last week against Bradford Bulls, but in the heat this week Hunslet fell apart and conceded 30 points in the final 10 minutes.
Injuries to Brad Clavering and Sam Webb-Campbell during the match didn’t help, and the Parksiders missed the attacking nous of Lee Gaskell, but on only 3 minutes a dropped kick resulted in a scrum to Featherstone, from which they shipped it easily to the left for Aekins to score. Reynolds converting 0-6
Hunslet can defend as a team when in the game, but invite more pressure with mistakes and on 13 minutes Derrell Olpherts scored his first of the day. 0-10
Although Keelan Foster kept Hunslet in the game with a try saving tackle, The Parksiders were reduced to 12 men when Coby Nichol was sin-binned for a high tackle. Moments later Featherstone made use of the numbers and Olpherts scored his 2nd in the corner. 0-14 on 22 minutes.
The former Castleford winger completed his hat trick on 29 minutes rounding the defence too easily and at 0-18 Hunslet had a mountain to climb.
Mackenzie Turner cleared a dangerous kick and Harvey Hallas and Matty Fletcher tackled well, but on 34 minutes Gareth Gale reached out of a tackle to score. 0-22
Luckily Featherstone were scoring in the corner making it difficult for Ben Reynolds to convert, but Hunslet lacked ideas in attack and at the break trailed 0-22.
The second half started with another Hunslet mistake and on only 42 minutes James Glover reached over to score on his 200th career appearance. Reynolds converting 0-28.
Although Mackenzie Turner and Lloyd McEwan-Peters made a break missed tackles meant Clay Webb made yards for Rovers before Connor Jones finished off. 0-34
A bright moment happened for Hunslet on 59 minutes when Billy Jowitt dummied his way over, but with no conversion it stood at 4-34 on the hour.
Although Jordan Syme kicked a 40/20 and Jowitt and Syme looked sharp Hunslets defence went to pieces as Gale and Reynolds added quick tries to make it 4-46 on 71 minutes.
From now on Hunslet collapsed and Aekins, Jones, Beckett and finally Hampshire added tries to make it 4-70. The last try gallingly coming from a failed short kick-off.
All in all it was a day to forget for the home side. A week off now may mean some injured bodies may return before the trip to Oldham (July 27th), but Hunslets home form has been dire this season and if they are to remain in the Championship things must improve.
Jordan Syme received the Tricks of the Trade Sponsors Man of the Match and Billy Jowitt the Phoenix Bar Supporters Man of the Match.