Recap
Hunslet came close to their best victory in years, taking a good Widnes Vikings side all the way in a thriller at the DCBL Stadium.
Widnes had won 4 and lost only 1 game prior to today and sat at the top end of the table. With the bookies giving Hunslet a 28+ point start, they could be forgiven for thinking it would be an easy afternoon, but from the off, The Parksiders had other ideas.
With a raft of injuries, Hunslet brought in four loan players, but from kick-off, with Dan Abram looking lively, Mackenzie Turner went close in the right-hand corner.
Widnes pressed, but Hunslet stood strong and on 8 minutes Eddie Battye and Lee Gaskell combined to send on-loan Ben Littlewood over for a try. 0-4
The game went from end to end. Another interception set Widnes up, but Billy Jowitt held firm at full-back, Hunslet were playing well and Widnes were frustrated.
On 20 minutes though, after a penalty, a nice flat pass undid Hunslet as Jordan Johnstone went over to score. Abdull converting 6-4
At this point, Hunslet switched off as Widnes came straight down the left edge for Max Roberts to score a good try. 10-4 after 22 minutes.
It was frustrating as Hunslet had been so good at defense, but on 27 minutes, with the Vikings attacking again, Charlie Graham picked up a loose pass and, combining with Mackenzie Turner, scored a full-length try. 10-8.
With a bit of momentum behind them, Hunslet let it slip by not fielding the kick-off, and after a drop-out on the last tackle, Ryan Ince went over to score for the hosts. 14-8
The game swung from side to side and Hunslet were the next to score. On 35 minutes, after Bureta Faraimo went close, Lee Gaskell sent out a superb ball hit well by Harvey Hallas to score on the sticks. Billy Jowitt converting 14-14.
That should have been that for the first half, but again Hunslet miss-fielded the kick-off and were tackled behind their own line. The resulting set saw Widnes go left and Sambou offloaded well for Nathan Connell to score. 18-14 at the break.
With nothing in it, Hunslet came with a new purpose in the second half. Charlie Graham was particularly threatening, and Bureta Faraimo went close, but on 45 minutes a Lee Gaskell kick was plucked brilliantly from the air by Myles Harrop to score. Billy Jowitt converting 18-20
Hunslet looked fired up and attacked again, but the most controversial moment came as Widnes were attacking. Dan Abram intercepted and went 90 yards to score for Hunslet, but the touch judge intervened and brought it all the way back for a knock-on. The resulting set saw Nathan Connell get his second try in the corner and Widnes edged in front 22-20.
The Parksiders had a chance to level when Billy Jowitt opted to convert a penalty, but the kick fell short. However, Hunslet attacked again on the left as Harrop brilliantly set Faraimo free, the big winger just unable to roll the last man who edged him into touch.
Battye and Gaskell went close, but Hunslet was prone to suicide at times, throwing long passes in their own 20 metres.
Just after Widnes had been reduced to 12 men, when Jay Chapelhow was sin-binned, Nathan Connell and Jumah Sambou combined to put Mike Butt over on 70 minutes, Tom Gilmore converting. 32-20
It looked like the game was over and Hunslet rued their chances, but after Hunslet’s pressure on the last tackle, Charlie Graham put a grubber kick in and managed to touch down just before the dead ball line. Jowitt converted 32-26 with 6 minutes to play.
Hunslet desperately tried to level up, giving the ball some air. Graham again put a little kick in and Mason Corbett tried a last gasp bomb, but it wasn’t to be. Widnes held on for the win.
If Hunslet can replicate this performance over the next few matches, they will take a big scalp. Their position at the moment, 4th from bottom, with 1 win from 5, looks false, but they need to get over the line in games like this.
Against a team who are well fancied to be in the top 4, they will take the performance and build. Charlie Graham was superb, and Harrop/Faraimo combined well. Dan Abram had his best match and all the loan players were impressive, especially Tom Nicholson-Watton.
Hunslet have a week off next week, then host Barrow Raiders at the South Leeds Stadium on March 22nd.