Recap
The Hawks visit to Craven Park didn’t go as planned as they endured a nightmare first half and the game looked over at half time. A monumental effort in the second half was rewarded only with a bonus point which was disappointing in the end. Plenty of positives to be taken especially as some of the new recruits had never played alongside the boys and Barry’s squad worked hard to pull it back.
The ideal start a Barrow error from the kick off was the encouragement the Hawks needed. A clever kick through the line and skipper March was the first one with his hand to it with only an impressive 16 seconds on the clock. He kicked the conversion 6-0 the score. The visitors would have been foolish to believe that this opening try was going to keep them safe. A catalogue of errors and missed tackles giving the home side something to cheer about on 10 minutes as Hood got his hands free on the Barrow line but his offload went wayward and found its way into the hands of Clay who ran the full length to score an interception try for the Raiders. A penalty for a high tackle on the following play saving Barrow any hard yards instead rewarding them with perfect field position. This time the try coming from Campbell who beat Watson with the dummy to touchdown under the posts. The Hawks who were playing for desperate points today could not afford to be slipping up, they thought they had clawed themselves back into it with a clear break from Welham with options on the inside, however he risked the pass outside and the ball was turned over. The Barrow side came knocking a few times but the Hawks managed to keep them out as Oakes and Davies influential in slowing down the Cumbrian forwards. Repeat defending sets threatened the line and another two tries ran in against the Hawks in quick succession with Davies and Low both crossing the whitewash. A terrible score with only minutes left to play of the half. Eaton’s side looked beaten and to make matters worse winger Kain was left stranded on a 2 on 1 situation on the right hand side and Barrow went on to score once again 28-6 after 40 minutes.
A big ask to come back from this one, but there was still plenty left to play for and not even a bonus point on the cards as the score stood. The Hawks outfit open things up with Pryce on a storming run and pass to Clough who got it away to Watson. Watson hauled to the floor just short of the line. A 10 yard surge for the line from Clough who was supporting on the outside and he had got it over scoring on his debut. Mathew Tebb also new to the Hawks camp was playing his part dancing past defenders if was almost a well worked try but the ball just coming loose from his hands. It would have been the game changer. The Hawks were now rampant as Thomas Coyle ran across the face of the line showing it but going himself before a final ball to Kain to slide over in the corner. Second from bottom in the league the Hawks were threatening the comeback. Mapals setting them on their way capitalising from the error an outstanding full length try from the winger. Coyle this time slotting the extra’s 22-28. Barrow caught offside at the restart it was a determined Tommy Haughey plunge over the line to reduce the deficit even more crossing from close range. The clock ticked down and Barry’s side were fighting for points in the last minutes of the game the Hawks piled on the pressure to Barrow and earned the ball back from an opposition scrum. Watson right in the mix trying to get the ball across for a winning try, this time Mapals just inches from the line again but the ball was dropped and the opportunity lost. A scrappy end as neither side could handle the intensity and mistakes were flowing but as the hooter blew a relieved Barrow side clung on in a tense finale.
28-26 in a game of two halves, the Hawks had excited the spectators with a battle in the final 40 minutes but found themselves again with just a bonus point. A win today was vital in edging away from the bottom making the defeat difficult a difficult one to take. A tough assignment at home next week against recent Northern Rail winners the Leigh Centurions hopefully the boys can pull something out for that one, hope to see you all there.
Hunslet RLFC Line up
1. Jimmy Watson
2. Waine Pryce
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
3. Jake Normington
Sponsored by: Available Call 0113 2712730
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. James Houston
Sponsored by: Stephen Bower Bespoke Joinery
9. Liam Hood
Sponsored by: Colin & Kath Smith
10. James Davies
Sponsored by: Elliott & Ewan Green
11. Tommy Haughey
Sponsored by: Dawn Caley
12. John Oakes
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
13. David March
Sponsored by: A & R Construction
14. Matthew Tebb
15. Luke Menzies
Sponsored by: Fred & Jane Hopkins
16. Lee Mapals
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
17. Chris Clough
Sponsored by: Heineken
Timeline
00:01 David March Try
00:02 David March Goal
00:49 Chris Clough Try
00:50 James Coyle Goal
00:55 Stuart Kain Try
00:57 Lee Mapals Try
00:58 James Coyle Goal
01:00 Tommy Haughey Try