Recap
The Hawks were forced to bring in some new recruits for the game at Keepmoat Stadium as they still struggle with a mounting injury crisis. James Davies, Liam McAvoy and Alex Foster all put on Hawks shirts for the first time and Jimmy Keinhorst made a welcome return. Both Hunslet and Doncaster are struggling down the bottom end of the table and so both teams were well up for the arm wrestle. Barry Eaton’s side came off second best as they let the game get away from them despite being in front at half time yet again walking away with a bonus point.
The home side punished the Hawks in the opening quarter with the majority of the possession they crossed the line twice. The first when Cooke managed to get a ball away for Sanderson to squeeze in at the corner, the second after a string of missed tackles it wasn’t the start that Hunslet were hoping for. The visitors woke up after 20 minutes and hooker Liam Hood scored under the sticks, Keinhorst was almost across plays later only an ankle tap stopping him in his tracks. Doncaster hadn’t closed up shop though and it was defensive efforts from Oakes and Haughey that kept them at bay. Another try was on the cards a beautiful pass out for winger Kain to finish off; March landed a difficult conversion to level things. The Hawks looked to be dominating proceedings as they battled to keep Donny away from the whitewash; Jimmy Watson was shown the yellow card minutes before the half was up. One man down the Hawks would struggle to play out the final sets without conceding another. But the try of the half was yet to come, high off the boot of Coyle, Liam Welham flew out of the line stole it out of the air and grounded it making it look easy. He had put his side a try in front for the break plenty of positives to be taken away from the first 40.
Apart from the Hawks receiving a penalty early on; which March converted it was Doncaster who got crossed for three easy tries putting the game seemingly past any doubt for the home side. Hunslet has been poor in defence granting the opposition their points and in turn throwing away a game they had control of. In the dying stages the Hawks did manage to threaten a comeback as Pryce took the ball from the restart working his way downfield Davies challenging the line, McAvoy giving it a go as well as a final ball to Keinhorst who went flying through and got over for the line on his return to the side; march converted to set up a frantic finish. Haughey lost the ball in the final minute just a yard short of the line and Doncaster wound down the clock.
A bonus point the result, a win would have been ideal. A lot more confidence then but as the season draws to a close the Hawks really need to be looking to make the most of winnable games. Hopefully things will be pay off next week as we face Barrow, hope to see you all there.
Hunslet RLFC Line up
1. Jimmy Watson
2. Waine Pryce
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
3. Jimmy Keinhorst
Sponsored by: In memory of John Hodgson
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 Davies
Sponsored by: Elliott & Ewan Green
9. Liam Hood
Sponsored by: Colin & Kath Smith
10. James Houston
Sponsored by: Stephen Bower Bespoke Joinery
11. Alex Foster
Sponsored by: Available Call 0113 2712730
12. John Oakes
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
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. Tommy Haughey
Sponsored by: Dawn Caley
17. Liam McAvoy
Sponsored by: Available Call 0113 2712730
Timeline
00:15 Liam Hood Try
00:16 David March Goal
00:19 Stuart Kain Try
00:20 David March Goal
00:40 Liam Welham Try
00:41 David March Goal
00:48 David March Goal
01:09 Jimmy Keinhorst Try
01:10 David March Goal