Recap
A devastating 24-25 defeat on Friday evening left the Hawks with two must win games standing in the way of the finals!
Barely 10 minutes on the clock and the Hawks found themselves kicking a penalty rewarded after a nasty high shot on Watson. Skipper David March was welcomed back after illness this week, put the ball just wide of the posts on this occasion. Despite regaining possession after the kick, a wasted attacking set left the Hawks still pointless. The Roughyeds kicking game has got the better of teams throughout the season and the Hunslet side had to battle against it today. Thankfully fullback Jimmy Watson appeared equal to the task comfortably returning the ball from Lewis Palfrey’s long down field kick; he struggled away from 5 tackles and got his team mates to the halfway line. Mackay continued his good form latching onto a March pass he edged the side closer. James Coyle finished things off with a darting run. Dale Bloomfield knocked on just yards away from his line and the home side yet again had the perfect place to start. Brickwood just missed out on one for himself overrunning a chip into the in goal area. The home side finally capitalised as Oakes powered through the defence to put the boy’s comfortably two tries ahead. The Coyle brothers looked set to score the third when James broke away and gave an inside ball to Tommy who was supporting but the stand off didn’t have the legs to make it home. The visitors seized on a defensive blunder before the break and walked over in the corner. Crowley dropped a goal confidently as the hooter blew and the Oldham outfit had put themselves right back in the game.
The Hawks came apart after an unexpected opening storm. Eaton’s side failed to produce any sort of defence and Oldham came back from being 12-7 down to 12 – 24 up in just 20 minutes. Tries courtesy of Bloomfield, Langtree and Ward gave them the advantage. Hunslet had struggled to answer the dominance of the Roughyeds, but David March knew he had to lead the fight back and gave his side a lifeline when he pounced on a loose ball and pushed his way over the whitewash. Gavin Duffy had the supporters on their feet after producing a moment of magic, chipping the ball over the top of a line of defenders and collecting it himself. The winger sprinted over to touch it down and the South Leeds stadium was electric with hopes they could steal one more before full time. March barely had time to convert when the whistle blew and the Hawks had been beaten by a point in the crucial round one game.
The Hawks fans roared for the entire game but even their encouragement was not enough today. A difficult defeat to take but taking their feet off the pedal after half time had cost the boys. Hunslet now face Gateshead at home in a must win clash, the return of Lee Mapals to South Leeds will surely make for an exciting one.
Hunslet RLFC Line up
1. Jimmy Watson
2. Gavin Duffy
3. Danny Maun
Sponsored by: Norty Forty
4. Lee Brickwood
Sponsored by: Eric Simon
5. James Duckworth
6. Thomas Coyle
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
7. James Coyle
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
8. Richard Moore
Sponsored by: The Garden Gate Public House
9. David March
Sponsored by: A & R Construction
10. Michael Haley
11. John Oakes
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
12. Aaron Lyons
Sponsored by: Linda Hemingway
13. Liam Mackay
14. Luke Stenchion
Sponsored by: J Mulkeen & Co Builders Ltd
15. James Houston
Sponsored by: Stephen Bower Bespoke Joinery
16. Liam Hood
Sponsored by: Colin & Kath Smith
17. Ross Peltier
Sponsored by: The Garden Gate Public House
Timeline
00:12 James Coyle Try
00:12 David March Goal
00:25 John Oakes Try
00:25 David March Goal
01:11 David March Try
01:11 David March Goal
01:13 Gavin Duffy Try
01:13 David March Goal