Recap
Hunslet suffered yet another home defeat at the South Leeds Stadium (Sep 7th), this time at the hands of 2nd to bottom Sheffield Eagles.
The Parksiders have one last chance next Saturday against Toulouse to win a home game and halt a grisly record of losing all their home games in a season for a first time in the Clubs history.
It started so well for the Parksiders, on 4 minutes a Lee Gaskell kick was pounced on by Ethan Wood to score the opening try. Billy Jowitt converting 6-0 and hopes were up, but 5 minutes later after Hunslet had knocked-on Danny Craven dummied and went over for his 100th career try. 6-4
The intensity shown last week at Widnes was not there and slowly Sheffield started to gain control. Although Coby Nichol came close to scoring in the corner Liam Carr had to make an excellent try saving tackle to stop the Eagles.
However, on 19 minutes Hunslet ran out of defenders as quick hands to the right saw Sheffield with a four man overlap and Ryan Millar finished a simple touch down. Joe Farrell converting 6-10.
Hunslet have conceded many tries this season on the last tackle and this happened again on 25 minutes as Sheffield went left and Will Oakes scored. 6-16
Hunslet were making handling errors and inviting Sheffield to attack, and on 32 minutes after another penalty Martyn Reilly added another score. 6-20
Hunslet tried to get back into the game before the break, but although Zach McSwiney went close they were short of ideas and it was Sheffield who bombed a certain try on the hooter, leaving Hunslet 14 points adrift at the break. 6-20
The second half started with Hunslet on the front foot, but they had a lack of ideas in attack, although Coby Nichol went close and McSwiney and Gaskell tried to wriggle over the line eventually the ball went dead and Sheffield could break out.
More mistakes invited Sheffield up field and after quarter of an hour of constant defence a break down the middle sent Ed Battye over for Sheffield for the killer try. 6-26
This punctured Hunslet’s confidence, and although on his 250th appearance Jimmy Watson put in a text book tackle on Billy Walkley Sheffield added another on 62 minutes when a loose pass was scooped up by Matthew Marsh. 6-30
Frustration set in and Matty Fletcher was sent off. Now down to 12 men Marsh, Bower and Kris Welham added tries for Sheffield to rub salt in the wound and Joe Farrell ended the day with 5 conversions.
On the hooter Hunslet looked dejected, can they get up for one last big effort against Toulouse?
On his 250th Club appearance Jimmy Watson won the Phoenix Bar Supporters Player of the Match, whilst Harrison Gilmore took the ‘Tricks of the Trade’ Sponsors Player of the Match.