Recap
| Well here we are again the real start to the campaign with the Northern Rail Cup a competition where last season we progressed through the group stage but unfortunately went out in the knock out rounds to a strong Featherstone side. I’m sure Barry Eaton will want to take his squad as far as possible in this years competition. Tonight see’s another stage in Hunslet’s long and proud history with HIST taking full charge of the club I’m sure all supporters not only Hunslet but rugby league in general wish HIST and Hunslet all the best in this new era.
Tonight’s game got underway and just 6 minutes in fresh from illness’s David March was up to his old tricks setting up Josh Nathaniel perfectly to dance over the line and score, Danny Rat hastily added two at 6-0 up and the Hawks looked in good form. But Whitehaven bit back an unorganised Hawks defence meant the ball was allowed to travel freely across the park and eventually reached Chris Fleming who pushed himself in at the corner for Whitehavens first this was duly converted and the score was level.The Northern Rail Cup is always very competitive allowing Championship and Championship 1 sides to show off their talents.Both sides were in it to win it but it was the Hawks who kept up the fast pace winger Lee Brickwood broke away and only just got caught short of the line, Marchy scooped it up from half back threw a convincing dummy and then dived over the line himself to score; definitely a reward for his excellent work this half. Conversion added 12-6 was the score with 10 minutes left to go.The Hawks did not stop there Dennis Tuffour intercepted a ball and sprinted down his wing, realising he was about to get caught offloaded to Danny Rat who grounded it under the sticks.Danny was looking in fine form with the boot his conversion rate standing at 100% after the 3rd try. A well disciplined defence made sure Whitehaven completed their sets in their own half which ensured that the Hawks would go in at the break on top.At 18-6 the home side could be confident but would have to make sure that this hard work continued to until the end to secure the win! Hoping to mirror the first half’s performance the Hawks wasted no time and just 6 minutes in Danny Allen spotted an opportunity to chip the ball into the corner, it was full back Ratcliffe who got to it first reaching out to put his hand to it and scoring his second.As the points racked up spirits within the team were high.Whitehaven were eager to show the game was not over yet, prop Dave Houghton took advantage of gap’s in the Hawks defence and breezed over for an easy try, Carl Rudd put 2 more on the board and the Hawks needed to get back on track and settle the game down.The perfect combination of forwards and backs created try number 2 of the half Danny Allen again proving his ability gave a late ball to a Steve Lewis who slid over the line to put the Hawks almost out of reach at 28-12.In Whitehaven’s last efforts Craig Calvert stepped his way through to touch down despite the additional points from the conversion with only 5 minutes left to go it wasn’t enough.The sides were within metres of the Whitehaven line and as a loose ball spilled from a Whitehaven scrum John Oakes somehow managed to get a hold of it and score an opportunist’ try in the final seconds .As Danny Rat sent the ball flying between the sticks the hooter blew and the game was done at 34-18. A great start to our Northern Rail Cup Campaign, although there will be points that Barry will want to improve on, all in all a fantastic performance full of skill and enthusiasm as well as some excellent individual displays. Well done to all the boys See you on Sunday at the Leigh Sporting Village for the fixture against Swinton Niamh |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||