Recap
The Hawks had the win cruelly stolen from them in Sunday’s top of the table clash. The home side looked to have the game won at 18-8 but saw it slip away as injuries hit both Danny Grimshaw and Liam Hood and Skipper David March was sent to the sin bin stacking the odds against Barry’s boys. A final score of 20-18 saw the City Knights secure the league leaders on Hawks soil.
The hosts had control of the opening half offering all they had in attack. Although the boys were dominating on a number of occasions they failed to supply the final touches. Desperate to get some points on the board Luke Briscoe gave a pass out left for Brickwood, oncoming traffic knocked the wind out of the winger he came up with an unusual error spilling the ball on the line. After spending lengthy periods attacking the Hawks simply had to defend. The ranks should have been up to the task but looked shaky in patches. Fullback Watson relieved his side throwing the ball dead as Ford darted behind him looking to get his hand to it. Moments later the boys were having to wrestle to hold Roche up from the line. The home side’s response showed how much they wanted it today. James Duckworth on debut took a while to settle in but was causing problems all over the field when he did, Richard Moore in similar fashion putting in some hard yards for the club. However, it was not until the 35th minute that the Hunslet outfit finally managed to break the line. A storming run from Peltier gave Liam Hood the route across the whitewash. But the equalising try came shortly after; panicked mistakes granted the Knights James Ford his first points of the game.
The spectators expected nothing less than a fiery second half. A high tackle from the Hawks Richard Moore awarded two points to the visitors but the forward hit back in the only way he knows how. Crashing under the sticks to put the ball down the Hawks were making the top of the league side look ordinary. Coyle hit a gap in the York line and crossed in the set that followed a comfortable 18-8 lead with 10 minutes left to play the Hunslet side should have put the game to bed but the dream started to turn into a nightmare. Injuries hit both Grimshaw and Hood and the Hawks were faced with some tough calls from the officials. Despite Jimmy Watson putting his body on the line to make some try saving tackles his efforts were in vain when repeat sets allowed Saltonstall to get his name on the scoreboard late on. Skipper March unhappy about the try was sent to the bin after questioning the officials about the knock on in the build up. Things went from bad worse when the Hawks just could not recover and still a man down Colton Roche slipped over and delivered the final blow.
The City Knights had pipped the Hawks to the post with a 20-18 victory that had ultimately landed them the league leader’s position. A difficult defeat to take with a spirited effort dampened by things that appeared out of the control of the Hawks. A quick turn around before Friday’s London Skolars game where the boys will no doubt be back on the horse and ready for the challenge.
Hunslet RLFC Line up
1. Jimmy Watson
2. Gavin Duffy
3. Lee Brickwood
Sponsored by: Eric Simon
4. Danny Maun
Sponsored by: Norty Forty
5. James Duckworth
6. Danny Grimshaw
7. Thomas Coyle
Sponsored by: Yorkshire Signs
15. Stuart Kain
Sponsored by: Beth Hampshire
14. Liam Hood
Sponsored by: Colin & Kath Smith
13. Liam Mackay
12. John Oakes
Sponsored by: Leeds Bacon Company Ltd
11. Luke Briscoe
Sponsored by: Pudsey Pre-Cast Ltd
10. Michael Haley
8. Richard Moore
Sponsored by: The Garden Gate Public House
9. David March
Sponsored by: A & R Construction
16. Brooke Broughton
17. Ross Peltier
Sponsored by: The Garden Gate Public House
Timeline
00:34 Liam Hood Try
00:34 Thomas Coyle Goal
01:02 Thomas Coyle Try
01:02 David March Goal
01:05 Richard Moore Try
01:05 David March Goal