10th August….
The 1953 Lazenby Cup was played today and respected rugby journalist Alfred Drury asked “Charity Match – but where was the benevolence?” and reported “the player’s charity began and ended at home. The only thing they gave away were hard knocks behind the referee’s back.” Jack Evans, Hunslet’s full-back, was off for some time with a badly cut eye and Leeds lined up at one scrum with only 10 fit players. The only good thing to come of the match was the £1,262 raised for the benefit of junior rugby but Drury hoped they did not feel obliged to copy the style of their elders. Some rugby was played as Leeds won 15-10.
Signing on today was former Braford Northern and Leeds winger Ernest Atkinson. He would be with the Parksiders for three seasons making 49 appearances and scoring 19 tries.
11th August….
Although the rugby league had instructed clubs not to approach the old Hunslet players before New Hunslet had put together their squad, Oldham announced that Bob Gaitley would be turning out for them in a pre-season friendly. They stated they had submitted his papers before the instruction was issued but the Executive Committee refused to register Gaitely. He was back in Hunslet colours mid-way through the first season.
The Lazenby cup game in 1951 saw the first time substitutes were used in a Hunslet game. The subs were only to be used to replace injured players in the first half. As the Lazenby Cup matches were friendlies, Hunslet were generous in allowing Leeds to replace Staniland in the second half which was to backfire on them as, two minutes from time, Leeds scored the equalising try as Hunslet forward Thompson was trying to walk off a knock rather than bring on a replacement. There had been an one previous substitution in the 30s when the weather played havoc with travelling and Hunslet started without Les White who was running late. He was ready to play after about 20 minutes and the referee allowed him to replace his substitute even thought his was strictly against the laws of the game. It would be the early 60s before substitutions were allowed and then only for players injured in the first half.
The programme for the 1958 Lazenby Cup at Parkside today reported there were no changes to the playing personnel except that Arthur Talbot had moved to Batley. Jack Walkington remained as Coach and Manager of the first team and Jack Evans doing the same for the “A” team. A new P.T. instructer had been appointed in Mr. Stagg and masseur Harry Harrison entered his 13th season with a new assistant, Mr Vincent.
Today in 1996 was the first time Hunslet hosted the new Welsh team South Wales and they lost the game 14-21.
And Welshmen inflicted an unwanted record on Hunslet today as, in 2007, Celtic Crusaders cantered to a 84-10 win, the largest margin of defeat experienced by Hunslet.
The 1954 tour was still ongoing and Geoff Gunney and Alf Burnell were up against South Auckland in Hamilton. It was described as a scrappy game and GB came out on top 26-14.
12th August….
The 1966/67 season opened with today’s Lazenby Cup fixture at Parkside and the programme noted that both sides had absentees due to the tour by Great Britain – Ramsey and Shelton from Hunslet and ex-Parksider Harry Poole and Wrigglesworth from Leeds. Tony Simpson, a Yorkshire U-17 three-quarter, had signed from the Juniors, John Harpin from Thrornhill YC, Dewsbury, and Phillip Evans from Castleford Intermediates who was England U-19s stand-off the previous season.
Phil Evans
13th August….
Also in New Zealand in 1966 Bill Ramsey and Geoff Shelton were up against Canterbury in Christchurch. An easy 53-6 win was notable only for a running battle between the half backs, St Helens’ Tommy Bishop and Gary Clarke. One bit of trouble was ended when GB’s Cliff Watson picked up Clarke bodily and carried him yards from the fight before the ref turned up to administer his warnings.
Canterbury hosted the second 1932 New Zealand v Great Britain test. GB were losing 10-12 at the break but came through to win 25-14 and wrap up a series win. Les White was at hooker and was to play in five of the six Tests as they won both series on the tour.
2017’s League One Shield continued today with a 12-20 defeat at North Wales Crusaders leaving Hunslet with some work to do to reach the final.
It was the start of the 1960/61 season today with a home game against Keighley. The programme notes bemoaned the style of “if we can’t score, we’ll stop the others” rugby played the previous season. They put this forward as a contributor to falling attendances which seemed to be happening in more sports than rugby League.
