11th October….
Yorkshire Cup first round ties today….
In 1911 Hull had made a poor start at home to the season with three consecutive losses before today. That could have changed today as their forwards gained more scrum possession than Hunslet but the tackling of Hunslet’s backs gave Hull’s no chance to create chances and won the match following two passing moves involving Billy Batten and Freddie Farrar. The papers commented that Hunslet had (unlike today’s tackling techniques) learnt the lesson of going low and felling the man with the ball. Bill Jukes is singled out as the best forward on the field either rushing with his forwards or joining in with the backs in their passing moves and he scored the second try which W batten converted to settle the match. Freddie Farrar had scored the first following fine forward work (John Smales had been denied on the line) and when the ball came out a five man passing move finished with Freddie going over just before half-time. Hunslet won 8-2.
York came to Parkside in 1924 and a keen first-half ended with just a Walter Guerin penalty on the scoreboard. Ther second half was all York as their three tries earned them an 11-2 win.
Back to the Boulevard in 1930 in a game Hunslet were probably expected to win but the paper headline summed up their day “Forwards Beaten And Backs Disorganised”. In their defence, Jack Walkington was lost to injury early in the game and Billy Thornton fell heavily on his shoulder for which he off the field for some time. Hull were full value for their 18-5 win.
1981/82 was the season Carlisle RLFC were admitted to the league and Hunslet were one of their early visitors. Not a happy day for Hunslet as they lost 10-36.
Three representative games today featuring Hunslet players….
1899/1900’s Yorkshire Trial had Tommy “Boxer” Young in the Stripes pack and Jack Glew in the White’s. Billy Hannah had been selected but had withdrawn. The Stripes won an uninspiring game 14-11.
‘Boxer’ Young
In the following season’s Trial Herb Robinson was with the Probables and Albert Lunn with the Possibles at Hull Kingston Rovers ground. The Probables won 20-7.
Herb Robinson
1913’s Cumberland v Yorkshire Championship game at Workington had William Fowler in the home pack and Fred Smith at half-back and John Smales in the forwards for Yorkshire. The visitors were expected to win comfortably but The Cumberland forwards dominated the game as they won 8-3.
12th October….
The second and third players to debut in the Rugby League era were William Fletcher and Tommy Leach today in 1895 against Halifax at Parkside. Half-back Fletcher was in the first team for four seasons making 59 appearances and playing in the 1899 Challenge Cup final. Leach signed from Batley and in his fifth season sustained a serious knee injury at Bradford which unfortunately ended his career. He had played in the Championship play-off final in 1898 and the Challenge Cup final in 1899 and made 107 appearances. Tommy’s sons William and Edward played for Hunslet in the 20s and 30s.
Tommy Leach
As the 1965 Wembley side was broken up through retirements and transfers Hunslet turned to their Junior set-up to fill the gaps and one such was Steve Hudson, making his full debut today against Batley at Mount Pleasant. He had played previously in the pre-season Lazenby Cup match against Leeds at Parkside. As a junior he had captained Yorkshire Schoolboys. His last first team game at Parkside was in 1971 having played 34 times and scoring 9 tries and he was struck off as the old club folded. However he returned to action with New Hunslet in 1974 playing a further 31 games and adding 3 tries.
Steve Hudson
Having only ‘come North’ in March, full-back Tus Griffiths was today selected for Wales against England at Swinton in the 1946 European Championship. In what was described as a ‘mediocre’ game, Tus was criticized for shaky catching and kicking early on then praised later for two or three attacking runs. England should have won as their test match front row dominated but their centres wasted many opportunities and despite a furious last ten minutes from England Wales held on to win 13-10.
1935’s Roses match at Widnes featured Cyril Plenderleith, George Todd and Jack Walkington. Hunslet’s men didn’t impress the YP reporter has he mentioned Todd’s faulty passing and kicking and Walkington gave away Lancashire’s first try when he dropped a reverse pass from his loose-forward. Lancashire won 16-5 to take the Championship.
Hunslet hosted the 1898 County trial and James Ramage was selected for the Stripes. He scored a try as his side beat the Whites 14-0.
Billy ‘Tubby’ Brookes was in the County Trials in 1903 and 1904 , doing enough in the last to progress to the County side against Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumberland. The 1903 trial also featured Tommy Walsh.
