Our Junior opponents

11th March has been a quiet day in our history. In 2007 we entertained Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC in 2007 at South Leeds Stadium and it might be a good time to look back at the other junior teams we’ve faced in the cups since 1895. There were many junior clubs in the early Challenge Cup intermediate or first rounds but after around ten seasons this reduced down, usually to two a season, so opportunities for amateur teams to qualify were rare and the chance of a good payday gratefully received. From 1971/72 they were also admitted to the John Player / Regal Trophy. 

Our first junior opponent were in the first Challenge Cup competition in1897 where Broughton Moor were seen off 75-5 and the following season saw a much closer affair, an 8-3 win over Lancaster. Other clubs prior to WW1 were -1899 Maryport – 1900 and 1901, their Cumbrian neighbours, Wath Brow – 1903 Cleckheaton and Outwood Church – 1905 Parton and 1906 Saville Green in the Yorkshire Cup. All these clubs were defeated reasonably comfortably with no real signs of a shock result and this would continue over the years.

After WW1, it would be 1939 before United Glass Blowers of St Helens were our next non-league opponents. 1950 saw Worsley Boys Club (Salford) in a 2-legged tie, as were Yorkshire Amateurs in the 1951 Yorkshire Cup. This was a representative side of players from the Yorkshire region. 1959 and it was the turn of Kells Centre, 1962 Oldham St Annes, 1971 Thames Board Mills (Warrington) and in 1973 Millom. Mayfield from Rochdale were the 1975 visitors ( a close 9-5 win) and in 1978 the National Dock Labour Board (Hull) were the visitors in the John Player Trophy. 1986 and 1992 saw Kells again in opposition with a tie at Leigh Miners Welfare in between in 1988.

The 90s saw Barrow Island in 1994 and Wigan St Patricks were the opponents in the 1995 Challenge Cup. 1996 it was Ellenborough in the John Player Trophy. In 1996 and 1998 we took on Skirlaugh with a tie against Woolston Rovers in 1997 between.

All the matches to this point had ended in Hunslet victories, but in 1998 came the low point in Hunslet’s matches against junior clubs, a 12-14 defeat at Ellenborough who had beaten Bramley in the previous round. In the first half Chris Ross and Rob Wilson were dismissed and this proved to be too much to overcome to secure the victory.

Throughout the summer era we met the amateurs regularly – 1999 Townville – 2001 Thornhill Trojans – 2002 Woolston Rovers – 2004 Featherstone Lions – 2005 Haydock – 2006 East Hull – 2007 Rochdale Mayfield – 2008 Bank Quay Bulls – 2009 Kells – 2010 Leigh East – 2011 Warrington Wizards – 2013 Royal Navy – 2018 Oulton Raiders – 2019 West Bowling – 2022 Siddal – 2023 Heworth and this season it was Lock Lane.

Amateur sides in Hunslet’s history were not always the opposition. Twice we have had pay disputes with the players striking at at the start of a season. 1948/49 was the first time and East Leeds stepped up to fulfil our first two fixtures at Wigan and Bramley. Both were heavy defeats but the papers reported that the opposition fans showed their appreciation of East Leeds’ efforts. 1970/71, and again a strike caused Hunslet to bring in the Juniors, two selected Leeds and District teams largely based on Bison ARLFC, took on Oldham and Bramley. Needless to say,  both games were comfortable wins for our opponents.

Other Challenge Cup ties have been held today. 1922 saw a visit to Wigan and a heavy defeat in round 2. In WW2 cup rounds were spread over two legs and 1944 Hunslet were at Halifax in the first round first leg going down 2-13 leaving work to be done the following week at Parkside.

In 1950 Hunslet had progressed to the quarter-final and a trip to Warrington saw them exit the competition 7-21.