11th June….

The Aussie tours continued today in 1910 with Northern Union playing New South Wales for the third time in a week in Sydney. There were three Hunslet men on show – Billy Batten on the wing, Fred Smith at half-back and Billy Jukes in the pack. After losing the first two encounter, the tourists seem to settle in to their new surroundings and won 23-10.

The 1968/69 Rugby League Retained and Released list shows us a number of players signed on today in 1969 . Steve Barron, Lewis Cardiss and Peter Rycroft were the three. Steve played at both Parkside and the Greyhound Stadium racking up 278 appearances over ten seasons scoring 41 ties and 3 goals. Lewis played 34 games in his three seasons at Parkside before moving over to Odsal and Peter was at the Greyhounds for six years appearing 79 times. Interestingly Brian Gabbitas was still on the list and John Griffiths was open to transfer (£4,000) despite neither of them playing for over three years.

12th June….

The name of Blackpool was back in Rugby League for the first time in eight years and in 2005 the Panthers visited Hunslet for the first time. A hard fought game gave Hunslet a win by 23-22.

13th June….

Tour matches were on the agenda today. The 1914 team were in Brisbane to face Queensland and Fred Smith, Walter Guerin (1 goal)  and Jack Smales enjoyed an 18-10 win. It was déjà vu in 1936 as Harry Beverley assisted in a 19-4 win against the same opposition in Brisbane. A trip to Newcastle in 1966 for Geoff Shelton and Bill Ramsey and another win, 5-2, for the team to celebrate.

14th June….

1954 saw the tourists back in Queensland to play Brisbane. Tour captain Dickie Williams was at stand-off in an easy 34-4 win.

15th June….

An appearance in the knock out stages of the Northern Rail Cup today in 2012 but a 0-48 defeat at Sheffield was the only reward.

Meanwhile back in Australia…..

1910 was a match in Sydney against Metropolis. Two players were sent off but Billy Batten behaved himself and kicked a goal in a 34-25 win.

Great Britain and France kicked off the 1957 World Cup at Sydney Cricket Ground. Geoff Gunney was in the second row as GB won easily 23-5.

Geoff Shelton was with the 1966 tourists at Kempsey NSW for a match with North Coast which was won 52-20 by Great Britain.