Yorkshire Cup semi-final day today in 1929. Away wins against Leeds and Hull gave Hunslet another trip, this time to Lawkholme Lane. On a heavy and waterlogged pitch it took Hunslet only ten minutes to get on the score board when George Chapman broke through and fed Johnny Couson who took on the defence and cleverly created an opening for winger George Broughton who went over in the corner, Jim Traill missing the conversion. Keighley had their chances but couldn’t score and on half-time Dai Jenkins missed a touch down by inches following a dribble by the Hunslet forwards. Both sides adopted scrum – rush – kick tactics in the second-half but neither looked like scoring and Hunslet were in their first final since 1908.

The other cup-tie today was in 1995 with a visit to Bramley in the second round of the Regal Trophy. A first half try to Jason Viller and conversion by David Close took Hunslet to a 6-2 half-time lead. An early second-half penalty to Bramley reduced the arrears and both sides had chances in the next 20 minutes. With 15 minutes left Hunslet broke the deadlock  when Paul White made a good run before Lee Hanlon set up David Brook to go over. Two minutes later Tim Sharp opened up the Bramley defence for Viller’s second. A try set up by good interplay between Sharp and Close for Hanlan sealed the win 22-4 and Hunslet were in the third round for the first time since the competition started in 1971.

Three notable signings today….

In the last season of Union, half-back Tom Gillings made his first appearance at Bramley. He was with Hunslet until 1905 and in his time played in the 1898 championship final play-off and in two County trials without making the Yorkshire team. His tally was 122 matches and 10 tries.

Tomm Gillings

Having signed in 1908 local lad James Johnson made his debut against Bradford Northern at Parkside.  He was a forward who played for the first team 65 times between his debut and 1921 but it during the war he was a mainstay of the pack making another 65 appearances in  three seasons.

James Johnson

As Johnson was ending his career stand-off Albert Howarth was starting his with a debut in 1921 at home to Warrington. With the club until 1930 he made 134 appearances with 31tries and 83 goals. He moved on to Bradford Northern where he played 10 games and he later returned to Hunslet to serve on the committee.

Albert Howarth

Players showing their skills in representative games today were…

In 1892 the Goldthorpe brothers Walter and Albert were at Hartlepool to face Durham. Albert kicked three goals in a 13-7 win.

Forwards Billy Brookes and Harry Wison were with Yorkshire at Oldham for the Roses match in 1904.The first points in the game were a penalty to Lancashire after Yorkshire packed down with four men in the front row! Lancashire’s Hockenhall was injured in the first-half and had to be carried off not to return. The man advantage helped Yorkshire turn a 0-5 half-time deficit into a 14-5 win.

At Pontypridd in 1927 Dai Jenkins was with Glamorgan and Monmouthshire against  Lancashire. The Welshmen won the game 12-7 but Lancashire could have levelled things late on when a move involving all of their three-quarters ended with Frodsham bouncing the ball while touching down.

Another Roses match in 1947, this time at Wigan. Frank “Shanks” Watson was at centre and Bill Metcalfe in the pack and Metcalfe was mentioned as having a fine game in his first County match. The Lancashire forwards dominated possession from the scrum and ran out 22-10 winners.

In 1949 Wales played France at Swansea and Les Williams was one of Wales’ “magnificent three-quarters”, The game was tied 8-8 and two late Welsh tries gave them a 14-8 win.