After the season we have just had to endure, let’s remember that one year ago today it was a different story as Hunslet visited Swinton where a win against their Championship rivals would see them promoted. A defeat at Rochdale in the first Play-off game meant a home game the following week against Midlands Hurricanes. Looking down and out at 12-14 a late Hunslet penalty took them into Midlands territory where Matty Beharrell and George Flanagan linked up to send Jack Render in for the winning try. Back to Rochdale for the next game and a confident Hunslet turned the tables on their host winning 46-26. Next, league leaders Keighley must have been big favourites at home but superb Hunslet defence and chances taken as they came saw an unlikely progression to the Promotion match. Swinton started the match looking the better side building up a ten point lead but a MacKenzie Turner interception try and Matty Beharrell conversion seemed to change the impetus of the match. Ethan O’Hanlon made an early break which led to Cam Berry sliding over, the conversion putting the visitors in the lead for the first time. George Flanagan then went over from dummy half and another conversion made it 18-10. Swinton hit back with a try under the posts and, after Jack Render had knocked on a high kick, the hosts went over again but Abram missed the goal and Swinton had a two point advantage with 15 minutes left. Scrambling Hunslet defence cleared a dangerous kick through and then came Jack Render’s late try in the corner to win the game 22-20. Let’s hope that this year with time to put together a squad they want and with a full pre-season we’ll see the club bounce back and give us more moments to savour.
A couple of County Trials today in 1902 and 1909. The first at Hull saw Billy Brookes and Tom Tunningley opposing each other. In misty, wet conditions a scrappy opening phase settled into a entertaining game despite the greasy ball. Tunningley’s Probables side had a 5-0 interval lead which grew to 10-3 by the end.
In 1909 at Bradford Billy Batten and Fred Farrar were in the threequarters, Fred Smith at half-back and Bill Jukes in the forwards for The Probables. Facing them in the Possibles side was teammate Harry Wilson. The Yorkshire Post was scathing in its report of the quality of football on show, particularly by the forwards. On a cold and wet afternoon Batten scored two tries and Jukes one as the Probables won 19-5.
A rare County Championship match featuring a Hunslet player but not Yorkshire was held today in 1904 at Birkenhead where Cheshire hosted Cumberland. James Jackson was in the Cumberland side which led 2-0 at the break but succumbed 2-5 by the end.
1948 was the big day for Hunslet in the Yorkshire Cup as they faced Bradford Northern at Odsal in the semi-final. Despite dominating possession from the scrums, Northern were held by strong defence by Hunslet and were restricted to just one try on the day. A Ted Carroll try and two Tus Griffiths goals gave the Parksiders a 7-3 half-time lead. With Sam Newbound struggling through most of the match with a groin injury and Eddie Bennett suffering persistent nose bleeds it was a tremendous effort in the second half when facing a strong wind to restrict Bradford to just two penalty goals, the last at the very end of the game to grab a 7-7- draw and a replay at Parkside.
The first round of the Yorkshire cup in 1923 took Hunslet to Wakefield Trinity. It was 2-2 at the break but a Hector Crowther try 10 minutes into the second half set Hunslet on their way to a 13-4 win.
The same two sides fought out 1928’s 1st round tie, again at Belle Vue. A more resolute Trinity held Hunslet to 0-0 at half-time. George Broughton scored a try and a penalty by Charles Litt made it 5-0 but Trinity hit back with a try and a goal. A Jonty Parkin drop goal seemed to have settled things in Wakefield’s favour but a last minute penalty goal by Litt levelled things and another replay at Parkside was to be played. A downside for Hunslet was the fractured jaw sustained by Jack Walkington.
The first peacetime Yorkshire Cup tie after WW2 was a two leg affair against Batley. Hunslet had gone up to the Mount in the first leg and won easily 21-5. Batley offered no better resistance today as Hunslet won 19-0.
