Today in 1987 James Lowes donned a first team jersey for the first time at Castleford. He signed on from Hunslet Parkside ARLFC. He developed into an important playmaker while at Hunslet making 74 appearances in six seasons (22 tries and 19 goals). In September 1992 Hunslet were drawn away at Leeds in the Yorkshire Cup.  Leeds weren’t having a particularly good time and, with James having a storming game, were taken all the way by Hunslet only coming through 28-20. As with all the higher placed clubs the way out of trouble was through the cheque book and they liked what they saw in James, seeing him as a hooker. They made an offer of £22,500 whereas Hunslet valued him at £100,000. Negotiations didn’t resolve the difference and a tribunal was to decide the fee. There is nothing in the National Newspaper Archive or club programmes reporting the outcome  but it must have been well below Hunslet’s valuation as Paul Daley bemoaned the fee to be insufficient for him to be replaced by an equal, young talent. As it was Hunslet plumped for experience bringing in Paul Harkin from Halifax. It is to be hoped the deal included add-ons for cup wins, representative appearances and future transfers as James went on to play for Great Britain, Ireland and Yorkshire while at Headingley and later with Bradford Bulls.

James Lowes

In 1933 the Australians were touring England and today were to face Yorkshire at Headingley. Hunslet had stand-off George Todd and full-back Jack Walkington selected. Australia were far superior in their handling than Yorkshire and could easily have had more than their three tries. Yorkshire hardly looked like scoring, blamed mainly by the papers on Halifax’s Hanson, Todd’s half-back partner, favouring the blind side at scrums thus not allowing play to open out. The Aussies won 13-0.

A number of Yorkshire Cup ties were played today. In 1947’s first leg Keighley travelled to Leeds. In a Saturday match put back to 6.30 to avoid a clash with Leeds United, Hunslet built up an 8-3 lead and but looked to be easing to a win but they “fizzled out inexplicably” to go down 14-8, although they did lose Tuss Griffiths to injury.

Two years later, having lost 7-10 at Parkside in the first leg, Hunslet’s hopes were dashed within 10 minutes as Dewsbury scored two converted tries. An early injury to Alf Burnell didn’t help but at the end Hunslet were lucky to only go down 19-0.

The visit of Hull in 1965’s quarter final proved to be a tense affair. In a match dominate by goal kicks, Billy Langton had kicked three to four by Keegan when a late break by Bill Ramsey led to the supporting Alan Marchant scoring. The conversion was missed as did a drop-goal attempt by Hull as Hunslet won through to the semi’s 9-8.

In 1987, having just been promoted, Hunslet had lost heavily at Warrington but responded with a close 8-12 home defeat to Leeds giving them hope in the Yorkshire Cup tie at Castleford, especially as Australian David Gillespie was making his debut. As it was Cup holders Cas put in a solid performance to progress 32-12.

In 2009, having finished 6th out of 10 in the league, Hunslet qualified to visit Blackpool Panthers in the Play-offs. Tries from Michael Brown, Wayne McHugh (plus two goals) and Stuart Young with two more goals from Darren Robinson and a Josh Weedon drop took Hunslet through 21-18.

In 1981 another attempt to expand into Wales was underway with the inclusion of Cardiff City RLFC. Hunslet travelled down to Ninian Park today but the B|ue Dragons were too strong as they won 32-19.