As Hunslet prepared for the 1986/87 season and what they hoped would be a serious challenge for promotion, the club appointed David Ward, former Great Britain and Leeds captain, as coach. However, Leeds accused Hunslet of an illegal approach as he was still registered as a Leeds player. The Rugby League Council agreed Hunslet were in breach of a bye-law and fined them £200. Leeds were seeking compensation for the loss of Ward and the two clubs were expected to negotiate a deal.
The 1954 Lions tour continued today with the 3rd Test Match against New Zealand. In atrocious Auckland conditions on a pitch covered with water and mud, Alf Burnell (playing his last match of the tour) and Geoff Gunney helped GB to a 12-6 win and a 2-1 win in the series.
The re-birth of Rugby League in Blackpool had begun in the 2005 season with the admittance of Blackpool Panthers. Hunslet paid their first visit to the Fylde Coast today and returned home after a 36-12 win.
After the 1914-18 war, Hunslet started the task of building a squad for the resumption of official fixtures. The game was played throughout the war but all matches were friendlies arranged by the clubs. Naturally the war had made settled teams impossible and Hunslet had a turnover of 111 players over the seasons. Some players did manage to give what could be described as a “regular” service to the club and one such was Cliff Jones, a utility back. He had played two games before the war and 98 throughout the conflict and Hunslet registered him today in 1919 to continue his career with the club. He had signed from Hunslet Rovers amateurs and played on until 1921 before transferring to Featherstone Rovers after a further 68 games. He scored 45 tries for the club including 5 in one match in 1917/18 which equalled the club record.
Vic Hey was an Australian international player in the thirties and had toured England in 1933/34, playing in all three Tests. In 1937 Leeds brought Hey over to the UK and he played for them until 1944 when he transferred to Dewsbury. In his first season at Leeds he played in the Elland Road Championship final against Hunslet. As his career wound down in 1947 he registered with Hunslet today for a short spell of 9 games, also assisting George Todd as second team coach. He returned to Australia in 1948.
The 1954/55 season started today with a game against Wigan at Parkside. The match programme looked back at last season’s Wigan fixtures and a heavy 2-41 defeat at Central Park early in the season was avenged by a 32-10 home win in October with Ginger Burnell getting a hat-trick. This season’s matches were much closer affairs, Hunslet losing 9-10 today and 6-16 two weeks later at Wigan. Season tickets were on sale – £2 7s. 6d, for the best stand or £2 for the small stand and these could be paid for in instalments. There was very little change to the playing personnel as Hunslet pursued a youth policy.
The Lazenby Cup was played as a pre-season match in August over the years and six were played on the 14th. An 11-10 win at Headingley was the only one in which Hunslet secured the Trophy.
