Among those making their first appearance today were:-
1986 – Graeme Jennings. An Australian who had played for Penrith, North Sydney and Western Suburbs, second rower Graeme came across to help with the 1986/87 promotion push and scored 15 tries in 34 appearances as promotion was achieved. He returned home at the end of the season and in 1989 Hunslet appointed him player-coach. He played 12 games, scoring one try and took Hunslet to a 14th place finish winning 10 of the 28 leagues games
.Graeme Jennings
1957 – Kevin Doyle. Scrum-half Kevin had signed from Hunslet Juniors and made his debut today at home in a defeat by Barrow. That was his only appearance that season as Alf Burnell, Dennis Tate and Arthur Talbot were ahead of him for the position. However, the following season he was a regular choice and capped off the season by playing in the Championship final against St Helens at Odsal. He was again the main choice in the first half of 1959/60 but was transferred to Doncaster in January 1960. He had played 44 games and scored 11 tries for Hunslet.
Kevin Doyle
1959 – Arthur Render. Another signing from the Juniors, Arthur was at first a full-back and then played in the three-quarters. In his seven seasons he played 92 games and scored 16 tries and 45 goals. He had featured in the two Yorkshire Cup finals in the 60s.
Arthur Render
1968 – Phil Sanderson. The third Hunslet Junior to debut today, forward Phil was with Hunslet for five seasons playing 127 games before moving to Leeds and later Bradford Northern. In 1983 he returned to Hunslet for a season and played a further 16 games.
Phil Sanderson
Quite a few Yorkshire Cup ties took place today.
1946 v Batley away. A Sid Rookes try which came at the end of a move where all the Hunslet backs handled the ball and 3 Des Clarkson goals saw Hunslet scrape home 9-8 to leave Hunslet with work to do in the second leg.
1966 v Hull Kingston Rovers home. In the quarter-final, Hunslet were no match for Hull KR, losing 3-29. Four tries in the first 20 minutes ended Hunslet’s hopes early, Dennis Hartley scoring their only try.
1975 v Hull Kingston Rovers home. A re-run of the 1966 tie, again in the quarter-final had the same result although a closer score. Rovers were 12-2 up early in the second half but a Gaitley penalty and a Sam Windmill try gave Hunslet some hope but a late drop goal and penalty eased Rovers home.
1986 -v Bradford Northern home. A heavy 12-40 defeat saw Hunslet eliminated at the first hurdle this season.
Season 1997 came to an end today with a Play-Off defeat at Hull Sharks. Lee Child and Steve Pryce scored tries and St John Ellis kicked a goal but Hull scored 52 for an east win.
In 2003 a visit to Keighley Cougars in the Play-Offs was reward for finishing 6th in the league but there was no further progress as they lost 12-25.
Hunslet’s first home game in the Northern Union took place today with the visit of Oldham. Two well-matched teams got to half-time with Hunslet 8-3 in front after a Bill Townsend try and two goals by A’hr Albert. It was all Hunslet in the second half as Richard Rubrey and Owen Walsh got tries with another goal for Albert. Oldham got a late converted try to make the final score 16-8 and Hunslet had secured their first league points of the new regime.
In 1935 there was a second attempt to introduce Rugby League into London with Acton & Willesden and Streatham & Mitcham joining the league. In 1933 Wigan Highfield had moved to become London Highfield but only lasted a season before returning north as Liverpool Stanley. Streatham joined the Lancashire Cup and Acton the Yorkshire Cup which gave them a visit to Parkside. They put up a good show and restricted Hunslet to five points in the first half. Hunslet scored three further tries and two goals and the visitors managed to get a converted try as Hunslet went through 18-5.
In 1980 against Huyton away (played at Widnes) Steve Lane scored four tries to set a new tries in a match record for the re-formed club.
