As the club geared up for the new winter era seasons, Earley and mid August saw regular pre-season friendlies and the 19th August seems to have been a popular date. The 1939 Lazenby Cup was played at Headingley on a hot afternoon but the players went about their work with pace and enthusiasm. Hunslet were 10 points up inside the first 15 minutes with tries to Aubrey Casewell and Billy Thornton with Jack Walkington converting both. They dominated most of the first half but let Leeds in for eight points near half-time. Again in the second half it was all Hunslet but they couldn’t get the try which might have settled the game. A late rush by Leeds saw them get the points needed to secure a 25-10 win and retain the cup.
In 1984 there was a rare friendly against Halifax at Thrum Hall. Newly promoted Hunslet got a nice start to their season with a 48-20 win which included a Graham King hat-trick.
From the mid 80s, until the early 90s Hunslet played Wakefield Trinity in pre-season friendlies nine times, four of them being on the 19th August. All four were at Belle Vue and the best result was a 14-14 draw in 1987. Unfortunately the other three were heavy defeats, 12-30, 10-30 and 16-50.
Hunslet got back on track in the 2017 League 1 Shield today following the loss to North Wales Crusaders with a home win over Gloucestershire All Golds 32-16. Jimmy Watson got a hat-trick and Joe Sanderson 2 tries and 4 goals.
In 1961 Whitehaven visited Parkside to open the new season. The programme reported that the new road from Dewsbury Road to the car park (the largest in the Rugby League it tells us) is now complete and there was now covered accommodation for 8-9,000 spectators. The new Spion Cop now had 40 terraces at Mother Benson’s End. A centre stand season ticket would set you back 63/- (£3.15 for those too young to remember £SD). For that you got to see 18 first team and 15 “A” team games. Hunslet lost the game 7-12, Gabby getting the try.
