In the 2025 season Hunslet were ‘nilled’ on three occasions. There were many ‘nils’ in the Union era due to the nature of the game but looking at 1895 onwards there have been 210 games in which the team failed to score. The first was today in 1895 in an away game at Brighouse Rangers (0-7), the first of five in the first season of Northern Union. There were 10 in the following season (including three on the trot). The record for ’nils’ is the first full season after WW1 when there were 14 as Hunslet struggled to build a competitive team. The total includes eleven 0-0 draws and fifteen by the narrowest margin of 0-2. Since 1973 there have been thirty-three, the first being at home to York in 1973/74 and in the summer era there have been twenty-three (away at Lancashire Lynx in 1997 being the first). Only in one other season since 1973 have there been three – 1988/89. The heaviest defeat when not scoring was in 2003 when Bradford Bulls put on 82 in a Challenge Cup tie.
The only major debutant today was in 1955 when centre Jim Stockdill took his bow against Leigh. He had signed from Buslingthorpe Vale ARLFC and appeared in the 1956 Yorkshire Cup final and 1959 Championship final at Odsal, scoring the opening try of the game. In 1962 he had to retire after suffering a serious knee injury.
Jim Stockdill
Jim’s debut match was played at Loftus Road, Queens Park Rangers AFC’s ground in the ITV Floodlit Competition. Eight teams were invited to play in London in the Wednesday night first round and the two teams winning by the largest margin would proceed to the final in November. Leigh’s 46-20 win took them through to meet Warrington who beat Wakefield Trinity 33-9. Warrington won the competition by beating Leigh at QPR 43-18.
Other cup ties today….
In 1927’s Yorkshire Cup quarter final Hunslet travelled to Hull Kingston Rovers. Although at full strength Hunslet disappointed, being hammered in the scrums and kicking poorly especially in the first half with the advantage of a strong wind. From 2-2 at half-time Rovers deservedly won the game 13-2 to progress to the semis.
Two years later Leeds crossed the river to Parkside as cup holders for this first round Yorkshire Cup tie. The match report praises Hunslet’s cohesiveness as a team while criticising Leeds’ one man approach. Trie by Hector Crowther, Harry Beveley and Les White took Hunslet through 11-5.
1932 and another quarter-final, this time against Wakefield Trinity at Parkside. Trinity were having a poor season but Hunslet had an off day which let their visitors through 8-7.
Leeds were Hunslet’s hosts at Headingley in 1976’s BBC2 Floodlit Competition and the visitors were expected to be the lambs to the slaughter but it was not to be. Hunslet’s display of guts and determination allied to a considerable amount of skill restricted Leeds to a 22-10 win.
Hunslet’s representatives this day…
In a Union County match Albert and Walter Goldthorpe together with Ernie Hudson were Hunslet’s first full representatives in 1892 against Devon at York. Albert pretty much won the match on his own with a try and four goals contributing 16 points to the 21 scored against Devon’s 5.
Albert was also in 1898’s County Trial with James Ramage and was on the soreboard again with a try as their Possibles beat the Probables 15-8.
Harry Wilson was on the train to Whitehaven today in 1907 for Yorkshire’s Championship game with Cumberland but he returned home empty handed after a 3-7 defeat.
In 1910 Albert Jenkinson and Bill Jukes with the Probables faced Herbert place in the Possibles side at York and came away easy winners 40-16.
At Leigh in 1955 Granville James turned out for Other Nationalities against France as his side won 32-19 in the European Championships.
And in 1977 Alan Griffiths made his sole County appearance for Yorkshire against Lancashire at Widnes. The Red Rose won 33-8.
Alan Griffiths
