The Rugby League Executive meeting today in 1973 accepted the New Hunslet application to join the league and take over Hunslet CF & AC’s fixtures for 1973/74. There would be a new board, new club colours and matches would be played at Elland Road Greyhound Stadium. League Secretary Bill Fallowfield advised that other clubs had been instructed not to sign any players from the old club. An Extaordinary Council Meeting would be held on the 8th to accept the Executive’s recommedation forNew Hunslet’s inclusion.
The earliest start to a season was today in 1971. The programme for the first match (home to Keighley in the Yorkshire Cup 1st round) welcomed new coach Geoff Gunney and reported that there were over 40 players in training. David Marshall was appointed club captain and it was announced that the club colours were officially to revert to myrtle white and flame shirts with white shorts. New signings were listed as Phil Horrocks, Trevor Taylor, Keith Riggs, Dave Mawson, Phil Thurlwell, David Teasdale and Peter Adams. Former player Freddie Williamson had been promoted to “A” Team coach. Billy Baldwinson and Stephen Hudson were absent following serious injuries last season, Ken Hepples was unavailable due to a two match suspension and Alan Griffiths was on holiday.
In 1999 Hunslet visited Headingley to play what was to be the last derby match against Bramley who would resign from the league at the end of the season. The first meeting between the two clubs was in 1885 in a Yorkshire Cup match won by Bramley by 1 goal to nil. The clubs faced each other 209 times over the years, Hunslet winning 163 of these, Bramley 39, 6 being drawn and 1 abandoned. One of Hunslet’s proposals in their attempts to take their rightful place in Super League in 2000 was to merge with Bramley and play their home games at Headingley but the Rugby League rejected this. Hunslet won this final match 29-22.
A couple more Tour matches were played today. Harry Beverley and his teammates were in New Zealand playing South Island at Christchurch. The match was played in a snowstorm and the pitch was described as “slush”. However, the Tourists gave the crowd “an exhibition of sure passing and speedy running”. The first GB try was instigated by Harry who evaded two or three would be tacklers before starting the passing movement which saw Edwards score. It was 12-3 at half-time and GB could only add one further try to win 17-3.
1914s Tourists were in Auckland to close their tour with a Test match against New Zealand. Fred Smith was at half-back. In good weather but on a heavy pitch but the reports say a brilliant display was given. Fred, like Harry above, made the initial break which led to Moorhouse scoring the first GB try and he also started the move which led to Davis scoring to give “England” an 11-3 half-time lead. A try to the “Colonials” early in the second half was wiped out by a further GB try and goal which seemed to have settled the game, but a late try and goal by New Zealand led to an exciting end to the game which the tourists ran out 16-13 winners.
