In August 1924 Leeds’ international winger Squire Stockwell transferred to Hunslet. In the 1921 Second Test against the Australians he had suffered a serious knee injury and had had problems since. A condition of his signing was that if by 1st November there was no recurrence of his injury Hunslet would pay him £200. After six games Hunslet struck him off, conveniently before the 1st November. Stockwell appealed to the league as his knee was fine but he had not received the money. The League Management Committee looked into the matter and told Hunslet to pay up. Hunslet must have buried the hatchet and reinstated him as he played four more games late in the season. They registered him for 1925/26 but he only played one further game.  

In 1941’s Yorkshire Cup 1st round second leg Hunslet had no problem in seeing off Bramley. After the 28-6 home win in the 1st leg this was always going to be a formality and they won 34-3. Eric Batten scored five tries.

A look at the representative games today….

In 1902 it was Yorkshire v Cumberland at Headingley. Played in “charming football weather” Jack “Snowy” Shooter was in the home side pack. It is interesting to read that before the game the players and officials of both teams were entertained to luncheon at the Metropole Hotel. Cumberland had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half but it did them little good as they were 2-8 down by the break and eventually lost 29-2

The same fixture in 1904 was held at Batley and Billy Brookes was Hunslet’s Yorkshire representative, James Jackson assisting the visitors. Yorkshire took a 5-3 lead by the turn and with the aid of the slope extended this to 18-3 by the close.

Against the 1933 Australian Tourists Billy Thornton was selected for a Rugby League XIII side for a game at York. I was a very wet afternoon and Thornton was picked out for his decision making in difficult conditions. Ten minutes from the end the Aussies were 5-4 in front but conceded a late try to lose 5-7.

In 1962 a fixture was played at Carcassonne between France and an Eastern Division side. Geoff Shelton was in the ED Team which won 23-16.

2009 saw two fixtures involving Hunslet players  – Charlie Wabo took a trip home to  Port Moresby to play for Papua New Guinea against the Cook Islands in the Pacific Cup. It was worth the long trip as his side won 42-14. And in the European Cup in Glasgow Neil Lowe was in Scotland’s team against Lebanon, winning 22-10.