In 1892, in their 9th season as a Rugby Union club, Hunslet finally qualified for a place in the Yorkshire Cup final. Cross city rivals Leeds were their opponents at Fartown Huddersfield. The papers during the week favoured Leeds to lift the trophy. Before the game, Hunslet got word that, should they win, Leeds had prepared an objection as to the eligibility of a Hunslet player. Hunslet prepared their own objection but eventually decide to remove the issue by standing down John Goldthorpe and promoting young John “Jack” Wright from the seconds for his debut. Hunslet lined up as below.
Both teams had chances in the first half but turned around 0-0.
In the second half Hunslet had the wind in their favour and the sun on their backs and it’s reported that Leeds looked a beaten team even before Hunslet scored. The first try was not long in coming, Walter Goldthorpe following up his own kick to touch down and brother Albert kicked a “beautiful goal”. The goal seemed to knocked out what heart Leeds had left and it was all Hunslet from this point. Jack Rathmell scored a try shortly after. Barely had the cheers died down when Albert G. dodged through for a “pretty try” which he converted. From the kick off, the third Goldthorpe brother, James, scored a try, Albert again doing the necessary. Leeds had a chance to get a try back but from a scrum near the Hunslet line James G. intercepted and ran the length of the field for another try. The game was nearly at an end when from a scrum Edward Kaye picked up and romped over for a sixth try as “no side” was called and “T’owd Tin Pot” came south of the river after a 21-0 win.
Jack Wright’s debut in the final was the first in a long Hunslet career as he played 257 games, scoring 57 tries and 6 goals. He played in the 1898 Championship play-off and the 1899 Challenge Cup final before moving to Hull Kingston Rovers in 1902.
In 1938 Hunslet, having finished top of the league, had a home Championship Play-off semi-final against Barrow. Barrow were playing their 9th game in 15 days and had already qualified for the Challenge Cup final. Hunslet were lacking centre Cyril Morrell and forward Henry Tiffany, two important players in their league campaign. Hunslet scored first after a Barrow kick was charged down and Mark Tolson passed to Frank Yates who touched down. Barrow replied with a penalty but on half time Ernest Winter broke in his own half, kicked from the half way line to the “25” where Eric Batten picked up and scored a try. Jack Walkington converted. Barrow pulled it back to 8-7 with a converted try but a James O’Sullivan kick through which Ernest Winter dived on and another Walkington conversion ended the soring.
Over at Headingley, Leeds, having finished 2nd, were playing Swinton and won a tight game 5-2 to set up another all Leeds final to be played at Wakefield. Or was it?
There were seven seasons ending today. The first in 1903/04 would be regarded as successful – a 4th place finish and a Challenge Cup semi-final. Billy Hannah was top try scorer with 11 and Albert Goldthorpe had 35 goals and 82 points.
1920/21, 1926/27 and 1959/60 were average but 1931/32 brought another 4th place finish. William Adams, Laurie Higgins and Billy Thornton all had 18 tries and Jack Walkington had 109 goals and 218 points. The high point of the season was the last league game at Hull Kingston Rovers where a 5-3 win secured the Yorkshire League Trophy.
1972/73 was the last at Parkside and of the old club. Closing the season with a league game at Bramley (lost 8-15, along with 28 other games) 28th out of 30 was hardly the epitaph the proud old club would have wanted. Jack Richardson with 12 tries, and Dave Marshall with 61 goals and 131 points were the scoring leaders.
The last full season of winter rugby, 1994/55, saw a Second Division finish in 10th out of 16. Scott Limb scoring 29 tries for a new record for the re-formed club. Richard Pell had 54 goals and 128 points, closely followed by David Close with 47 and 125.
A short two match tour of France in 1951 came to end today. A defeat to strong French representative side at Tarascon in southern France 23-6 the previous day was overturned when a game against Paris Celtic was won 35-15. Usual full-back Jack Evens played on the right wing and scored five tries.
