1963’s Australian tourist were at Parkside today. Matches against tourists are worthy of being recorded, but this match has its place in Hunslet’s history as having winger John Griffiths become their first official substitute, coming on to replace Mally Garforth in the 32nd minute. The tour was the first time substitutes were allowed in rugby league in this country and they were only allowed in the first half to replace an injured player. Les White had, some years previously, been allowed to replace his stand-in hooker after he was late arriving for the game, even though this was against the laws of the game at the time and they had also been used in the pre-season Lazenby Cup games. John may well have another first here as being the first substitute to be sent off. After 20 minutes on the field he received his marching orders from referee and former Hunslet player Laurie Gant along with Aussie Cleary after a bust up on the side line. Keith Whitehead became the second sub when he replaced Fred Ward at half-time. As for the match Hunslet were without regular half-backs Brian Gabbitas and Jeff Stevenson and struggled to find any attacking rhythm to find themselves 3-15 down at half-time. With Gabby and Stevie in the side it may well have been different as Bernard Prior won the scrums 30-7 and Billy Langton missed five goals. In the end Australia deserved their 17-13 win as they took every chance their meagre possession allowed them.
The programme for today’s game at home to Widnes in 1974 reported on the first complaint made against Hunslet’s ‘tuning fork’ posts. In the match on the 6th the Oldham winger misread the position of the upright, thinking it was the try-line and overran placing the ball down in the dead ball area. The Oldham Chairman was less than impressed making his feelings well known in the stand. The club accepted the criticism and painted white cross-hatchings between the try and dead ball lines.
The Widnes game was the first official use of the new floodlights in the BBC 2 Floodlit Competition but was not televised. The club had to explain that apparent dark areas on the pitch were not shadows but different grass colours following re-seeding. The match itself was a massive upset, Hunslet beating highly fancied Widnes 12-5. Four Bob Gaitley penalties gave them an 8-0 half-time lead. An interception and 70 yard run by George Clark early in the second-half effectively settled the tie as it was 70 minutes before Widnes got their sole try.
Frank “Dolly” Dawson played his last game for the club today in 1937 at home to Batley he was originally a centre and was being looked at as a potential international when a serious knee injury side-lined him. When he returned the operation had slowed him down and he was reinvented as a second-rower forming a devastating partnership with Hector Crowther. In his obituary Frank’s story about his first bloody nose was recounted. It was given to him by Nat Silcock of Widnes and Dolly waited for his chance which came at Wembley in 1934. He recalled he ”knocked him down, stamped on his fingers and trampled all over him”.
Debutants today included Parkside era winger Jack Richardson who made his first appearance at Swinton. He played 89 games before the club folded and transferred to New Hunslet for a further 29 games. He scored 24 tries.
Back in the early days of the Northern Union, in 1897 James Ramage made the first of his 172 appearances. He had signed from Galashiels RU and played in Hunslet’s finals in 1898 and 1899. He made four appearances for Yorkshire before his last game in 1905.
In 1943’s first round second leg Yorkshire Cup tie Hunslet found their 13 point 1st leg deficit too much to overcome against Leeds and went down to an 8-13 defeat at Parkside.
In 1979 it was Leeds again in the BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy at The Greyhound Stadium As in their previous meeting at the same venue, New Hunslet took Leeds all the way before succumbing 10-12.
The 1909 County Championship match at Maryport today between Yorkshire and Cumberland was abandoned after 50 minutes due to the dreadful weather. The Tykes had taken five Hunslet players on the trip in Billy Batten, Bill Jukes, Herbert Place, Fred Smith and Harry Wilson (captain) and James Parkinson was opposing them. Yorkshire were winning 5-3 as the game ended. The winners would have been crowned Champions but a replay could not be arranged so the result wasn’t included in the table and the two Counties shared the Championship.
The 1965 2nd Test against New Zealand at Odsal featured try scorer Geoff Shelton and Bill Ramsey. Kenny Eyre was a non-playing sub as the home side won 15-9.
Welshman Phil Morgan represented his country today against France at Salford but couldn’t help prevent an 8-2 defeat.
Jack Walkington was also on the losing side in 1935 against Cumberland at Odsal, Yorkshire going down 15-19.
