24th December….
The league match in 1904 against Hull at Parkside was also the benefit game for Goldthorpe brothers Albert and Walter. On a fine day a crowd of around 8,000 paid £100 on the day and with pre-sold tickets they had a decent payday. Hull were on a good run not having lost for a number of weeks but a try and two goals from Albert contributed to a 13-0 win.
25th December….
A Christmas treat for the 1929 Australian tourists was a trip to Parkside. On a dismal day of wind and rain 10,000 turned out to watch Hunslet’s forwards dominate the game and led by stand-off George Todd who played to the poor conditions perfectly they scored four tries through Todd, George Broughton, John Coulson and George Chapman. Jack Walkington kicked three goals. It looked like the tourists would be nilled for the first time on the tour until they scored a try with the only break they made. The 18 points accrued by Hunslet would be the most the Aussies would concede to a club side on the tour (St Helens also got 18 in their match).
In the 1913 Christmas Day match at Halifax referee Ernie Tonge had to speak to the Halifax committee to complain about their spectators not returning the ball when it had been kicked out. After an hour there was a heavy rainstorm and the light became so bad that the ref ended the game. Hunslet were losing 0-2 but appealed to the Rugby League saying the antics of the crowd had reduced playing time by up to 15 minutes so the necessary sixty minutes had not been played. They had no luck as the RL Committee ruled the result would stand.
Also at Halifax in 1900 Hunslet lost 8-24 which was their heaviest defeat to date home or away in the Northern Union era.
The 1924 fixture at Featherstone kicked off late due to Hunslet’s late arrival at the ground. They were later fined 10 shillings.
26th December….
A true Hunslet legend was on show for the first time today in 1952 when “Gabby” made his debut against Hull at Parkside. Brian Lawrence Gabbitas had signed from Hunslet Supporters and as a junior had been an England international. He was selected to be Great Britain U-21’s captain whilst on national service but was selected to play Rugby Union for the Royal Signals on the same day so missed out. He played in the Hunslet finals in the 1950s and 60s – 1956 & 1962 Yorkshire Cups, 1959 Championship and 1965 Challenge Cup but only in 1962 did he gain a winners medal. In the 1965 Wembley final he was the joint winner of the Lance Todd Trophy with Ray Ashby of Wigan. On the international front it could be said he wasn’t selected as often as his talent warranted but he still played for Great Britain (1 match), Yorkshire (3), Rugby league XIII (2) and British Services (1). He played in a Tour Treial in 1958 and was a reserve for the 1960 World Cup Trial match. He was granted a testimonial in1962/63 and his Testimonial match closed the season with a game against Leeds at Parkside, the proceeds of which were shared with Leeds’ Lewis Jones. In all he made 343 appearances for Hunslet scoring 66 tries. He played his last game at Huddersfield on 11th September 1965. After 14 seasons Hunslet may have had designs on more from Gabby as he was not struck off until 1968.
“Gabby”
Today in 1907 was the first time Hunslet played a touring team when they faced New Zealand “All Golds”. On a day with perfect conditions for rugby 16,000 turned out to watch a match which “at times bordered on roughness”. The “Colonials” built up a 9-0 interval lead and also had two tries called back for forward passes. The trusty boot of Albert Goldthorpe pulled Hunslet back to 8-9 with twenty minutes to play when Dally Messenger was pulled back for another forward pass but soon after kicked a goal to stretch the lead. Towards the end full-back Herbert Place kicked over the defence and the support chased up for Harry Wilson to dribble over and level the scores. The match finished 11-11.
Another Boxing Day debutant, this time in 1968, was hooker Alan Maskill. He had signed from Normanton Intermediates and served the Parksiders well in difficult times and switched his allegiance to New Hunslet in 1973. He played 70 games for Hunslet and 74 for New Hunslet before moving to Bramley in 1976 (after a dispute over rugby boots!!). Unfortunately he badly damaged his shoulder on his Bramley debut which kept him out of action and he transferred to Hull in 1977. He also had spells at Halifax and York.
Alan Maskill
In 1928 in the match against Castleford at Parkside referee Horsfall called time on the first half after 30 minutes and the players took their refreshments on the touchline. A touch judge and the crowd soon made hime aware of his error and he called the players back for a further ten minutes play. It was 5-2 to Hunslet at the first break and no further points were added up to half-time. Hunslet ran out winners by 11-4.
1994 was the last time Hunslet would play Bramley at MacLaren Field. They had faced each other exactly 100 times at either Barley Mow or MacLaren Field, Hunslet winning 71 and three being drawn. Hunslet still had matches to play at MacLaren Field as they were playing their home fixtures there after leaving Elland Road.
