The Rugby Union started using points in 1891 to determine the result of matches and ‘Ahr Albert’ wasted no time in starting to post records. On the opening day of the season he had posted 13 points (3 conversions and a drop) to set the initial points in match record. This was beaten at the beginning of October by Alfred Hill with 15 but Albert wasted no time in taking the record back with 26 points against Kendal Hornets in November in a 36-0 win. These were quite exceptional totals at a time when matches were usually settled by a couple of tries or goals. Perhaps it was a sign of things to come as Hunslet would win the Yorkshire Cup at the end of the season. The 26 points would remain as the highest toral in the Union era.

Following the All Four Cups season Hunslet continued their invincible run in the 1908 Yorkshire Cup with a round 2 win at York by 14-0. York held their own for most of the match, holding Hunslet to 1 try at the break but the second half was all Hunslet as they progressed to what one paper referred to as “a rout” and qualification for their fouth semi-final in less than a year.

Just one other cup-tie today, 1976’s John Player Trophy round 1 tie against Castleford at home. Peter Muscroft and Allan Agar scored tries which Bob Gaitley converted but it was not enough as Cas ran out 24-10 winners.

Hunslet had called on the services of three Papua New Guinea internationals in 2009/10, Charlie Wabo, Michael Mark  and Nico Slain. Charlie had played for his country while at Hunslet and he and Michael had returned home by today in 2010 to play against Australia in the Four Nations competition. The match in Sydney was won by Australia 42-0. The Yearbooks do not give club affiliations so we don’t know if they were still classed as Hunslet players.

Michael Mark

Nico Slain

Charlie Wabo

Apart from a County trial in 1894 featuring Owen Walsh and Jack Mitchell on opposing sides as the Possibles beat the Probables 19-9 at Wakefield, the only other full international today saw Neil Lowe add to his tally of Scotland caps in their win over Ireland 42-22 in Dublin in the European Championship.