Quite a few of Hunslet’s representatives were selected for action today….

At Whitehaven today in 1925, John Coulson made the first of 18 appearances for Cumberland against Lancashire. In a forward dominated game there were few chances for the backs but Coulson was tackled on the line in the first half and from his play the ball Cumberland scored their only try. Lancashire won the game 6-5.

In 1927 Glamorgan and Monmouthshire were admitted to the County Championship, the number of Welshmen coming north was such that this was now sustainable. For their first game they visited Parkside to play Yorkshire. For the hosts Jack Walkington was at full-back, George Broughton on the wing and Hector Crowther in the pack. On 19 minutes Crowther picked up a loose pass and dashed away to make an opening for Fletcher to score. The Welshmen replied with a try and after another Crowther / Fletcher break Yorkshire were in front 8-7 at half-time. By full-time Yorkshire had moved to a 20-12 victory.

Winger Freddie Williamson and centre Sid Rookes travelled to Workington for the County match with Cumberland. A first half try by Freddie helped Yorkshire to a 5-3 interval lead and in the second half as the heavier Yorkshire forwards were getting on top, Sid dummied to go in for a try. Rookes understanding with his winger Riches was singled out as a feature of the match Yorkshire won 11-9

.Freddie Williamson

In 1949, again against Cumberland, the Tykes had Bill Metcalfe and Frank “Shanks” Watson in their ranks at The Boulevard. It was an 8-3 lead at half-time for Tykes and after an early second-half penalty by Cumberland Metcalfe made a break and on a 50-yard run dummied left and right before passing on to Harry Street for the try and from then on Yorkshire eased their way to 21-8 win.

Bill Metcalfe

1955 saw a change in opponents as Yorkshire faced Lancashire at Oldham with Geoff Gunney making his first Yorkshire appearance. After having to make three last minute changes, Yorkshire were well beaten by their opponents, losing 10-26 as Lancashire became County Champions.

A year later it was the same opponents, this time at Hull. Geoff was again in the pack with hooking colleague Sam Smith. Geoff scored two tries and was singled out as the only Yorkshire forward to match the Red Rose six and Sam gave Yorkshire’s backs an equal share of possession from the scrums. It finished as an easy win for Lancashire 35-21 as they again took the Championship.

Geoff Shelton and Fred Ward were in the Yorkshire side which recorded a 22-8 win over Lancashire at Wakefield in 1962.

An important forward in the early Rugby Union days, making his debut today against was Tom Stephens at Elland. He had signed from Leeds Parish Church and was with Hunslet for six seasons and 121 games as the club looked to establish themselves in the Rugby Union hierarchy. He returned to the Churchmen after his Hunslet career was over.

Tom Stepens

Winger Billy Hannah became the first Hunslet player to score a hat-trick in a Northern Union game today in 1896 at home to Holbeck. Later in the season he extended this to five, although it was against amateur opposition in the Challenge Cup.

The 2004 season ended today with a 13-27 Play-off defeat up at Workington. It had been a mixed season finishing sixth out of ten with some big wins mixed in with heavy defeats. George Rayner took the top tries honours with 14 and Danny Wood with 33 pipped Chris Ross’s 32 for the top gaols.