29th May….
A notice was placed in the 1883 Yorkshire Post today advising of the change of club name to Hunslet Cricket and Football Club after the formation of a Rugby Football Club. The secretary also welcomed engagements for season 1883/84.
The 1954 tourist were up against Sydney today and a crowd of 50,000 watched the side lose by 36-25. Geoff Gunney and Dickie Williams played and Williams scored a try.
Hunslet’s 1938 tour of France came to an end today with a match at Albi and an easy 48-16 win. Oliver Morris scored five tries. Hunslet took three guest players with them on the tour, Dai Jenkins the Leeds half-back and from Hull full-back Freddie Miller and J R P Dawson, a forward.
30 May….
Today’s 13-10 win at Blackpool Borough drew down the curtain on the 1962/63 Second Division season with Hunslet promoted as champions. Coach Fred Ward had brought in Jeff Stevenson during the previous season as his on-field organiser and that move certainly paid off this season. John Griffiths took the try scoring honours with 24 and Billy Langton kicked 134 goals. The match was also Hunslet’s first visit to the Seasider’s home. The late finish to the season was down to the big freeze when Hunslet didn’t play a game between 15th December and 2nd March.
Prop Wilf Adams completed his transfer from Wakefield Trinity today in 1960. Over three seasons he played 42 games and scored one try.
31st May….
The end of the 1946/47 season was today at Headingley with a 22-30 loss to Leeds. A mid-table finish with winger Freddie Williamson on 11 tries and Des Clarkson on 66 goals.
A joint benefit match was played for Brian Gabbitas and Leeds’ Lewis Jones tonight in 1963. There was no match report but we know Leeds won 30-38.
Half-back Ronnie Watts put pen to paper today in 1961, signing for Hunslet Juniors for £250. He played 38 games over four seasons scoring four tries.
