1997 was a bittersweet day as Hunslet appeared at Wembley for the first time since 1965 but returned home after a walloping by Hull Kingston Rovers.
The Challenge Cup Plate was a new competition for non-Super League clubs eliminated in the fourth round and the final looked as though it might not proceed as a suspect package was found just before kick off and the ground was cleared. Fortunately the all-clear was given just before 12.30 and the teams entered the field at around one o’clock, 45 minutes late. It was only five minutes before Hunslet gained the lead with a Graham Southernwood try. Ten minutes later Rovers were in front with a converted try and shortly after added a further 4 points. A Paul Mansson try on 25 minutes from a break on halfway and a penalty by Craig Booth levelled things but another two tries gave Hull a 22-10 half time lead. The second half was one way traffic as Rovers ran in a further seven tries, Hunslet’s only response being a Mike Pechey try. The Halifax Evening Courier reported that as Hunslet arrived back at the Wembley Conference Centre in their kit to change a Jobsworth asked who they thought they were and wouldn’t let them in!
The Lazenby Cup had been interrupted by the Great War but the series resumed today in 1919 at Headingley. Ten minutes from the end the cup was Hunslet’s but Leeds staged a late rally to turn a seven point deficit into a three point lead to take the trophy. The crowd was 8,000, the gate benefitting the Playing Fields of Leeds.
In 1907 Hunslet registered a player called Jack Simmonds. At a Rugby League meeting today in 1910, Hunslet brought evidence that Simmonds had later signed for Huddersfield under the name J Barton and had subsequently transferred to Wakefield Trinity. Simmonds / Barton was suspended sine die and Wakefield were ordered to cross him off their register. Wakefield appealed to the league to get their transfer fee back from Huddersfield which succeeded. Two years later Barton had his lifetime ban lifted.
Unusually in 1949 the County Championships were held at the end of the season and today Yorkshire were facing Lancashire at Halifax. Ginger Burnell was at scrum half and Billy Metcalfe and Ted Carroll were in the pack. Lancashire won 12-3. It was Ginger’s first of three Yorkshire appearances.
In 1938 Hunslet travelled to Hull for the second benefit match for the Hull Great War Fund. The game was described as a pleasant and interesting exhibition as the ball was thrown about freely and the referee ignored most minor infringements (not one penalty for a scrum offence it was noted). Hull won 39-31 to retain the Shield they had won a year ago.
