The 1914/15 season started today with a home game against Bradford Northern. Hunslet would be without Walter Guerin, Jack Smales, and Fred Smith who were on their way home from the Lions Tour. Bradford were also low on numbers as they had lost 10 players who had been called up to the British Army. Both sides had early chances to score before Hunslet’s New Zealander Edgar Wrigley sidestepped through to score under the posts and added the goal. The teams scored a try each before half-time but it was all Hunslet in the second-half as they won 17-3. The programme notes questioned how long the season might last due to the war but in the end it was played to it’s normal conclusion in April. Hunslet had lost two young forwards in R Duckworth and George Wishart to the forces. New players were George Naylor from Halifax, Arthur “Peg” Newton from Dewsbury, P Thompson from Maryport and William Pearson from Bullgill.
Arthur Newton
Among the debutants today were forward Charles Uttley in 1903.He signed from Thrum Hall and played 68 games in three seasons and winger Albert Jenkinson in 1908. Signed from Halifax Caddy Fields, he had a good career at Hunslet playing for The Northern Union, England, Rugby League XIII and Yorkshire. Unfortunately he played in the 1910 and 1914 Tour Trials without being selected to tour. After 150 games and 78 tries he moved across the city to Leeds. He had scored five tries against York in 1914 to equal the club record.
Albert Jenkinson
Cup ties today included the start of the 1999 Northern Ford Premiership play-offs. A home tie with Widnes Vikings was lost 21-24. Hunslet were winning 15-10 in the second half before Vikings half-back Hewitt completed a 20 point match haul to see his side home. Hunslet would have a second bite of the cherry next week as they had finished second in the table behind Dewsbury. Yorkshire cup matches were, in 1951 where they played Doncaster in their third consecutive game. Hunslet won the first leg at Doncaster 9-4 and eased through to the quarter-final with a 12-2 win. Two years later it was Hull Kingston Rovers at Parkside in the first leg. Stand-off Arthur Talbot was Hunslet’s star kicking six goals and setting up three tries in 27-13 win. 1982 brought Featherstone Rovers to Elland Road and they saw off their hosts 19-7.
In the early 1900s a number of Welsh clubs took up the professional version of the game after problems with the Welsh Rugby Union and professionalism. One of these was Ebbw Vale and today in 1908 they visited Parkside for the first time. On a windy day, the Welshmen opened the scoring with a try but from then on Hunslet’s backs ran the show, winning 21-3.
In 1891 as Rugby Union embraced point scoring for the first time, Albert Goldthorpe kicked three place goals (3 points each) and a drop goal (4 points) to set the first points in a match record). For the record, tries were worth 2 points and Jack Rathmell and John Walker got two each.
Jack Rathmell
