Today in 1980 was the last time Hunslet beat Leeds in an official match. It was also the first time the new cub had beaten them. Admittedly Leeds were playing their fourth match in a week but arguably had the depth in their squad to rotate the players, especially against a team that was already relegated. Two tries from Dickie James, one from Ian Nicholson with 5 goals from Mick Parrish and 2 drop goals from Tony Dean saw New Hunslet home 21-7.
Hunslet were still involved in cup competitions as they entered their final rounds. In 1895’s Yorkshire Cup a visit by Brighouse Rangers proved to be one match too far as they were eliminated 0-3. It was the same story in 1963 as Warrington ended Hunslet’s hopes with a 7-5 win at Wilderspool. However in 2014 a fourth round win at home over Workington Town 27-10 earned Hunslet a trip over the Pennines to face Wigan in the next round.
Workington were admitted to the league after the war ended in 1945 and today was our first visit to Borough Park but Hunslet had to return home with a 0-8 defeat. Another first visit was today in 1896 with a trip to the Athletic Grounds in Rochdale for a match with the Hornets A better result this time as Hunslet won 19-0. This would be Hunslet’s highest score of the first season of the Northern Union.
Some players were on representative duty today. Continuing with the Workington theme, Eddie Bennet was at Borough Park today with Yorkshire as they went down 14-0 to Cumberland. Dai Jenkins, having moved north from Treorchy in 1926, gained his first Wales cap in 1927 in a 8-11 defeat to England at Broughton Rangers’ Wheater’s Field. In 1952 Wales were playing France at Bordeaux with Jack Evans at full-back and Les Williams at centre. France won 20-12.
Hooker Ron Whitaker made his debut in the Warrington cup match described above. With Bernad Prior being the incumbent hooker chances were going to be hard to come by, but Ron stayed with the club for six seasons for 55 appearances and 1 try.
