Wyburn gets his revenge!
In the 1st round Challenge Cup tie at York in 1913, James “Danny” Wyburn got himself into a bit of bother with the authorities. It was reported after the game that Wyburn was struck by a York player in the first half, with the comment “That one’s for you”. Not wanting to be sent off he said he would see the York player after the match. Well, he did!. He was later reported to the Cup Committee for striking both Lupton of York and a York official after the match. Wyburn was then struck on the head with a stick by a York supporter. Wyburn was suspended until the end of the season and York were fined 5 guineas. In his defence, Danny stated he did not know he could be reported for something that happened after the match! The York player, Lupton, was involved again later in the match when Herbert Banks was sent off for kicking him and he had to be carried off injured. The match was played on a very windy day which “mitigated against anything like scientific play”. The sending off and the absence of Billy Batten hindered Hunslet but, trailing 0-2 near the end of game, they had a chance to snatch the win only for winger Jenkinson to be bundled into touch near the corner flag.
In 1970, Alan Griffiths, having signed on from Castleford Intermediates, made his debut at Keighley. Alan played 91 games (15 tries) at Parkside before the demise of the old club. He played in the last game at Parkside and the final game of the old club at Bramley before transferring his allegiances to New Hunslet He turned out at Keighley in the new club’s first fixture and against Huyton in their first home game. He played a further 225 times for the re-formed club and scored another 45 tries. His 15 tries in 1976/77 set a new record New Hunslet. He played for Yorkshire against Lancashire at Widnes in 1977 and in 1978/79 he was voted fairest and Most Loyal player by the Yorkshire Federation of Supporters Clubs.
In 1964, over in Perpignan, Dennis Hartley was making his Great Britain debut against France in an 11-5 victory. Also in the side was Geoff Shelton who weighed in with 2 tries.
In 1930 Hunslet travelled to St Helens in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup, having seen off Oldham and Batley at Parkside. It was not to be today as Saints ran out 22-7 winners.
And in 1947, having lost 2-3 in the Challenge Cup first round first leg to Hull Kingston Rovers, Hunslet had it all to do. In a bad tempered match on a pitch which was descibed as “a quagmire” and which saw 4 players dismissed, Hunslet came through 6-0.
