8th November….

It was debut day for a true Hunslet hero, Herbert “Hector” Crowther. His first game was at Parkside against Warrington in 1919. A resident of Stourton he had signed on 4th September and would go on to play 464 games and score 105 tries and 15 goals before hanging up his boots in December 1934. In his career he appeared in the 1929 and 1931 Yorkshire Cup finals and the 1934 Challenge Cup final. He was an international playing for both Great Britain and England. His County career spanned 9 seasons and 17 matches. He played in Tour Trials in both 1924 and 1928 but didn’t make the tour party.   

In the 1941 Yorkshire Cup Hunslet’s quarter final opponents were Lancastrians! Only 17 teams played in the 1941/42 War Emergency League and of those only Oldham, St. Helens and Wigan were from Lancashire. Obviously that meant no Lancashire Cup and Wigan and Oldham were given permission to play in the Yorkshire Cup. Wigan had played and beaten Keighley 33-2 over two legs in the first round. They were drawn to face Hunslet in the second round and today was the first leg at Parkside. Hunslet were handicapped in the second half as Eric Batten was a passenger with a bad arm injury and a try ten minutes from time saw Wigan home 8-3 with a visit to Central Park to come. Wigan had played in the previous season’s competition but lost at home to Leeds in the first half.

The other cup-tie today was up at the Mount against Batley in the 1992 Regal Trophy first round. A Paul Harkin drop goal had given Hunslet a 7 point cushion which Batley (including ex Hunslet player Jimmy Irvine) couldn’t close as Hunslet won 13-6.

In 1952 Australia were the visitors to our shores and in today’s second test Jack Evans was at full-back. The home team won the Ashes with a 21-9 win at Swinton.

Neil Lowe started his Scotland career against Wales at Bridgend in the European Championship today in 2009 but couldn’t help prevent a 16-28 defeat.

Half-back Fred Smith played today in 1911 for Northern Union against Australasia up at Newcastle in the first test. The tourist won the match 19-10.