A comeback win at Keighley Cougars will send Hunslet Hawks into our first competitive game of 2016 in buoyant mood.
Hawks completed our pre-season campaign with a 28-26 success at Cougar Park, despite trailing 26-16 in the second half.
It was Matt Bramald’s first win as Hunslet coach and he reckons it sets us up nicely for Sunday’s visit of York City Knights in the iPro Sport Cup.
“The boys were really, really good,” Bramald enthused. “It was always going to be a tough challenge, we knew it was going to be a tough game and we went in front, went behind and battled back and scored a couple of late tries.
“It was pleasing to finish ahead on the scoreboard, but the performance was more pleasing.”
Hawks’ previous pre-season games were against Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Rovers and Batley Bulldogs. Bramald added: “We’ve played Championship teams and done reasonably well.
“We knew this would give us more of a gauge of where we are, because Keighley are favourites for our division. It was important we competed and showed some improvement and I think we did that.”
Bramald said Hawks got through without any injuries likely to keep players out of Sunday’s Cup tie, despite knocks to Jimmy Watson (dead leg) and Jake Normington (face).
Article courtesy of the Yorkshire Evening Post
