Lock Lane ARLFC 10-50 Hunslet RLFC
Hunslet’s first real hit out of the season after losing pre-season friendlies to the weather ended in victory against a spirited Lock Lane ARLFC side.
It could have been a potential banana skin, but The Parksiders effectively won the game in the first 15 minutes before Lock Lane got with the pace and started to get into the match.
The scoring opened on only 5 minutes when Mackenzie Scurr went over after quick passing from a scrum. The winger a welcome returnee to the squad. 0-4
Former Lock Lane player Noah Booth (who is on loan from Wakefield Trinity) started to show his class on the right edge. Linking with Mackenzie Turner, the speedsters broke the line and found Lachy Hanneghan on the inside for the Australian’s first try. 0-8
Hunslet found gaps again on 14 minutes when Jordan Syme broke through and this time Hanneghan returned the favour sending Booth over for a try. Beharrell converting 0-14
The early scoring could have turned into an avalanche, but Lock Lane grew into the match and created some pressure of their own being held up over the line. This was helped by Hunslet mistakes, particularly not finding touch from a penalty.
On 27 minutes Hanneghan got his second of the afternoon when Matty Beharrell put Ethan O’Hanlon through, the big number 6 backing up well to score. 0-20
Another was added on the break as Beharrell combined with Ethan Wood who showed pace and strength to beat the Lock Lane defence. Beharrell converting, 0-26 at the break.
Lock Lane came out the second half with more determination and scored a try on 42 minutes. A quick ball from a penalty saw Connor Wilson go over, with Nathan Fozzard converting 6-26
Hunslet didn’t let that try start a comeback though, as 4 minutes later Hanneghan put a kick to the corner for Mackenzie Scurr to take and score his second try of the afternoon. 6-32
In the first half Lachy Hanneghan got all the joy for Hunslet, now his half-back partner Matty Beharrell started to have some fun.
On 53 minutes Liam Welham, returning to the club after 10 years, broke through and with an inside pass Beharrell was backing up to score. Converting his own try 6-38.
4 minutes later with Ethan O’Hanlon going close, Beharrell passed to Jimmy Watson, who in his twelfth season at the club added another to his tally. 6-44
Lock Lane were not giving up, and it took until the 68th minute for Hunslet to score again. This time Hanneghan and Beharrell combining with Beharrell getting his second try of the day. 6-50
The final 10 minutes could be best described as scrappy. With the game won Hunslet dropped a gear and made some mistakes, but Lock Lane hung in and got another good try as Brandon Worsley snuck over in the corner.
With a good crowd in, hopefully it will be a fillip for Lock Lane as they prepare for their season. The game was well organised and they put in a good performance.
Hunslet progress to round 3 with a home fixture against Super League Huddersfield Giants. Head Coach Dean Muir was in general pleased with the performance.
“We were really professional for the first 60 minutes, we dropped off in the last 20 but we came through unscathed which is important. Some lads coming back from injury went well too.”
Both Halfbacks had superb games and with strength on the flanks Hunslet could be a real threat in the Championship this season.
There were good debuts for Billy Jowitt, Dean Roberts, Keelan Foster and Sam Campbell. But Hunslet Away Bus Supporters went for Lachlan Hanneghan as Player of the Match.
Hunslet RLFC: Watson, Scurr, Jowitt, Booth, Turner, Hanneghan, Beharrell, Roberts, Whitmore, Foster, Wood, Welham, Syme. Interchanges: Hallas, Berry, O’Hanlon, Campbell. 18th Player: Rugless.
Lock Lane ARLFC: Price, Worsley, Wilson, Purdy, Moon, Davies, Fozzard, Pick, Butler, Siddons, Holmes, Jordan, Maskill. Interchanges: Birdsall, Newbould, Swan, Kear.
