Cornwall RLFC 26-33 Hunslet RLFC
Hunslet had to call on their mental reserves to take the 2 points down in Penryn (10 August 2024) after Cornwall drew level late in the second half.
Early pressure saw the Parksiders take a 9th minute lead through Jack Render, but an error from the kick off gave Cornwall a chance to level up through Callum Abbott. 4-4
A much improved Cornwall gave Rochdale a scare last week so this was no easy task for the Parksiders.
More Hunslet pressure and Cornwall mistakes meant Jack Render went over for his second try and the visitors led 4-8 on 18 minutes.
The Choughs went down to 12 men as Luke Collins was sin-binned and with a man advantage Jack Render looked to have scored a hat-trick, but for a forward pass.
On 27 minutes though the visitors did stretch the lead when George Flanagan followed up his own kick to score. Beharrell converting. 4-14
Another mistake from the kick off gave Cornwall possession, and after pressure Aaron Small grounded with tacklers hanging onto him. 10-14 at the break.
Cornwall started the second half down to 12 men again as Collins spent more time in the sin-bin, but that didn’t stop them opening the scoring on 41 minutes when a sweeping move ended in another Aaron Small try. 16-14.
Not the start Hunslet needed, but they regained the momentum and on 48 minutes Cam Berry scored a trademark close in try which with Beharrell’s conversion wrestled the lead back again. 16-20
Moments later George Flanagan showed his attacking threat from distance and suddenly Hunslet looked comfortable leading 16-26.
Although on 56 minutes Matty Fletcher was sin-binned for the Parksiders the Hunslet line held firm, but with 13 minutes to go Nathan Cullen crossed for Cornwall to reduce the arrears. 22-26
With 8 minutes to go Callum Abbott got his second try on the end of a grubber kick, but with an unsuccessful conversion we were all square at 26-26.
With the clock ticking down, up stepped Matty Beharrell with a one pointer to edge Hunslet out at 26-27. The Parksiders pressuring Cornwall to the last when on 80 minutes Michael Knowles followed a kick to score. 26-33 on the hooter.
You sometimes see the character of a team when they win whilst not being at their best, and today Hunslet fought hard for the win. Leap-frogging Rochdale into third position in the Betfred League 1, Hunslet will now look to try cement that position in the remaining three games.
