Stanningley ARLFC 0 Hunslet RLFC 44
Hunslet eased past National Conference League 1 side Stanningley at the Arthur Miller Stadium without having to hit the top gears, even though the home side never gave in and gave a good account of themselves.
The win sees them take on Huddersfield Giants in the 3rd round of the Challenge cup a week on Friday.
Like last week Hunslet got off to a flying start. In the first minute Billy Jowitt broke through and should have passed to Mo Agoro, but the defender read the dummy and stopped the run, Jowitt however was able to release the ball and Matty Dawson-Jones combined to send Agoro over in the corner. 0-4
Although Hunslet mounted pressure, they forced passes and kicks and frustrated the away support, but after Watson and then Hallas made good yards, returning hooker Cam Berry shot over from close range, Jowitt converting 0-10 on the 16th minute.
Stanningley rarely threatened, but a high kick looked dangerous until Jimmy Watson plucked it from the sky. The home side also didn’t help themselves when former Parksider Fraser Stroud was sin-binned for interference.
Hunslet attacked again through Agoro and Watson, and then Jowitt combined with Nichol, but the final ball wasn’t sticking until the 40th minute when Lee Gaskell’s long ball to Matty Dawson-Jones sent Agoro in the corner for the game breaker. Jowitt converting 0-16 at the break.
Hunslet came again the second half, and after Keelan Foster was held up a Lee Gaskell wonder ball sent Coby Nichol over in the corner. Billy Jowitt converting 0-22 on 46 minutes.
The game was effectively over, but now Stanningley had their best moments, Wiscombe was held up and Townend looked threatening.
Hunslet relieved the pressure when Harrison Gilmore sent Coby Nichol on a break. Josh Phillips held on too long and Stanningley were down to 12 men for a while.
On 62 minutes Hunslet’s left edge came into play. Gilmore again sent Nichol through who combined with Myles Harrop to score. Jowitt converting 0-28
What had been a good hard but fair game turned nasty for a minute when everyone became involved in a brawl. Dawson-Jones was sent off for Hunslet, whilst Jowitt for Hunslet and Ruan for Stanningley were sin-binned.
With the sides at 11v11 Emmerson Whittel broke for Hunslet down the middle to put Jimmy Watson in for his first try in his 14th season for the Club. Lee Gaskell converting 0-34 on 75 minutes.
With Stanningley now tiring Harrop and Nicol combined again to put the winger over for his 2nd try on 78 minutes and on the hooter after a penalty Harvey Hallas strode over for a try, this one converted by Jowitt.
Hunslet Head Coach Kyle Trout will be pleased with the overall performance. Hunslet scored some good tries and nilled the opposition, but they were profligate in the first half which they will not be able to do against better opposition.
Billy Jowitt received the Player of the Match chosen by Stanningley, whilst Eddie Battye, Coby Nichol, Myles Harrop and Jimmy Watson all had excellent games.
Hunslet miss a game next week with the cancellation of the Featherstone fixture, but will play Huddersfield at the South Leeds Stadium on Friday February 6th in the Challenge Cup Round 3.
STANNINGLEY – Townend, Shires, Vincent, Sykes, Clayton, Stroud, Barker, Ruan, Peach, Salkeld, Hepworth, Stone, Phillips, Wiscombe, Peel, Henry, Whittaker.
HUNSLET – Watson, Nichol, Harrop, Dawson-Jones, Agoro, Jowitt, Gaskell, O’Hanlon, Berry, Hallas, Gilmore, Darcy Simpson, Battye, Whittel, Larroyer, Carr, Foster, Elijah Simpson.
Pictures courtesy of Zach Berg
