Hunslet 28 vs 18 Rochdale Hornets
Jimmy Watson bowed out after 14 Seasons with Hunslet yesterday at the South Leeds Stadium scoring a try as Hunslet finished the year on a high against a dogged Rochdale Hornets side.
Watson has been popular amongst Hunslet fans over the last 14 Seasons but there was love for him throughout the whole Rugby League community as he decided to call it a day still playing some of his best Rugby.
Also retiring was former French international Kevin Larroyer who has been at Hunslet for the past 2 Seasons and turned in an aggressive exciting performance on his last career match.
Rochdale came to South Leeds off the back of 2 good wins, but with 3 games in 7 days it was likely Hunslet would finish the stronger.
The visitors got off to a flyer though when on 2 minutes Jamie Dallimore took 2 points for a late tackle. Rochdale came again and on 7 minutes a kick to Mo Agoro was wrestled free and TJ Boyd snatched the ball to score. 0-6
Hunslet were sloppy and conceding penalties, and on 11 minutes conceded another try on the last tackle (an unwanted theme this season), a Hornets kick ping-ponged around the Hunslet defenders before former Parksider Jordan Syme touched down to score. Dallimore converting 0-12
But as soon as Hunslet got possession they started to make good yards. Eddie Battye was held up and both Gaskell and Jowitt went close. But disaster struck when Cam Berry had to leave the field with a leg injury leaving Hunslet Hooker-less.
Eddie Battye took on the roll and Kevin Larroyer showed his presence at first receiver, but even though Mo Agoro made a strong break Hunslet still forced passes.
Eventually though on 30 minutes Harrop and Hatton combined to set up Ant Walker who is rarely stopped close to the line. Even though the ball bobbled Walker touched down and Billy Jowitt converted 6-12.
On 35 minutes Hunslet got all square with a popular try. Lee Gaskell made a break and fed Myles Harrop who passed inside for a supporting Jimmy Watson to score his 93rd Club try. 12-12
Although Rochdale were unlucky not to score with a nimble kick down the left touch line, Hunslet were on top with Harrison Gilmore getting offloads away at his will. 12-12 at the interval.
The Parksiders got off to the perfect start in the second period, on 41 minutes after Rochdale had dropped a Lee Gaskell kick Eddie Battye forced his way over and Hunslet led 18-12.
Mo Agoro had now left the field for The Parksiders and so players were having to fill in in unusual positions, this may have unsettled Hunslet as on 45 minutes Matthew Unsworth dived over from a kick to the corner to score, but with no conversion Hunslet still led 18-16.
It was now or never for The Hornets, Hunslet were conceding penalties and were making mistakes, on 58 minutes Jack Hansen took 2 points for an offside decision to square it up. 18-18
But Myles Harrop and Charlie Graham were still carrying a huge threat for the home side. The crowd were non-plussed when Jordan Baldwinson was pulled back for juggling a ball before scoring, the referee deeming it to be a knock-on.
However, Hunslet were finishing stronger. Harrison Gilmore went close before Lee Gaskell flicked a ball to Myles Harrop to score. 22-18
The game was sealed on 73 minutes just after Rochdale knocked on from a certain try when Sam Grice looked to be going nowhere but showed unbelievable strength to knock players out of the way on his way to the line, with Jowitt’s extras Hunslet led 28-18.
Although Gaskell and Graham were unlucky to not score Rochdale kept threatening right until the hooter, but it was Hunslet who took the points and brought the curtain down on a season of highs and lows.
Head Coach was happy to get the win for his retiring players and other players moving on to pastures new, but he was frustrated Hunslet didn’t put in a classy performance he knows they are capable off.
Truth is Rochdale have been good lately winning at Workington and Dewsbury, so this is a good victory for Hunslet. Although they made needless errors with the ball, they had more yards in them than the opposition and always looked likely to win despite giving Hornets a 12-point start.
Jimmy Watson picked up both ‘Tricks of the Trade’ Sponsors Player of the Match and Phoenix Bar Supporters Player of the Match, but Myles Harrop ran really strongly and both Kevin Larroyer and Harrison Gilmore were excellent, as was Lennon Clarke on-loan from Hull FC.
HUNSLET – Watson, Agoro, Hatton, Harrop, Graham, Gaskell, Jowitt, Baldwinson, Berry, Grice, Gilmore, Clarke, Battye, Larroyer, O’Hanlon, Walker, Broadbent, Hallas.
ROCHDALE HORNETS – Paga, Chippendale, Unsworth, Sa’u, Boyd, Dallimore, Hansen, Barrett, Whitmore, Ione, Hackney, Wood, Syme, Dayes, Hatton, Roby, Colman, Braddish.
