Normanton Knights – Away (BARLA Cup)

Nail biter at Normanton

 

When Hunslet were drawn away against Normanton in the 1^st round of the BARLA Cup, the supporters of both teams must have relished the prospect of another close encounter like the one in the league only two weeks before. They were not to be disappointed!!

Anybody who has played rugby league at Normanton will tell you that it has to be one of the most hostile and intimidating places on the pitch to visit. The location of the ground, the atmosphere and the sense that all the people from the locality come to watch them, make it a character building experience for the lads.

 

Hunslet welcomed back Jack Halliday and Nathan Sefton passed a late fitness test on his two broken ribs to start the match.

 

Unusually this season, the Warriors got off to a flyer with Nathan Robinson (have you seen a better centre this year?) scoring virtually from the kick off after a determined run.

Sefton kicked the extras and it was game on!

 

The match continued to be even, with fine defence from both teams and plenty of mistakes in difficult, windy conditions adding to the excitement.

 

After a series repeat sets, Normanton scored a deserved equaliser through their impressive number six and added the conversion to make it 6 – 6.

 

Following a penalty against Hunslet and being a Cup match, Normanton decided to take the two points on offer and went to a slender two point lead. The momentum was definitely with the home side now and after a period on sustained pressure, they scored a further converted try to lead 14 – 6.

 

Callum Wilson, the Hunslet skipper, proceeded to lead by example and scored an excellent try after great hand work by several members of the side. Sefton once again added the extras and the gap was now down to just two points at 14 – 12.

 

Both sides, through a series of missed penalties, by passed the opportunity to increase their points total and the half finished with no change to the score.

 

Half Time   Normanton  14 – 12  Hunslet Warriors

 

The second half started in a similar vain to the first with the Warriors very much on top. Jack Teanby once again this season led the line impressively and Keiran Healy showed everyone just how much his defence has come on. Following a fine move by Hunslet and a hand off Jamie Peacock would have been proud of by the captain, Rambo(Jack Halliday) scored in the corner to narrow the gap once more. After an unsuccessful conversion attempt it was back to 16 – 14 to the Warriors.

 

With the tension starting to mount for all spectators, Jack Halliday proceeded to grab the game by the scruff of its neck and score a great individual try that only he can! Following a series of dance moves, Rambo beat several tackles and touched down to send the crowd wild.

The conversion was unsuccessful but the Warriors led 14 – 20.

 

Normanton showed great tenacity to roar back into the match and again brought the scores level with a converted try 20 – 20. It was becoming compulsive viewing for the watching crowd and Man of the Match Liam Matthews, scored a brilliant opportunist try for Hunslet (his first for two seasons since scoring against Dewsbury Celtic away) to put the Warriors back in front. The try was converted by Sefton and with only minutes remaining Hunslet led 20 – 26.

 

From the kick off and a mistake by the Warriors, Normanton scored a well worked try in the corner but couldn’t add the extras. The gap was now just two pints in favour off the Warriors.

 

With the referee playing what seemed to be an age of extra time for stoppages, Hunslet hung on progress into the next round. Several spectators once again needed large brandies after the match as the crowds nerves were stretched to the limit.

 

Full Time   Normanton  24   26  Hunslet Warriors

 

 

 

Yours in Sport

 

 

Keith Mather

GOOD WIN OVER WYKE

 

 

It was a fine but blustery day for the first visit of Hull Wyke to Warrior Park. Both from their results so far this season and the reputation of all Hull sides being very competitive, the Hunslet lads were expecting a difficult match. No one was disappointed.

 

As is the norm at present, the Warriors got off to a flying start with Reece Whitehouse scoring in the corner at the end of a fine passing move. The conversion just failed and Hunslet led 4 – 0.

 

The boys from Hunslet seemed to be coping with the windy conditions better than Wyke and it came as no surprise when Jack Halliday scored another great individual try. Rambo who is on fire at present, again showed his undoubted pace and power to score from the halfway line. Hunslet led 8 – 0.

 

For the next ten minutes, there was a period of excellent rugby played by both sides with defences to the fore. For Hunslet Jack Teanby, Michael French and Nathan Robinson were particularly strong on the tackling front.

 

As a result of a high tackle, the Warriors decided to take the two points on offer from near the sticks. Nathan Sefton did the honours and Hunslet extended their lead to 10 – 0.

 

With the momentum firmly with the Warriors, they increased their lead when Teanby scored under the posts for a great team try. Sefton once again added the extras and the ref blew for half time.

 

Half Time   Hunslet Warriors 16 v 0 Hull Wyke

 

The second period began where the first left off with Hunslet having the lion’s share of possession and Robinson scored a further try following a fine kick and chase. Despite missing the conversion, the Warriors were now 20 – 0 up.

 

From the restart, Hunslet knocked on and from the resulting scrum, Hull scored a deserved try through their impressive No 13 Kieran McCowell. The conversion was successful and the deficit down to 20 – 6.

 

At the kick off, an attempted short restart was seized on by Wyke and their No 11 Trevor continued their fight back by extending their point’s total. With the extras added it was now 20 – 12 and definitely game on!!

 

The final ten minutes was end to end rugby by both teams. Both looked capable of scoring at any time but in the last minute, Man of the Match for the Warriors, Whitehouse produced a moment of magic to add to his earlier try. After a failed conversion attempt by Hunslet, the ref blew up for time.

 

 Full Time  Hunslet Warriors 24  v Hull Wyke  12

 

 

 

Yours in Sport

 

Hunslet Warriors 27 v 20 Rochdale Mayfield

In front of a sparse crowd put off by both the constant pouring rain and the Grand Final playoff at Manchester an inspired second half performance gave Hunslet Warriors a narrow victory over arch rivals Rochdale Mayfield in the NCL Interim Group D league.

An inept first half display littered with missed tackles, missed chances and indiscipline saw Warriors continually under pressure. As early as the fourth minute the Warriors started to leak tries when Gleeson strode in from 20 yards out with out the Warriors defence putting a hand on him, Gleeson adding the two points from the simplest of kicks.

Further tries followed at regular intervals, on 19 minutes Hunslet’s Fletcher lost the ball in the tackle leaving Sheean with an easy run in to touchdown. 26 minutes saw Rochdale’s Johnson force his way over near the post for a converted try, 7 minutes later excellent handling across the Rochdale backs gave winger Kershaw the chance to sneak in wide out to score. Hunslet’s only reply being an opportunist try by skipper Caldon Bravo taking a quick tap penalty before striding in from 30 yards out.

The Warriors looked to be in for a torrid second half but strong defence in the early stages of the second period boosted confidence and provided the platform from which to launch a comeback. Half Backs Jim Baker and Richard Wheelhouse found themselves with more space and time in which to create openings for the eager Warriors. On 48 minutes an inch perfect kick through from Mick Lyons gave Mark Cunningham the chance to slide in and score McClelland convertion attempt falling short.  More good work by Wheelhouse on 57 minutes created the space for Niles to cross in the corner McClelland touch line kick sailing over the v=bar to make the score 14 – 20 and for the first time give the Warriors fans the belief that an unlikely comeback was on the cards. It was now Bakers turn to create the opening for Hunslet to draw level, breaking from inside his own half before slotting a long kick through for Cunningham to gather up and score his second try of the day – the ever reliable McClelland adding the two points to level the scores at 20 – 20. The Warriors were in no mood to sit back and continued to pile up the pressure on a beleaguered  Rochdale 13. With 6 minutes to go Cunningham turned provider – driving to the line before off loading  to the supporting McClelland who crossed the line unchallenged before converting to put Hunslet in to the lead for the first time. Leaving Wheelhouse to crown an outstanding individual display with a last minute drop goal taking the score to 27 – 20 in Warriors favour and putting the game out of reach of the shell shocked Rochdale outfit

England announce Academy squad to face Australian AIS

England Academy head coach Dave Elliott has named his 21-man squad that will take on the touring Australian Institute of Sport

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