Widnes Vikings 32-26 Hunslet RLFC
Hunslet came close to their best victory in years taking a good Widnes Vikings side all the way in a thriller at the DCBL Stadium yesterday (8 March 2026).
Widnes had won four and lost only one game prior to today and sit at the top end of the table, with the bookies giving Hunslet a 20+ point start they could be forgiven for thinking it would be an easy afternoon, but from the off The Parksiders had other ideas.
With a raft of injuries Hunslet brought in four loan players, but from the kick-off with Dan Abram looking lively Mackenzie Turner went close in the right hand corner.
Widnes pressed, but Hunslet stood strong and on 8 minutes Eddie Battye and Lee Gaskell combined to send on-loan Ben Littlewood over for a try. 0-4
The game went from end to end. Another interception set Widnes up, but Billy Jowitt held firm at fullback, Hunslet were playing well and Widnes were frustrated.
On 20 minutes though after a penalty a nice flat pass undid Hunslet as Jordan Johnstone went over to score. Abdull converting. 6-4
At this point Hunslet switched off as Widnes came straight down the left edge for Max Roberts to score a good try. 10-4 after 22 minutes.
It was frustrating as Hunslet had been so good in defence, but on 27 minutes with the Vikings attacking again Charlie Graham picked up a loose pass and combining with Mackenzie Turner scored a full length try. 10-8
With a bit of momentum behind them Hunslet let it slip not fielding the kick-off, and after a drop-out, on the last tackle Ryan Ince went over to score for the hosts. 14-8
The game swung from side to side and Hunslet were the next to score. On 35 minutes after Bureta Faraimo went close Lee Gaskell sent out a superb ball hit well by Harvey Hallas to score by the sticks. Billy Jowitt converting 14-14.
That should have been that for the first half, but again Hunslet miss-fielded the kick-off and were tackled behind their own line. The resulting set saw Widnes go left and Sambou offloaded well for Nathan Connell to score. 18-14 at the break.
With nothing in it Hunslet came with new purpose in the second half. Charlie Graham was particularly threatening, and Bureta Faraimo went close, but on 45 minutes a Lee Gaskell kick was plucked brilliantly from the air by Myles Harrop to score. Billy Jowitt converting 18-20
Hunslet looked fired up and attacked again, but the most controversial moment came as Widnes were attacking. Dan Abram intercepted and went 90 yards to score for Hunslet, but the touch judge intervened and brought it all the way back for a knock-on. The resulting set saw Nathan Connell get his second try in the corner and Widnes edged in front. 22-20
The Parksiders had a chance to level when Billy Jowitt opted to convert a penalty, but the kick fell short. However Hunslet attacked again on the left as Harrop brilliantly set Faraimo free, the big winger just unable to roll the last man who edged him in touch.
Battye and Gaskell went close, but Hunslet were prone to suicide at times throwing long passes in their own 20 metres.
Just after Widnes had been reduced to 12 men when Jay Chapelhow was sin-binned Nathan Connell and Jumah Sambou combined to put Mike Butt over on 70 minutes, Tom Gilmore converting. 32-20
It looked like game over and Hunslet rued their chances, but after Hunslet pressure on the last tackle Charlie Graham put a grubber kick in and managed to touch down just before the dead ball line. Jowitt converting 32-26 with 6 minutes to play.
Hunslet desperately tried to level up giving the ball some air. Graham again put a little kick in and Mason Corbett tried a last gasp bomb, but it wasn’t to be. Widnes held on for the win.
If Hunslet can replicate this performance over the next few matches they will take a big scalp. Their position at the moment fourth from bottom with one win from five looks false, but they need to get over the line in games like this.
Against a team who are well fancied to be in the top four they will take the performance and build. Charlie Graham was superb, Harrop and Faraimo combined well, Dan Abram had his best match and all the loan players were impressive especially Tom Nicholson-Watton.
Hunslet have a week off next week then host Barrow Raiders at the South Leeds Stadium on Sunday 22 March.
Hunslet RLFC: Jowitt, Turner, Graham, Harrop, Faraimo, Gaskell, Abram, Laidlaw, Corbett, Battye, Gilmore, Littlewood, Cassell. Interchanges: Berry, Hallas, Nicholson-Watton, Whittle. 18th player: Carr.
Widnes Vikings: Connell, Butt, Sambou, Fleming, Ince, Abdull, Gilmore, Murray, Fozard, Chapelhow, Roberts, Langtree, Johnstone. Interchanges: Owens, Hall, Lawton, Bibby. 18th player: Houghton.
Photo: Harvey Hallas scoring. Credit: Tom Kelly
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