London Broncos 26-6 Hunslet RLFC
Injury hit Hunslet showed real signs of improvement at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Wimbledon yesterday (29 March 2025), but were always up against it after a slow start saw them 12-0 down in only 9 minutes.
The Parksiders are missing three hookers and their first choice half-backs which limits them in attack, but a much improved second half saw them show signs that a first league win may not be too far away.
Poor tackling early on made it easy for Marcus Stock to score the opening try on only 3 minutes, and 6 minutes later after a Tom Whitehead break Luke Polselli scored, both converted by Chris Hellec to make it 12-0 and thoughts turned to a cricket score.
Although London were getting penalties and Hunslet were making simple passing errors, The Parksiders’ defence improved and with Mackenzie Scurr running well Hunslet started to come into the game.
Greg Eden and Billy Jowitt were deputising at half-back, but after a kick spiralled up into the air London found good field position and Alex Walker rolled in the tackle to score. 16-0
London could have scored again just before the break, but Liam Tindall’s try in the corner was disallowed for obstruction. 16-0 at the break and a real improvement needed from Hunslet.
Hunslet got the better of the early second half exchanges. Noah Booth went close but was tackled into touch and Liam Welham tried a power play on the last tackle, but on 47 minutes with London on the attack Noah Booth read the play and scored one of his trademark 90 yard interception tries. His 5th of the season he showed real pace to outrun the defence, and with Billy Jowitt’s conversion Hunslet were back in it at 16-6.
Hunslet were now on top, but despite Matty Fletcher and Noah Booth threatening the London line they were a bit short on ideas how to unpick the London defence.
With time running out for Hunslet London wrapped the game up on 73 minutes when a kick through bounced up kindly on the Hunslet line for Aaron Small to bag an easy score. 20-6
The game had been simmering for most of the second half, and after another bout of pushing and shoving Keelan Foster was sent to the sin-bin and on 77 minutes London used their numbers to send Liam Tindall over in the left corner. 26-6
With a week off next week before the visit of league leaders Halifax on Friday 11 April Hunslet have a chance to get players back fit and in their rightful positions and then we will see what this team has to offer. But Hunslet need to learn to start games better, at this level you cannot give teams a leg up.
Mackenzie Scurr was impressive on the wing as was young Mason Corbett on-loan from Bradford handling the starting hooker duties. Harvey Hallas and Matty Fletcher are also starting to find their feet in the Championship.
Hunslet RLFC: Watson, Turner, Booth, Welham, Scurr, Jowitt, Eden, Campbell-Webb, Corbett, Foster, Wood, Gilmore, Fletcher. Interchanges: Hallas, Levy, Syme, O’Hanlon. 18th Player: Nichol.
London Broncos: Walker, Johnson, Hellec, Small, Tindall, Polselli, Binks, Worthington, Davies, Stock, Lovell, Hursey-Hord, Whitehead. Interchanges: Monk, Ball, Ross, Winney. 18th Player: Davidson.
Photo: Jimmy Watson and Sam Campbell-Webb halt a London attack (credit: London Broncos)
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