Hunslet RLFC 25-18 Midlands Hurricanes
Hunslet toughed it out against a powerful Midlands Hurricanes side to win their fifth game on the trot at the South Leeds Stadium yesterday (16 June 2024) cementing the third spot in the Betfred League 1 table .
Midlands are on form at the moment pushing Keighley Cougars all the way and beating North Wales Crusaders and Workington Town in recent weeks, so are no pushover and from the off came to cause an upset.
The first quarter of the game saw a stalemate with Midlands slightly shading it. Jimmy Watson pulled off some try saving tackles and Jack Render had to diffuse a dangerous bomb. But the Hunslet forwards kept pushing on as the Parksiders started to come into the game.
Things changed on 26 minutes though when Jimmy Watson was sin-binned for a late tackle which Midlands benefitted from, using the numbers they sent Liam Welham over for the game’s opener, David Hewitt converting. 0-6
Things got worse for the Parksiders on 32 minutes when Midlands spotted no one was covering at fullback. A neat kick turned Mackenzie Scurr and the bounce fell for Liam Welham to score his second of the afternoon. 0-10
With Midlands looking forward to a pleasant half time team talk Hunslet struck. On 37 minutes the lively interchange hooker Cam Berry was sharp around the ruck and after drives from Ethan O’Hanlon and Isaac Shaw, Berry scooted over from close range. 6-10
Then almost on the hooter came the try of the match. Refusing an easy 2 points after Midlands conceded a penalty Hunslet played a superb move involving Beharrell and Ferreira to send Jack Render diving over for one of his trademark tries. Beharrell converting precisely and Hunslet led 12-10 at the break.
The late tries were a hammer blow for Midlands but they came out fired up in the second period. Jimmy Watson again held the Hunslet line and Knowles and Law put a big hit in on a Midlands forward. Although Danny Barcoe went close for Hurricanes on 50 minutes the visitors settled for a penalty as Hewitt took 2 points after Hunslet were penalised for a high tackle. 12-12
From the kick-off though Midlands fumbled the ball and Hunslet eventually got the initiative when on 53 minutes Flanagan and Beharrell combined to send Jimmy Watson over for another try to add to his impressive career tally. 18-12
Again Midlands came and Hunslet had to keep their line with some last ditch tacking. But on 68 minutes the game went beyond the visitors as on-loan halfback George Flanagan put in a kick which bounced fortunately for the youngster to gather and score under the posts. 24-12
Matty Beharrell showed a cool experienced head on 73 minutes when he calmly dropped a one pointer to edge Hunslet three scores clear. 25-12 and even though Matty Welham got a late consolation for Midlands it was Hunslet’s day as the Parksiders roll on with another win.
George Flanagan on loan from Huddersfield received the sponsors Man of the Match chosen by the Hunslet Volunteers who as a thank you were given discounted hospitality tickets for today’s game.
The Phoenix Man of the Match went to Jimmy Watson, but there were also strong votes for Joe Law and Jack Render who had good games.
Matty Beharrell also had another good day with the boot converting all the tries and slotting an important one pointer.
Coach Dean Muir said the atmosphere in his dressing room was “Buzzing, the lads are brutal with each other to drive out their best performance”, this Hunslet team is really starting to gel and with another important home game next week against Rochdale Hornets (23 June, 3pm) the Parksiders will be raring to get into it.
Hunslet RLFC: Jimmy Watson, MacKenzie Scurr, Joe Law, Jude Ferreira, Jack Render, George Flanagan, Matty Beharrell, Harvey Hallas, Ross Whitmore, Matty Fletcher, Josh Jordan-Roberts, Michael Knowles, Jordan Syme. Interchanges: Cam Berry, Isaac Shaw, Ethan O’Hanlon, Jack Coventry. 18th player: Aaron Levy.
Midlands Hurricanes: Matthew Welham, David Dixon, Todd Horner, Ross Oakes, Jason Bass, Callum McLelland, David Hewitt, Jon-Luke Kirby, Christopher Cullimore, Blake Broadbent, Tom Wilkinson, Ellis Hobson, Liam Welham. Interchanges: Daniel Barcoe, Bradley Clavering, Marcus Green, Lewis Peachey.
Main photo: George Flanagan scores under the posts. Credit: KC Photography
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