Last Sunday (26 January 2014) saw a great game as Hunslet Hawks beat Leeds Rhinos 20-16 in the Lazenby Cup, and 25 lucky children from local South Leeds schools got to see Hawks in their victory.
The Hawks invited 12 children from St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School and 10 children from Hunslet Moor Primary School to watch the match at South Leeds Stadium. On top of this three lucky mascots accompanied Lucy Hirst a regular Hawks fan. The Mascots were Michael from Cottingley Primary Academy, Benjamin from Hunslet St Mary’s Primary School and Kyle from Ingram Road Primary School. They had a great time as they got a stadium tour and walked out onto the pitch with the Hawks, led out by Michael Haley.
The children from Hunslet Moor and St Anthony’s also got to enjoy a stadium tour. The children started the tour off going down to the dressing rooms and seeing what happens behind the scenes. The children loved their tour and had a great time in the changing rooms seeing the players and trying on some of the shirts. The children then made their way out to the pitch through the tunnel and then to the top tier of the stand. Once the children had seen the pitch and sat in the top of the stand, they were taken to the Parkside Suite where the children all got to hold the Lazenby Cup and have their picture taken with it. The children loved holding the cup and seeing how heavy it is.
Once the children had completed the tour they returned to the lecture room where the children were greeted by two special guests. First in was Hawks forward James Davies who answered plenty of questions and signed autographs. The children asked Jimmy some great questions asking James what is the most tries he has scored in a game and which community club he started playing at. The second guest to visit the children was Hawks Mascot Harry the Hawk. Harry the Hawk surprised the children and signed autographs and had pictures taken with all the children.
Once Harry the Hawk had left to go warm up for the big game the children had their dinner. The children got Sausage or Cheese and Onion rolls, an apple and carpi-sun drink all provided generously by Beeston Co-op. Once the children finished their dinner which went down a treat, they made their way to the pitch to get in position to do the guard of honour, welcoming the players onto the pitch. The children stayed and watched the game loudly cheering on Hunslet from their seats, getting excited every time the Hawks crossed the white wash.
Most of the children attending had not seen a rugby game before, so attending the Lazenby Cup will be something they remember for a long time to come with special memories of the day.
