Hunslet Hawks sealed second place in Championship 1 and a home tie in the play-offs after a hard fought win over South Wales Scorpions on Sunday September 7.
The crowd of 363 was Scorpions’ second best of the season, thanks a good local support from the Mountain Ash community, and the best for a match-day where just one game was played.
And the locals, supplemented by a good travelling Hunslet support, witnessed a fine performance from the Yorkshiremen after the understrength Scorpions tired in the second half.
The Scorpions were down to their last 17 fit men before the game and did well to patch up a few injured players in that selection.
The home side started well. Connor Farrer kicked down field twice and Gavin Duffy just beat Jack Pring to the ball on Hunslet’s 10 metre line.
Duffy was then a hero at the other end as he went in at the corner for Hawks’ first try. Danny Ansell missed the kick.
Hawks were prevented a second try after James Duckworth was pushed into touch. Chris Leyshon defended well to prevent another and was forced to give away a goal-line drop-out.
The second try came from a Scorpions knock-on. Following the scrum, some good passing resulted in
an easy try for Danny Maun in the corner. Again the kick was missed.
Scorpions hit back through who else but Paul Emanuelli. Following a penalty, he darted through the Hawks defence to score under the sticks making it easy for himself to convert.
Hawks looked to hit back but Jim Watson was pulled back for a forward pass.
But following a scrum, they did strike back as Luke Stenchion went over from close range. Thomas Coyle converted.
They increased their lead seven minutes after the break after Duffy nabbed his second when he leapt on a Tom Coyle grubber. Coyle missed the kick.
Jim Watson went in under the sticks ten minutes later to just about seal the win and second place for the Hawks. Tom Coyle easily converted.
Michael Haley followed him over from the next set after kick-off. Coyle sliced his conversion wide.
Ten minutes to go and a good passing move found Lee Brickwood on the wing and he placed the ball over the line. Coyle’s conversion went off the post, onto the crossbar and over.
Finally, three tries in the last five minutes from Duffy, gave him a personal tally of five for the day. Tom Coyle converted the final two to bring up the 50 points mark.
Report by Ian Golden