Salford v Hunslet.

Although these two sides have met a few times in the Challenge Cup in recent times it’s a generation ago since we were in the same league. 

Hunslet were promoted as second division champions at the end of the 1986/87 season winning 25 of their 28 matches to finish top, three points clear of Swinton. That season the Premiership playoff competition was introduced and Swinton gained revenge by beating Hunslet at Old Trafford 27-10. For the record Wigan beat Warrington 8-0 in the first division final. It was a double header with almost 40,000 in attendance.

Salford played Hunslet home and away in the 1987/88 season winning both matches in the first half of the season. 12-14 away on the 18th October 1987 and 21-14 at The Willows on the 6th December. Since that season we’ve never played in the same league but have met in the Challenge Cup on a number of occasions. In February 1995 we drew 32-32 at Hunslet in the fourth round and three days later we won the replay at The Willows 52-6 a young Ian Watson made his debut in that replay match.

The original Hunslet club was wound up in the summer of 1973 and by the time the 73/74 season started they were known as New Hunslet. After leaving their Parkside Ground they moved in to the Leeds Greyhound stadium where they played with iconic American football posts. They became Hunslet again in time for the 1979/80 season and after the Greyhound stadium was demolished the club played at Elland Road for a while before moving to the South Leeds stadium in 1995. I’ve visited this stadium on a number of occasions and the view from the terrific main stand is very impressive. In recent years Salford played there in the Challenge Cup in 2011 and 2016.

League home record.

Salford 26

Draws 3

Hunslet 8

1987, Salford 21 Hunslet 14

1983, Salford 21 Hunslet 15

1982, Salford 12 Hunslet 3

1979, Salford 19 Hunslet 12

1977, Salford 30 New Hunslet 12

1967, Salford 12 Hunslet 16

1962, Salford 6 Hunslet 9

1953, Salford 8 Hunslet 7

1949, Salford 24 Hunslet 5

1948, Salford 13 Hunslet 0

1947, Salford 10 Hunslet 7

1938, Salford 18 Hunslet 0

1935, Salford 4 Hunslet 3

1934, Salford 19 Hunslet 17

1933, Salford 34 Hunslet 8

1930, Salford 15 Hunslet 3

1926, Salford 5 Hunslet 8

1923, Salford 4 Hunslet 4

1923, Salford 6 Hunslet 3

1921, Salford 0 Hunslet 0

1921, Salford 6 Hunslet 12

1920, Salford 12 Hunslet 0

1916, Salford 21 Hunslet 0

1914, Salford 19 Hunslet 2

1913, Salford 13 Hunslet 0

1912, Salford 3 Hunslet 8

1911, Salford 15 Hunslet 15

1911, Salford 16 Hunslet 8

1909, Salford 17 Hunslet 12

1908, Salford 17 Hunslet 6

1908, Salford 7 Hunslet 6

1907, Salford 10 Hunslet 11

1906, Salford 12 Hunslet 26

1904, Salford 12 Hunslet 6

1903, Salford 18 Hunslet 2

1902, Salford 11 Hunslet 7

1902, Salford 0 Hunslet 7

They played for both.

Over the years player movement between the two clubs has been quite a rare event. Here is a list of a few from yesteryear. 

Andy Ballard, Richie Barnett, Peter Brown, Myles Dalton-Harrop, Lee Gaskell, Matty Gee, Ricky Helliwell, Liam Hood, Warren Jowitt, Neil Lowe, Francis Maloney, Luke Menzies, Paul Mansson and Bryn Powell.

A match to remember Sunday 12th February 1995.

Challenge Cup round four.

Hunslet 32 Salford 32.

You may have noticed this week’s match to remember is an away cup tie but I had to reminisce about this one as it was such a cracking game.

Salford were coached by former Australian Test fullback and Golden boot winner Gary Jack. The team had some very promising young players in with Nathan McAvoy, Jonathan Quigley, Craig Randall, Scott Martin and Steve Blakeley. 

Blakeley had already gained quite a bit of experience in the team making his debut in the 1992/93 season. He was an accomplished goal kicker and racked up plenty of points including a try and four goals in this match. 

Hunslet were in the second division that season and despite finishing 10th they were relegated to the new third division with the arrival of a new Super League around the corner in the spring of 1996.

This match ended with both sides scoring six tries each at Elland Road the home of Leeds United on quite a mild Sunday afternoon for the time of year.

The Salford tries came from Blakeley, Phil Ford, Scott Martin, Jonathan Quigley and Gary Tyrer. 

The teams that day,

Hunslet, Kibe, Limb, Farrell, Boothroyd, White, Brook, Close, Pell, Watson, Pryce, Jowitt, Coyle, Lambert.

Subs, Lee, Stott.

Salford, Tyrer, McAvoy, Panapa, Birkett, Ford, Blakeley, Lee, Young, Quigley, Eccles, Marsden, Randall, Blease.

Subs, Critchley, Webster.

Referee, Ian Ollerton.

Attendance, 1,112.

Sunday’s match.

Once again it’s a bit of a trip into the unknown on Sunday. Hunslet only match in the Championship so far this season was a 12-20 defeat at home to Dewsbury. They were beaten in the Challenge Cup last Friday 6-52 by Huddersfield. 

The Hawks have some experienced campaigners in their side with Lee Gaskell and Eddie Battye. Gaskell has played most of his career in the top flight with St.Helens, Huddersfield and Wakefield. He also spent time on loan at Salford in 2013. Battye is a real cult hero after spending six years in the capital with London Broncos. The 34 year old Yorkshire man is a strong runner who likes to get the ball out in the tackle. 

Mo Agoro is a well known player in the Championship. He’s a prolific try scorer and averages well over a try every two games. Mo is now in his second spell with Hunslet. 

French back rower Kevin Larroyer has spent time at Catalans,Hull Kingston Rovers and Castleford in the top flight playing over 300 career games. 

I think Mike Grady is finding some continuity in his team selections now. We’ve seen a few lads come in for short loan spells and I don’t think that will change throughout this season. The spine of the team seems to be settling down now and the more the team plays together the better they will get. 

Hunslet will be well organised and very tough to beat. They will be confident of a first victory over Salford in this fixture since 1967, a match that Hunslet won 12-16 at the Willows. Going back to that season there was just one League with 30 teams in it. Salford finished 14th with Hunslet 25th.

Sunday’s match will be a good test to see where Salford are at. As we’ve mentioned already a number of times in 2026 the lack of a pre-season has meant learning and conditioning the hard way. It would be a real positive to see some points scored after two matches without a point at home so far. 

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

The action gets under way at 3pm.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.