Time flies in sport and it certainly didn’t feel like ten years since I’d visited the South Leeds stadium in Hunslet. These two sides had met in the 2016 Challenge Cup but this was the first League meeting in West Yorkshire meeting since the 1987/88 First Division match at Elland Road.
Salford coach Dave Hewitt kept faith with the majority of the side that played Doncaster last Sunday. Brad Dwyer started at hooker swapping with Joe Baldwin who made the bench. Danny Lynch was promoted from the bench to take the place of on loan signing Cameron Bate. Another loan signing from Bradford came in to take Lynch’s place that was eighteen year old Alfie Leake.
Hunslet brought in loan recruits from Doncaster with Sam Smeaton and Jordan Baldwinson starting and former Salford forward Pauli Pauli made the bench.
Salford started on the front foot with Toby Hughes pulling the strings and his halfback partner Lewis Pilling showed some really nice touches. The first try came against the run of play really. Hunslet’s lively fullback Billy Jowitt went over to capitalise on a Salford mistake. Jowitt converted his own try, 6-0.
Salford continued to look dangerous when in possession but lost the ball in good attacking position to allow Hunslet to land a sucker punch. The home side pounced on the loose ball and broke away with some clean, crisp passing before halfback Dan Abram raced in. Jowitt converted to double the lead, 12-0.
Salford needed a response before this game got away and Toby Hughes’s measured a teasing kick into the In-goal area. I am pretty certain Jack Bibby got the try after the ball was missed by the first chasing player. I’ve heard a few people have a different try scorer so apologies if this is confirmed to be incorrect. Kieran Dixon converted, 12-6.
Another Salford mistake gifted Hunslet a third try and once again cemented their two score cushion ten minutes before the break.
Dwyer with another clever kick forced a knock on giving Salford more attacking territory just before the break. Despite the amount of possession Salford had in the first half they didn’t make it count. A lot of credit must go to Hunslet who defended their goal with real steel and determination. The home side were well organised and half back Lee Gaskell kicked them out of trouble on a number of occasions.
Gaskell’s quality shone at the start of the second half. His quick thinking and vision set up a try for Myles Harrop. With a 22-6 lead Salford were now on the back foot and would have to start taking chances. Hunslet seemed to go into their shell a little and started playing a lot more conservatively. You could hardly blame them with the game almost sewn up. Salford lost Hughes in a heavy collision with Hunslet forward Eddie Battye. This forced Hewitt to shuffle his side round. Oli Garmston moved back into the second row with Owain Abel coming off the bench to play at stand off.
Shaun Costello worked hard in the middle as a ball playing loose forward. Costello has impressed in this position and his work got Salford on the move. A terrific finish from winger Callum Green reduced the deficit and Dixon converted superbly off the touch line. With only five minutes remaining though it wasn’t enough and as the hooter sounded Hunslet gained a well deserved victory, their first in this fixture since 1966.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Salford who never really got going. With a run of five home games coming up Hewitt’s side will be looking for a big improvement at home to Workington next Sunday.
Hunslet 22 Salford 12.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for photos.