MATCH REPORT: HUNSLET 25 – 18 MIDLANDS HURRICANES

A tale of déjà vu for the Canes at the South Leeds Stadium

Two weeks ago the Canes finished their run of four consecutive home games with a valiant effort against the then table topping Keighley Cougars. Whilst the Canes came up short on the scoreboard, an enthusiastic Hurricanes crowd cheered on a strong and unwavering home side showing once again why they consider themselves contenders for the playoffs this year. With the Canes not returning to The Alex until 11 August, they found themselves starting the first of six consecutive away games at the South Leeds Stadium against third-placed Hunslet.  

The first twenty minutes were largely a stalemate with each side trading sets and making few mistakes, however it was the Canes who showed more threat in attack and caused the Hunslet defence problems. A key example of this came in the 15th minute as a skewed Beharrell kick on the last went out on the full, with the subsequent set almost seeing ex-Hunslet hooker Danny Barcoe take a bullet pass to cut through before the attack was pulled back for a forward pass.  

The momentum then appeared to shift further towards the Canes on the 25th minute as Todd Horner collected a high kick and raced down the left wing before cutting side and being brought down 35 metres from the Hurricanes try-line. For reasons only known to Hunslet's Jimmy Watson he decided to flop on Horner with a rough looking shot that sparked a melee (more handbags than hands) between the players. Once the dust had settled, the referee duly sin-binned Watson and the Canes entered the final 15 minutes of the first half with a man advantage.

It only took three minutes for us to take advantage as a short but drilled pass by Callum McLelland found wily veteran Liam Welham in acres of space to glide over for his eighth try of the season (0-4). Dave Hewitt had no issues adding the extras from the left of the sticks (0-6). With our tails up we were able to celebrate again just two minutes later as we went back to back. Callum McLelland earned his second assist of the game as he spotted Hunslet's fullback out of position and delivered a perfectly weighted chip-kick over the Hunslet defence, which luckily bounced away from the home side and into the grateful arms of Liam Welham who rolled over the try-line for his second of the afternoon (0-10). Whilst Hewitt's conversion attempt was on target, the kick unfortunately hit the post and bounced out wide.   

Faced with the possibility of another 15-minute blitz period at the hands of the Canes, the home side burst into life in the final stages of the first half. After spilling the ball early in the set following the restart, Hunslet took full advantage of the opportunity as Berry scurried over from dummy-half to score under the sticks (4-10). Beharrell added the extras from in front of the sticks (6-10). In the final moments of the first half the Canes had a scrum 20 metres out from the Hunslet line, however the training ground routine failed to materialise as a pass from McLelland was spilled by Hewitt. In a cruel twist of fate, the home side took their chances and some quick hands from right to left saw winger Jack Render score in the corner with an acrobatic effort (10-10). Beharrell edged the home side ahead with a conversion from out wide on the hooter (12-10).

As with the Cougars game a fortnight ago, the Canes duly went into the sheds behind but very much still in the game. They would, however, be one interchange down as centre Ross Oakes came off with the same type of injury that had kept him out of contention for the last few games.

HALF-TIME: Hunslet RLFC 12 – 10 Midlands Hurricanes   

Knowing just one score would put them back in the lead, the Canes started the first ten minutes of the second half strongly as Barcoe came within inches of the Hunslet line before having to hand the ball over and just a few minutes later Todd Horner came within five metres of the try-line on the last tackle. Two minutes later the momentum would finally pay off as Jason Bass took a smack around the chops roughly 30 metres from the Hunslet line and Dave Hewitt took no time before calling for the kicking tee and kicking us back level (12-12).

In a repeat of Hunslet's first try, the momentum shifted as we knocked on early in the set and gave Hunslet an easy set 10 metres out from the Hurricanes line which quickly saw Jimmy Watson score down the right edge (16-12). Beharrell once again converted the try to extend Hunslet's leads to six points (18-12). The Canes valiantly sought to level the scores once again and came within inches of the Hunslet line for a third time, whilst a strong run from Dave Hewitt minutes later saw us break into the Hunslet half before the ball was eventually spilled in the tackle.

As we entered the final ten minutes, the home side had a spell of good luck as a grubber kick by Huddersfield Giant's loanee George Flanagan Jr bounced off Todd Horner's leg back into Flanagan's hands, leaving him free to run under the sticks (22-12) and provide an easy conversion for Beharrell (24-12). Knowing a three-score lead would almost certainly secure the victory, Beharrell took advantage of a strong attacking set to kick a drop-goal from in front of the sticks (25-12).  

Whilst the game appeared over, the visitors refused to give up and a scrum from 20 metres out gave Matty Welham an opening as he rounded Matty Beharrell with ease and strolled over to put the ball down under the sticks (25-16), which Hewitt duly converted to bring us within seven points of the hosts (25-18). Despite some concerted attempts to score a fourth try, the full time hooter sounded and the home side took the two points.

A performance that Head Coach Mark Dunning stated was almost a carbon copy of the 26-30 defeat at Sheffield earlier in the season – plenty of opportunity and moments of flair, but ultimately falling short due to a lack of killer instinct. Notwithstanding the disappointment of not leaving Leeds with the win, this was a considerable improvement on the 48-6 defeat the Hurricanes suffered in the previous season.

Former Hurricane Chris Barratt's last minute try for North Wales over Workington means we still sit fifth in the table – two points ahead of both Crusaders and Workington who both have games in hand. With that in mind, we now turn our attention to our second of six consecutive away trips as we travel to Gateshead to face Newcastle Thunder for the third and final time this season. With 70-14 and 66-4 victories at The Alex the Canes will be keen to take the two points for the sixth time this season, however Thunder are no slouches and opened their return to the Gateshead International Stadium by almost securing their first win of the season over Rochdale Hornets. As Mark Dunning says - no wins are guaranteed in this league and the Canes will need to give a professional performance to leave the North-East with the victory.

Man of the Match:

Ellis Hobson (sponsored by Gllee UK Ltd)

Scoring sequence:

0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 4-10, 6-10, 10-10, 12-10, 12-12, 16-12, 18-12, 22-12, 24-12, 25-12, 25-16 and 25-18.