MATCH REPORT: MIDLANDS HURRICANES 26 – 30 HUNSLET RLFC

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in Sheffield

Words: Thomas Kiernan

Photos: Craig Irvine Photography

Coming off the back of a tight defeat to North Wales Crusaders in Colwyn Bay, the Canes went into Sunday looking to bag their second win of the Betfred League 1 season against Hunslet. Despite being a home game, operational reasons meant the Canes played this fixture at The Olympic Legacy Park, home of our dual-registration partners in Sheffield Eagles.

For some of the Canes squad on Sunday, the OLP would have very much felt like home: 2024 signings Jason Bass and Ross Oakes were playing for Sheffield only last season, and both Lewis Peachey and Blake Broadbent still call Sheffield home as they came into the squad on dual-registration for Sunday (having also featured against North Wales last week). For our opponents, playing at Sheffield may have proven a welcome change of scenery as it meant a shorter trip from south Leeds.

In his pre-match article for the game's programme, Canes captain Matty Welham made clear the lads saw this game as a derby and would come out firing on all cylinders. Those words were certainly true in the first 15 minutes, as some explosive sets in attack saw us taking a commanding lead over the Parksiders. We scored our first try after just 8 minutes, with David Hewitt passing inwards to Danny Barcoe who ducked, dummied and scooted his way over the line for his 5th try of the season (4-0). Hewitt had an easy conversion from in front of the sticks (6-0).

Just five minutes later, we doubled our lead. An impressive offload whilst falling and spinning out of a tackle made its way into the hands of the returning Liam Welham, who stormed into open space and passed to Todd Horner on his right so he could score his second try of the season (and our second of the game) (10-0). Once again, Hewitt was on hand to add the extras (12-0).

The floodgates appeared to have opened on 15 minutes as we scored our third of the afternoon, sending the home fans into raptures. A massive Hewitt spiral bomb was not dealt with by the Hunslet defence and Matty Welham – who the away fans were convinced had knocked on when contesting the catch – gleefully collected the ball and scored down the right edge as the Parksiders defence switched off (16-0). Dave Hewitt converted from out wide with an impressive kick and, whether due to the rub of the green or otherwise, the Canes were scoring over a point a minute at this rate (18-0).

Understandably bruised by the poor start, Hunslet began to show the resilience that earned them a second place finish in 2023. Marcus Green was penalised for a tip-tackle on the half-way line, and the Parksiders took full advantage of their first real opportunity on our line as Alfie Goddard wrestled his way out of the Hurricanes defence and put the ball on the line (18-4). Seasoned veteran Matty Beharrell, returning to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, added the two from the kicking tee (18-6).

Another player returning to action, on this occasion from a niggling injury picked up during pre-season, was the Hurricanes number 6 Jake Sweeting. He and Hewitt did not look like a half-back pairing that hadn't played together before, and Hewitt himself caused the Hunslet defence all sorts of problems near their line before he copped an arm around the chops to earn the Canes a penalty. Hewitt opted to take the easy two points and restored the home side's three-score lead (20-6).

The next ten minutes was all Hunslet as the Canes could not deal with the subsequent restart, giving the south Leeds outfit an immediate chance to narrow the deficit. The away side duly obliged, with Hunslet fullback Jimmy Watson scoring down the left side to reduce the gap to 10 points (20-10). Beharrell added the extras (20-12). Things then went from bad to worse for us as Marcus Green was sin-binned for tackling a player off the ball, and despite our best efforts the Parksiders were eventually able to close the gap further as he scored off the back of another Canes penalty (20-16). Beharrell once again converted (20-18).

The momentum shifted towards the Canes before half-time, as only a few minutes later Jake Sweeting skipped and danced his way through the Hunslet defence and stretched out to plonk the ball down just right of the posts for his first try of the season (24-18). Hewitt scored his fifth kick of the day (26-18), giving his an 8-point lead as the sides entered the changing rooms on the half-time hooter.

Half-time: Midlands Hurricanes 26 – 18 Hunslet RLFC

The first 25 minutes of the second half felt a lot like the second half of our Challenge Cup defeat to Rochdale – a scrappy affair from both sides with no clear momentum for either team and, ultimately, not a lot to report on save for Swinton loanee Daniel Spencer-Tonks making a barnstorming run and looking to have scored for Hunslet, before being deemed to have knocked on over the line. One minute later, the Canes looked to have scored their fifth try of the afternoon but the referee pulled back play for a forward pass. Jason Bass also made an impressive run down the right edge but was pulled down about 30m from the Hunslet line, but we were ultimately unable to capitalise.

With just over ten minutes to go, Hunslet came back to life. Cameron Berry scooted over the try-line from dummy half to bring the away side within four points (26-22), with Beharrell once again adding the extras from in front of the sticks (26-24). The heartbreak for the home side came just a couple of minutes later as Jude Ferreira scored down the left edge as the Parksiders went back to back and ahead for the first time all game (26-28). Beharrell once again kicked his conversion from out wide and gave Hunslet a four point lead (26-30).

With just under ten minutes left, the Hurricanes desperately sought in vain to retake the lead and leave Sheffield with the two points. With a few minutes on the clock the Canes came within metres of the line but a loose offload was knocked on down the left edge and Hunslet gleefully slowed play down in the dying moments. The game was seemingly gone with a couple of minutes remaining as a high tackle from Tom Wilkinson saw him sin-binned, however there was one final chance in the final seconds that the Canes were unable to finish as a David Hewitt grubber was scooped up by the away side as the hooter sounded.

All in all, a very frustrating result for the home side given the strong start and largely dominating performance over 80 minutes. With an away trip to Cornwall on the cards on Sunday, the Canes will no doubt want to dust themselves down and secure a second win of the Betfred League 1 season over the Choughs.

Man of the Match:

Todd Horner (sponsored by Yorkshire Ceiling Services)

Attendance:

302

Scoring sequence:

4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, 16-0, 18-0, 18-4, 18-6, 20-6, 20-10, 20-12, 20-16, 20-18, 24-18, 26-18, 26-22, 26-24, 26-28 and 26-30.