HUNSLET ARLFC 14 WEST HULL 0
PHIL HODGSON, DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield, Saturday
HUNSLET ARLFC produced possibly their best display in recent years – perhaps ever – to deny the League Leaders’ Shield winners the inaugural National League championship.
The south Leeds outfit, who had won the now-defunct National Conference League title on four occasions, toppled West Hull through awesome defence – plus the ability to make the most of limited opportunities.
The Green and Golds, who had looked on course to win all their league games before being held to a home draw by Hunslet (a result followed by a narrow defeat at Wath Brow Hornets) rarely looked like scoring after a promising opening in which hooker Ryan Langton was held up over their opponents’ line.
And Wests would never go closer to notching a try than when, midway through the first half, Jack Sanderson, who looked a certain scorer, was hauled down superbly by the chasing Craig McShane, the impact jolting the ball from Sanderson’s grasp.
West Hull, who were already 4-0 down by that stage – having conceded a try to Hunslet winger Caelum Jordan – never quite threatened again, despite the efforts of Benn Arbon and Jack Lazenby, in the face of their opponents’ vice-like defensive grip.
Having prevented Wests from getting off the mark, Hunslet delivered a killer blow on 28 minutes when Harry Shackleton dummied his way over from short range and added the conversion from close to the posts.
With five minutes left to the break the highly influential Jack McShane – the official man of the match – forced his way past a couple of defenders for an unimproved try that helped his side to a 14-0 interval lead, Shackleton missing a late, long-range penalty.
As the heavy rain intensified there was no score in the second period, a spill of Josh Woods’ pass in the last minute by Kian Goodhand perhaps summing up a dismal afternoon for West Hull who, after Siddal’s defeats in the last two NCL Grand Finals, became the third successive League Leaders’ Shield winners to miss out on the big occasion.
Jamie Fields, who coaches Hunslet alongside Sam Thorpe (and who should not be confused with former Dewsbury Rams player Jamie Field, who has taken over his former position in Hunslet’s front row) said: “We have a mantra that we don’t concede more than ten points, and we don’t concede more than ten penalties, in any game.
“Hit those targets and you’re more likely to win than not, and that’s exactly how it turned out today.”
He added: “The incident in the first half when Craig McShane prevented what looked like a certain try was the key moment in the game. It stopped Wests from levelling the scores – and maybe going ahead – and not long afterwards we were 10-0 up, Shackleton emulating Jordan’s opening try. That spell was pivotal to the result.”
West Hull coach Ryan Steen lamented: “It’s massively disappointing, we saved our worst display of the season for the most important game.
“Hunslet were smarter than us, they were quicker than us and they won the energy battle by a distance. The longer the game went on the more they gained momentum and no matter what we tried we just couldn’t break down their defence, which was awesome.”
GAMESTAR: Hunslet centre Craig McShane denied West Hull a certain try in the early stages and was a constant threat throughout.
GAMEBREAKER: Craig McShane’s try-saving halt on Jack Sanderson which, while only midway through the first half, set the tone for the rest of the game.
MATCHFACTS
HUNSLET
1 Josh McLelland
4 Caelum Jordan
3 Alfie Goddard
20 Craig McShane
2 George Rayner
6 Danny Rowse
7 Harry Shackleton
8 Mo Kamano
9 Jack McShane
10 Jamie Field
11 Ben Shulver
12 Harry Dodd
19 Jaden Barraclough
Subs
13 Joe Abson
14 Tommy Corke
15 Josh Jordan-Roberts
17 McKenzie Haigh
Tries: Jordan (15), Shackleton (28), J McShane (35)
Goals: Shackleton 1/4
WESTS
1 Mason Opie-Palmer
2 Kieran Masike
3 Jack Lazenby
4 Jack Sanderson
5 Eligh Wilkinson
6 Josh Wood
7 Elliott Jones
10 Benn Arbon
18 Ryan Langton
8 Corey Priestman
11 Harry Hutchinson
14 Tom Verity
13 Josh Oliver
Subs
9 Jack Potter
18 Oscar Ellerington
19 Kian Goodhand
20 Bobby Tyson-Wilson
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 14-0; 14-0
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hunslet: Craig McShane; Wests: Jack Lazenby
Penalty count: 7-7
Half-time: 14-0
Referee: Oli Maddock
