HUNSLET 6 SHEFFIELD EAGLES 46
DAN FOWLER, South Leeds Stadium, Sunday
SHEFFIELD EAGLES picked up a convincing victory over fellow strugglers Hunslet at the South Leeds Stadium.
Matty Marsh and Joel Farrell were impressive for the visitors, while Hunslet ended up playing most of the final quarter a man light due to the dismissal of hooker Matty Fletcher.
It took four minutes for the first score of the game and it went to the hosts. Lee Gaskell’s grubber took a ricochet and fell perfectly for Ethan Wood to touch down. Billy Jowitt kicked the goal to make it 6-0 in the early going.
Sheffield answered back shortly after and it was a memorable try for Danny Craven, the experienced halfback reaching a century of four-pointers. He couldn’t convert, however, leaving the hosts two points up.
There hasn’t been much free-flowing rugby from Sheffield in 2025 but their go-ahead score certainly provided some. The main pivots of the side combined well before Kris Welham fed Ryan Millar to cut inside and touch down. Farrell took over kicking duties and was successful with his first attempt.
A short-side play from the visitors extended their advantage on 24 minutes as Will Oakes muscled his way to the line with defensive attention aplenty nearby. Farrell, once again, converted.
On the half-hour, Hunslet conceded back-to-back penalties deep inside their own half and that territory was capitalised on by the Eagles. Martyn Reilly received a pass from close in and the former Batley and Oldham man had enough to get over for a second try in three games. Farrell couldn’t convert.
The hosts did get the ball back from kick off and made their way into a dangerous position but a grubber into the in-goal was collected by Corey Johnson, who passed to Millar to go an extra 30 metres before he fumbled in contact.
Hunslet were three scores down at the break and their coach Kyle Trout, a former Eagle himself, will have been expecting a positive reaction at the start of the second period.
Neither side threatened the whitewash for the first 15 minutes after the break, with the next score becoming increasingly important.
Eagles full back Matty Marsh became vital to this victory for the South Yorkshire side, as it was his break that set up Eddie Battye for the first try of the second period. Farrell converted.
Marsh got his name on the scoresheet on the hour as he connected with Farrell before touching down. The Jamaican international couldn’t convert.
From the restart, carnage ensued. A short kick off saw many bodies go up for the challenge, Liam Welham ended up on the deck and Reiss Butterworth picked up the pieces before sending Kris Welham away. A high tackle from Hunslet hooker Fletcher halted play and referee Scott Mikalauskas brandished a red card in his direction leaving the home side to complete the game a man down and all but wrapping it up for the Eagles.
Sheffield added three more tries to their collection in a six-minute period. Marsh completed his brace before Connor Bower and Welham both touched down. Farrell went two from three as Sheffield ended just shy of the half-century.
GAMESTAR: Matty Marsh was brilliant for Sheffield at full back, causing issues with precise passing and direct running.
GAMEBREAKER: The writing was on the wall for Hunslet when Eddie Battye went over for the first try of the second half.
MATCHFACTS
HUNSLET
4 Billy Jowitt
5 Mackenzie Turner
1 Jimmy Watson
19 Liam Welham
21 Coby Nichol
38 Lee Gaskell
39 Ryan Westerman
15 Liam Carr
10 Matty Fletcher
17 Keelan Foster
11 Ethan Wood
22 Harrison Gilmore
31 Kevin Larroyer
Subs (all used)
8 Harvey Hallas
26 Ethan O’Hanlon
28 Zach McSwiney
37 Will Kirby
Tries: Wood (4)
Goals: Jowitt 1/1
Dismissal: Fletcher (62) – dissent
EAGLES
1 Matty Marsh
21 Ryan Millar
3 Kris Welham
33 Will Oakes
29 Billy Walkley
37 Danny Craven
9 Corey Johnson
38 Marcus Green
32 Harry Bowes
16 Blake Broadbent
11 Connor Bower
12 Joel Farrell
30 Martyn Reilly
Subs (all used)
8 Eddie Battye
14 Reiss Butterworth
22 Masi Matongo
36 Brad Gallagher
Tries: Craven (10), Millar (18), Oakes (24), Reilly (32), Battye (55), Marsh (60, 65), Bower (68), Welham (71)
Goals: Craven 0/1, Farrell 5/8
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-4, 6-10, 6-16, 6-20; 6-26, 6-30, 6-36, 6-42, 6-46
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hunslet: Harvey Hallas
Eagles: Matty Marsh
Penalty count: 2-9
Half-time: 6-20
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 852