HUNSLET 22 SALFORD 12
ALFIE INGRAM, South Leeds Stadium, Sunday
HUNSLET secured a solid win in a game with two tries from Dan Abram, alongside a try each for Charlie Graham and Myles Harrop.
Salford started the stronger side, quickly winning a penalty to get close to the line, but the Parksiders defended well, forcing the knock-on. A few sets later, they again came close to the Hunslet line, until Alfie Goddard produced an interception to bring the ball up to halfway.
The Parksiders won a penalty six minutes in, and they worked their way up to the 10-metre mark, where Abram sliced through a gap on the right side of the Salford defence, going over for the first of the game.
Hunslet were passing well early on and finding more gaps, but they struggled to maintain possession.
Salford also saw their fair share of the ball, but weren’t creating any significant chances.
And when Salford brought the ball to the Hunslet 20-metre mark. Graham capitalised on their sloppy dropped ball, and chased his own kick downfield before offloading to Abram, who went over for his second try.
Salford got one back in the 25th minute, as Joe Baldwin pounced on the end of a short grubber, scoring under the sticks. Kieran Dixon added the goal to reduce the margin to six points.
Just before the 30-minute mark, a Hunslet bomb proved difficult for Salford right on the tryline and Graham took full advantage, picking up the dropped ball and touching it down to restore a twelve-point advantage.
Salford fought back, however, and they won a scrum ten metres from Hunslet’s line, before winning a penalty. They targeted the right edge, but Hunslet’s defence held strong, and they regained possession, with the half-time hooter blowing moments later.
The second half kicked off, and immediately, Hunslet won a penalty after a late shot on Pauli Pauli, who was making his presence felt. Both sides looked to drive possession forward, but struggled to put a series of passes together, with knock-ons and errors ever present.
Hunslet were next to score, however, after they won a penalty when the ball was ripped from Graham’s possession.
There was a chipped kick into the in-goal area in the following set, and Harrop latched onto the end of it to touch down. On this occasion, Billy Jowitt was unable to convert but Hunslet now held a comfortable 16-point lead.
In the final quarter of the game Jowitt made a fast break downfield for Hunslet, making solid metres down the middle before being tackled. Shortly afterwards they won a penalty but opted not to go for two points, instead aiming for the left corner. But Salford defended strongly and the move ended up in touch.
Salford tried to target the left edge late in the game, but Mo Agoro defended strongly to keep them at bay.
They did finally break through with seven minutes remaining, with Callum Green scoring in the left corner and Dixon kicking the conversion.
But for Salford, it was too little, too late.
GAMESTAR: Dan Abram was sharp and scored two tries.
GAMEBREAKER: Myles Harrop’s try in the 49th minute gave Hunslet some breathing room and from then they were able to comfortably defend their way to victory.
MATCHFACTS
HUNSLET
1 Billy Jowitt
5 Mo Agoro
27 Charlie Graham
3 Myles Harrop
37 Alfie Goddard
6 Lee Gaskell
7 Dan Abram
35 Jordan Baldwinson
14 Cam Berry
26 Ethan O’Hanlon
11 Harrison Gilmore
39 Sam Smeaton
13 Eddie Battye
Subs (all used)
8 Harvey Hallas
20 Liam Carr
22 Jack Ward
28 Pauli Pauli
Tries: Abram (8, 20), Graham (29), Harrop (49)
Goals: Jowitt 3/4
SALFORD
1 Kieran Dixon
30 Jacob Douglas
12 Oliver Garmston
20 Joe Hartley
39 Callum Green
7 Toby Hughes
28 Lewis Pilling
36 Danny Lynch
9 Brad Dwyer
37 Jack Bibby
33 Cole Oakley
26 Reece Stanton
42 Shaun Costello
Subs (all used)
10 Owen Haldenby
29 Alfie Leake
32 Joe Baldwin
40 Owain Abel
Tries: Baldwin (25), Green (73)
Goals: Dixon 2/2
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 18-6; 22-6, 22-12
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hunslet: Dan Abram; Salford: Joe Hartley
Penalty count: 4-7
Half-time: 18-6
Referee: Carl Hughes