Hunslet Club Parkside are 80 minutes away from becoming the first side to complete a campaign in the top flight of the Kingstone Press National Conference League, which was launched in 1986-87 as the National League, with a 100 per cent winning record.
The south Leeds outfit – formerly Hunslet Old Boys – have prevailed in all 21 of their matches so far and, on Saturday, entertain Siddal in the final league match of the campaign.
Parkside sealed the League Leaders trophy several weeks ago and will, after hosting Siddal, embark on the play-offs in the bid to win the championship, will be settled at the Grand Final at the LD Nutrition Stadium, Post Office Road, Featherstone Rovers on the first weekend of October.
Hunslet have enjoyed a remarkable rise, having topped Divisions Three, Two and One in successive seasons since joining the NCL in 2014.
Siddal themselves – who must win comfortably on Saturday to have any chance of making the Top Six play-offs – were Minor Premiers last season, only to lose to Thatto Heath Crusaders in the Grand Final.
Hunslet Club Parkside, who are coached by Castleford Tigers hooker Paul McShane, former BARLA Great Britain boss Martin Rowse and long-tern mainstay Sam Thorpe, laid down a real marker for their assault on the top flight with a 42-6 victory at Siddal on the opening day of the 2018 campaign.
The weekend’s fixtures are:
Saturday 8 September 2018
PREMIER DIVISION
Hunslet Club Parkside v Siddal
Kells v West Hull
Myton Warriors v Egremont Rangers
Rochdale Mayfield v Underbank Rangers
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Wigan St Patrick’s
Wath Brow Hornets v Normanton Knights
DIVISION ONE
Featherstone Lions v Shaw Cross Sharks
Ince Rose Bridge v Pilkington Recs
Leigh Miners Rangers v Skirlaugh
Lock Lane v Milford Marlins
Oulton Raiders v Bradford Dudley Hill
York Acorn v Thornhill Trojans
DIVISION TWO
Askam v Stanningley
Dewsbury Moor Maroons v Leigh East
Drighlington v Wigan St Jude’s
Hunslet Warriors v Hull Dockers
Saddleworth Rangers v Crosfields
West Bowling v East Leeds
DIVISION THREE
Barrow Island v Dewsbury Celtic
Eastmoor Dragons v Millom
Gateshead Storm v Clock Face Miners
Woolston Rovers v Oldham St Anne’s
