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Northern Rail Cup match report: Hunslet Hawks v Whitehaven
Danny Ratcliffe had a personal haul of 18 points as Hunslet marked Barry Eaton’s first competitive game in charge with a win.
Full-back Ratcliffe grabbed two tries and kicked five goals for a hard-earned victory against plucky Championship One opponents Whitehaven.
With loose forward David March to the fore, Hunslet dominated territorially in the early stages and after the visitors had conceded several penalties, the Hawks put the first points on the board. Scrum-half Danny Allan threw out a long pass for forceful centre Josh Nathaniel to power his way over the line, Ratcliffe adding the goal from near the left touchline.
Whitehaven drew level when Carl Rudd and Max Wiper carved out a chance which winger Chris Fleming eagerly accepted, Rudd converting. Hunslet, though, looked the sharper outfit, half backs Allan and Luke Helliwell repeatedly bringing the three-quarters into play and March off-loading the ball intelligently.
March was duly rewarded for his efforts with a try in the 27th minute, Ratcliffe again proving reliable with the boot before converting his own try just three minutes later to send the Hawks in at the break with an 18-6 advantage.
There was no holding Ratcliffe who was the first to reach Allan’s shrewd grubber-kick and touch down for his second try, but from a kickable position he saw his high conversion attempt strike a post.
With Hunslet threatening to run away with the game, ’Haven gave them a timely reminder that they were no spent force, scrum- half Ben Karalius sending prop Dave Houghton in for the visitors’ second try and Rudd landing the easy kick.
The Hawks were indebted to interceptions near their own line by Allan and Helliwell in quick succession as the Championship One side threatened to launch a comeback. However, the Cumbrians struggled to find a cutting edge to their promising approach play.
The lively Allan made a vital break to send prop Steve Lewis in for the Hawks’ fifth try, Ratcliffe’s goal making it 28-12.
To their credit, Whitehaven hit back again with a try by winger Craig Calvert, improved by Rudd, but there was to be no shock as Hunslet regrouped.
Second rower John Oakes seized on a dropped pass to grab the home side’s sixth try, enabling Ratcliffe to kick his fifth goal from six attempts.
HUNSLET HAWKS: Ratcliffe; Kain, Brickwood, Nathaniel, Tuffour; Helliwell, Allan; Yates, Haigh, Lewis, Blakeway, Oakes, March. Subs: McLocklan, Tootill, Dooler, Benjafield.
WHITEHAVEN: Youds; Calvert, Wiper, McAvoy, Fleming; Rudd, Karalius; Houghton, Gee, Varkulis, Isakka, Doran, Crellin. Subs: Smith, Bauer, Cullnean, Beattie.
REFEREE: Dave Merrick (Pontefract).
ATTENDANCE: 305
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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