Hunslet buoyant despite stop-start nature to this year’s pre-season
Hunslet have one more warm-up game, at home to Leeds Rhinos on Sunday, February 3, for the Harry Jepson OBE Memorial Trophy, before beginning their Betfred League One campaign three weeks later.
Coach Gary Thornton’s side have a bye in week one of the season and play their first competitive match away to Doncaster on Sunday, February 24.
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Hide AdWith the Yorkshire Cup being staged over the first three weekends in January that has meant a stop-start build-up.
“We’re back into pre-season for two weeks now,” Thornton said, but he stressed the mood in the camp is buoyant.
“We were good [last weekend], we dominated the game.
“We gave a couple of sloppy tries away in the second half, but we were always in control.
“I wanted another improvement and I definitely got that.
“We wanted the result as well, so to get both was really pleasing.
“We defended well and scored some good tries.”
Thornton was happy with several individuals.
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Hide AdHe added: “Reece Dean played well at pivot and Vila Halafihi played his first game for us at nine and looked good.
“He was a massive doubt with a dead leg, but he was desperate to play and he declared himself fit on the day of the game.
“Zach Braham and Aiden Hema played their first game of pre-season and did well and Jimmy Watson was excellent at full-back. It was a good overall performance.”
Duane Straugheir and Tom Ashton both picked up a hamstring strain, but neither injury is believed to be serious.