Hunslet 27 Worthington 10: Eaton’s Hawks dump Workington from Cup

The Cumbrians’ approach play was too pedestrian until they woke up to score two tries in the second half.

Barry Eaton’s Championship One side made a positive start, slick passing along the line ending with John Oakes squeezing Danny Maun in at the left corner after seven minutes.

Strong tackling kept the opposition out and after Hunslet winger Jamaine Akaidere had just failed to reach Danny Ansell’s shrewd kick to the corner, the lead was extended in the 27th minute. David March fed Danny Grimshaw 15 metres out and the stand-off cleverly side-stepped his way over to the right of the posts for Ansell to add the goal.

With their confidence boosted, the Hawks’ backs threw the ball about with pace and purpose to set up the third try for loose forward Liam Mackay who did well to elude the cover tacklers and stretch out to score by the left corner flag. Ansell landed the difficult kick and his neat drop goal on the stroke of half-time gave the Hawks a deserved 17-0 lead.

Lack of concentration by the Hawks enabled winger Brett Carter to score two tries in nine minutes, one of them converted, but in between Ansell kicked a penalty. Maun went on to score his second try and Stuart Kain’s late touchdown calmed Hunslet’s nerves.

Hunslet Hawks: Kain, Mapals, Watson, Maun, Akadere, Grimshaw, Ansell, Houston, March, Stenchion, Oakes, Broughton, Mackay. Substitutes: Tebb, Reed, Lyons, Clarke.

Workington Town: Tierney, Murphy, Mossop, Connor, Carter, Lupton, Forber, Coward, Lucock, Shackley, Phillips, Farrell, Rooney. Substitutes: Morris, Gaskell, Rowlandson, Duerden.

Referee: W Turley (RFL).