Hunslet Hawks 22 Sheffield Eagles 40: Eagles’ stroll to points means March left with little to mark milestone

The Eagles, who will face up to the Hawks again in the Northern Rail Cup quarter-finals in June, flew into a 30-0 lead in the opening 23 minutes, with full-back Quentin Laulu-Togagae repeatedly joining the line to create overlaps.

Winger Nev Morrison squeezed in for a couple of early tries in the right corner, and Laulu-Togagae, prop Liam Higgins and centre Menzie Yere crossed in rapid succession.

Hunslet stand-off Danny Ratcliffe was sin-binned for dissent, foolishly and needlessly compounding his side’s problems.

To add insult to injury, Hawks’ second row Steve Lewis had a ‘try’ disallowed after being fed by March.

Back came the Eagles for hooker Andrew Henderson to scamper between the posts and Simon Brown converted all six tries as the visitors led 36-0 just before the half-hour mark.

Ratcliffe returned from the sin-bin to produce a strong break, supported by Lewis who sent centre Gareth Davies through on the right for Hunslet’s first try in the 38th minute, but Ratcliffe could not add the goal.

Hunslet showed much more purpose after the interval.

Centre Josh Nathaniel followed up a shrewd kick by March to score and after Higgins was sin-binned for persistent interference, Danny Allan scored between the posts.

Davies then collected his second try, Ratcliffe improving all three to leave 14 points in it.

However, Henderson burst through for his second try to end Hunslet’s hopes.

Hunslet Hawks: Clayton; Brickwood, Davies, Nathaniel, Tuffour; Ratcliffe, Allan; Yates, Haigh, Lowe, Lewis, Oakes, March. Substitutes: McLocklan, Watson, Tootill, Benjafield.

Sheffield Eagles: Laulu-Togagae; Morrison, Taulapapa, Yere, Finigan; Brown, Brambani; Howieson, Henderson, Higgins, Szostak, Green, Hirst. Substitutes: Scott, Stringer, Straughier, Hepworth.

Referee: Matthew Thomason (Warrington).