Hunslet Hawks 22 Widness Vikings 24: Refreshed Hawks hit by Haggerty’s late try

The Hawks hadn’t played for three weeks but elusive stand-off Danny Grimshaw gave them a sixth-minute lead with a try which Danny Ratcliffe failed to improve. Widnes seized a brief lead when Ben Kavanagh took Thomas Coyle’s short pass to plough his way over the line, close enough for Steve Tyrer to tag on the goal.

Hunslet had clearly benefitted from their break and after David March had a try disallowed for a forward pass, Stuart Kain dummied his way over, Ratcliffe adding the goal and kicking a penalty to give his side a 12-6 lead.

Tommy Haughey gathered David March’s kick to snatch Hunslet’s third try, but Ratcliffe missed the kick for a 16-6 interval lead.

Ratcliffe failed again with a penalty at the start of the second half and Hunslet tackled superbly as they withstood intense pressure.

Tyrer, Shane Grady and Paddy Flynn eventually found a way through a tiring defence to score tries but Tyrer added only one of the conversions and Hunslet regained the lead, David March improving Luke Haigh’s try.

Just when it seemed Hunslet were home and dry, Widnes summoned one last effort, Haggerty finishing off a passing move that started in his team’s own half.

Hunslet Hawks: Kain; Pryce, Clayton, Latus, Barnett; Grimshaw, Ratcliffe; Sullivan, Haigh, Helme, Oakes, Haughey, D March. Substitutes: P March, Houston, Kelly, Lowe.

Widnes Vikings: Hulme; Flynn, Ropati, Tyrer, Gardner; Mellor, I’Anson; Pickersgill, Coyle, Varkulis, Leuluai, Haggerty, Kavanagh. Substitutes: Grady, Sculthorpe, Tomkins, Crosby.

Referee: R Laughton (Barnsley).