Sheffield Eagles 70 Hunslet Hawks 12: Unlucky 13 for Hawks as Sheffield bounce back to delight Aston

The Hawks lost their fourth straight league game as the Eagles bounced back after two defeats.

New Ireland coach Mark Aston’s team struggled to gain control in the first 30 minutes but ran riot early in the second half.

Hunslet took the lead with a try from winger Dennis Tuffour with Danny Ratcliffe adding the goal but Eagles came back when following a 40-20 kick by Simon Brown, Vinny Finigan went over near the flag from Andrew Henderson’s pass.

Sheffield kept up the pressure and loose-forward Joe Hirst blasted in from 30 metres and the Eagles started to take control with full-back Misi Taulapapa scoring hs first try of the season. Brown added the goal.

On half-time centre Mezie Yere crashed over to give the Eagles an 18-6 lead.

Eagles didn’t waste time after the kick-off as they hit Hunslet with a barrage of tries. Quentin Laulu-Togagae ran in for his eighth try in six games followed by a second for Yere.

Mitch Stringer bustled in for two tries and fellow prop Jack Howieson crashed over. Brown, who had found his range, added all five goals.

Centre Corey Hanson brought up the 50 points with Stringer, who had a spell at stand-off, taking over the kicking and adding the goal.

Danny Grimshaw’s try with Ratcliffe goal doubled Hawks’ points total but Eagles didn’t ease up with Laulu-Togagage, Rowe and Jamie Cording adding tries with Brown and Stringer kicking a goal each.

Sheffield Eagles: Taulapapa; Mills, Yere, Hanson, Finigan; Brown, Wood; Hepworth, Henderson, Stringer, Green, Szostak, Hirst. Subs: Laulu-Togagae, Rowe, Cording, Hepworth.

Hunslet Hawks: Kain; Tuffour, Oakes, Haughey, Pryce; Grimshaw, Ratcliffe; Sullivan, Haigh, Houston, Kelly, Dooler, David March. Substitutes: McLocklan, Lowe, Helme, Yates.

Referee: G Hewer (RFL).