Tuffour helps tame York as Hawks rise

Several players on both sides were turning out against their former club and Tuffour gave Hunslet a 13th-minute lead with a try in the left corner, set up by Luke Helliwell and lively debutant Ryan Smith, who is on loan from Keighley.

Gareth Davies made a superb try-saving tackle on York substitute Paul King after former Leeds Rhino Jordan Tansey and player-coach Chris Thorman had opened up Hunslet’s defence.

The Hawks twice needed tenacious tackles to keep out their former favourite Tommy Haughey before Tuffour took a long pass to break the line in the corner and run round to the posts for Helliwell to add the goal.

Leading 10-0 at the break, Hunslet looked to stretch their advantage, with the Knights lacking the necessary craft and penetration to break them down.

Tansey had a 53rd-minute ‘try’ disallowed after gathering Brett Turner’s kick to the posts and was sin-binned for dissent. In Tansey’s absence, winger Lee Brickwood took a shrewd offload from Davies to grab Hunslet’s third try.

York broke their duck with a 67th-minute touchdown by winger Ben Hellewell, Thorman adding the goal from the touchline. But Helliwell converted his own try for Hunslet just before the end.

Elliott Hodgson had a sound debut at full-back for the Hawks, having completed a ban imposed last season with Huddersfield Giants.

Hunslet Hawks: Hodgson; Brickwood, Davies, Clayton, Tuffour; Helliwell, Smith; Yates, Haigh, Henderson, Watson, Oakes, March. Substitutes: McLocklan, Tootill, Blakeway, Benjafield.

York City Knights: Tansey; Hellewell, Ford, Garside, Bush; Thornton, Turner; Sullivan, Lee, Houston, Freer, Broughton, Haughey. Substitutes: Elliott, Aldous, Clarke, King.

Referee: Warren Turley (Leigh).