THE postponement of last Sunday's Northern Rail Cup tie against Featherstone Rovers because of a frozen pitch has presented Hunslet Hawks' coach Paul March with a headache.
March was set to play a strong side against Rovers and then to play some of the fringe members and some youngsters in last night’s Lazenby Cup game against Leeds Rhinos.
So March is left preparing for Sunday’s Northern Rail tie at London Skolars o
n Sunday (2pm) with many players not having had a good work-out.
The Skolars again look set to struggle this time and started their campaign by conceding 50 points, albeit at Championship side Dewsbury in the Northern Rail competition. It seems a good chance for the Hawks to launch their season with a welcome away win and March will be spoiled for choice.
The Hawks are also left counting the financial cost of postponed matches. No new date has yet been set for the Featherstone game but it seems highly unlikely the attendance on a mid-week night will be as good as it would on a Sunday afternoon.
Hunslet are hoping to top the 1,000 mark on more than one occasion this time and this would have been a chance to do that as Featherstone, also with several new players, would have been a good attraction. Add the postponement over Christmas against Keighley and the Hawks have not had much luck at the turnstiles so far.
The Hawks have added further to their already sizeable squad by signing centre or second row Tom Haughey from Featherstone Rovers on a one-year contract.
Director of Rugby Darren Williams said: “Tommy is a quality player whose strength near the line and his aggression are huge parts of his game.”
He added: “Tommy made 22 starting appearances for Rovers last season, scoring 16 tries, which shows how highly thought of he was there. Without a doubt he will be a major player in Championship One for the Hawks as we make a promotion push this season.”
Haughey said: “I have looked at the Hawks squad and been very impressed with their recruitment drive. I certainly see the club having a successful year and am looking forward to making my debut. I have played with a lot of the players at the club and can’t wait to get started.”
Last Sunday could have been a good time for Haughey to play his first game, depending on his fitness, and he would have had extra incentive to impress against his former club.
Last night’s Lazenby Cup clash was due to go ahead after a 10.30am pitch inspection.
Hunslet Hawks’ squad for Lazenby Cup clash against Leeds Rhinos: 1 T Sheldrake, 2 C Challenger, 3 J Howey, 4 D Cook, 5 J Richardson, 6 D Robinson, 7 N Scott, 8 N Slain, 9 G Firm, 10 J Helme, 11 M Kelly, 12 C Wabo, 13 S Young, 14 L Stead, 15 S Brook, 16 R Dale, 17 N Goodman, 18 T Crosby, 19 L Straughan, 20 R Lillywhite, 21 L Tomlinson, 22 L Lacey.
n England’s Under-18 Lions lost 28-14 to Wales Under-18s at the South Leeds Stadium last Wednesday.
