RUGBY LEAGUE
SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS ................. 24 HUNSLET HAWKS ...... 36
IT WAS a classic game of two halves as South Wales Scorpions launched a miraculous comeback against Hunslet Hawks, but in the end were a couple of tries short.
The try count was actually six to five in favour of Hunslet, but had Scorpions’ kicker Paul Emanuelli converted a few more, and had the home side had the rub of the green, as they were on the wrong end of a number of debatable refereeing decisions, who knows what would have happened?
A Paul Emanuelli 4020 put Scorpions into a good attacking position within the first minute but a knock-on put paid to a Welsh opener.
Hunslet made them pay as Mufaro Mvududu went over in the fourth minute with Simon Brown converting, the same combination doubling the lead nine minutes later.
There could have been a third but Austin Bell couldn’t get onto the end of Danny Ansell’s grubber kick.
Eventually Hunslet broke through with Danny Williams finding a gap to run through for his side’s third. Brown goaled again to make it 18-0.
Scorpions looked to have had one back straight away but Barrie Phillips’ touchdown was ruled out for obstruction.
And Hunslet went into half-time 24-0 to the good when Danny Thomas picked up a loose ball to run home and Brown converted.
Scorpions opened the second half with a try after Jordan Sheridan was fast- est to a loose ball and ran over for the try.
Paul Emanuelli’s kick was wide.
They followed that up straight away with a second try when Emanuelli’s grubber was picked up by fellow Welsh international Christiaan Roets.
Emanuelli again kicked the conversion attempt wide.
Scorpions were on a roll. Dai Evans out-ran his markers to leap on a long kick for his side’s third. Emanuelli, with his trickiest kick of the day so far, notched his first conversion to bring the score back to 24-14.
The Welsh were excelling in defence as well as attack, forcing the Hawks into errors as they blew three chances when approaching the line.
But the Yorkshire side finally broke through, George Flanagan with a strong run through the centre with Brown converting.
Then, from a pass that looked a tad forward, Lewis Reed broke through to put the seal on the game. Brown again kicked the extras to make it 36-14.
The try of the game came with three minutes to go.
An excellent passing move involving man of the match Sion Jones and Courtney Davies ended with Ian Newbury touching down. Emanuelli converted.
There was still time for another Scorpions consolation. Another long kick chased well by speedster Evans but Emanuelli missed the kick.
Even after the hooter, the Scorpions looked for another score following a penalty but Hawks were, this time, able to prevent anything further against them.