London arrived as an unbeaten juggernaut,
A full‑time squad sitting comfortably atop the division with 12 wins from 12 and a defensive record that barely seems real — just 124 points conceded all season, with no team scoring more than 20 against them. They are, in every sense, Super League ready.
And yet, on a warm afternoon in West Yorkshire, Hunslet refused to play the part of the underdog.
🔥 A Rocky Start — But No White Flag
It looked like a long day ahead when Luke Smith sliced through the line in the 3rd minute, with James Meadows adding the extras. When Neil Tchamambe intercepted a wide ball and strolled in on 7 minutes, London were already 0–12 up and cruising.
But Hunslet didn’t fold. They dug in. They defended with bite. They refused to let London dictate the tone.
💥 Turner Ignites the Fightback
On 16 minutes, the game flipped. Myles Harrop made a strong surge down the left, Lee Gaskell produced a sublime cross‑field kick, and Mackenzie Turner climbed above everyone to score. Billy Jowitt converted. Suddenly it was 6–12 and the South Leeds crowd had a pulse again.
London hit back through Tchamambe and Adebiyi, stretching the lead to 6–24, but Hunslet weren’t done. A clever Jowitt kick allowed Turner to grab his second — 12–24 — before London’s Bitungane crossed to make it 12–30.
Still, Hunslet kept swinging. On the hooter, Jayden Hatton bulldozed his way over to close the gap to 18–30 at halftime, injuring himself in the process but giving his side a huge lift.
🧱 Second‑Half Grit Against a Full‑Time Machine
London came out hunting the kill, pinning Hunslet deep, but a mix of resolute defence and Broncos errors kept the scoreline frozen.
Then came a cruel twist: Gaskell kicked through, pulled up injured, and suddenly Hunslet were reshuffling their spine against the best team in the league.
Moments later, a loose ball fell kindly for Morea Morea, who sprinted 50 metres to score. 18–36 — a gut punch.
Tchamambe completed his hat‑trick on 63 minutes, and late tries from Hussey‑Hord and Morea stretched the scoreline. But the story of the final quarter wasn’t London’s dominance — it was Hunslet’s refusal to break.
Even with Harrop off for an HIA, they kept attacking. Turner almost claimed a hat‑trick. Jowitt kept probing. And on the final play, Ethan O’Hanlon nearly crashed over, forcing London into desperate defence.
🏅 Pride in the Performance
London took the points — Meadows finishing a perfect 9 from 9 — but the mood in the Hunslet camp was far from deflated.
Head Coach Kyle Trout praised his side’s resilience, especially given the injuries that hit either side of halftime when the game was still alive.
Player of the Match Awards:
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Billy Jowitt — Tricks of the Trade Sponsors Player of the Match
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Dan Abram — Phoenix Bar Supporters Player of the Match
Honourable mentions: Ethan O’Hanlon, Charlie Graham, Mackenzie Turner — all outstanding.
⭐ Final Word
This wasn’t a defeat that stings — it’s one that builds belief.
Against the best team in the league, with a smaller squad and key injuries, Hunslet showed:
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Heart
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Skill
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Resilience
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And a refusal to quit
If they bottle this performance and carry it forward, the rest of the season suddenly looks a lot more exciting.
