Hunslet Club Parkside are National Conference League Grand Final winners for the second time in their history following an absorbing performance at Featherstone on Saturday.
NCL Grand Finals are usually compelling affairs and the 2022 Final was no different as league leaders West Hull met Parkside for the fourth time this season. The teams traded wins in the league before West's 14-2 Qualifying Semi-Final win a couple of weeks ago, while Hunslet Club Parkside recovered from that loss to make the final, courtesy of an 18-14 win over Siddal.
Defences were certainly on top with NCL Premier Division Player of the Year Benn Arbon being well marshalled by Parkside and Craig McShane also having a quiet game thanks to the defence of West Hull.
Wests attacked down the slope in the first half and had the better of play before eventually opening the scoring after 26 minutes when Josh Wood kicked to the right and winger Ethan Shore touched down. It was too wide out for Ryan Wilson.
Earlier Ryan Steen had a try ruled out for a Wilson forward in the 11th minute. A spilt ball also gave Wood an opportunity before he was cut down by Omar Alrawi and Brett Turner ran into the backfield in the 22nd minute but his inside pass was too low for Elliot Jones.
Parkside's response came quickly when Jack Ridsdill was ruled to have lost the ball in a tackle and Andy Hullock galloped twenty metres unopposed for Danny Rowse to goal.
It wasn't long before Wests were pressing again and Wood moved the ball left for Wilson to crash over from close range for his 12th try of the campaign. Surprisingly he couldn't convert and despite making more chances, West Hull had to be content with an 8-6 lead at half-time.
In truth, it didn't look enough.
Both sides went largely set for set with Hunslet Club Parkside making more ground down the slope. Everyone on the ground had to wait until the 61st minute for further points to be added. They looked likely to go the way of West Hull too but Jones pass did not find its intended man, instead being collected by former Hunslet Warrior Tyler Dargon who blazed 75 metres down the touchline and then to the posts. Rowse converted to open a 12-8 advantage.
Five minutes later Dargan was at it again, diving into the corner for his second try after a clever attack from the scrum and a great ball from Hullock. Rowse was on target with his third goal from the boot and it was 18-8.
With Rowse kicking well and excellent forward efforts from the likes of Dewi Billingham, George Clarke, Jack McShane and Jack Briggs, Parkside repelled everything until Clarke was yellow-carded by NCL referee of the year George Clarke after 74 minutes. Finally, West Hull got the try their efforts deserved when Jack Lazenby wriggled over and Wilson goaled to set up a nervy last few minutes, but Hunslet Club Parkside defended superbly to take out the trophy.
HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE
1 Craig McShane
5 Tyler Dargan
3 Jake Dearden
4 Omar Alrawi
2 Will Cohen
6 Andy Hullock
7 Danny Rowse
8 Elliot Morgan
9 Jack McShane
10 Jamie Fields
19 Kieran Webster
12 Dewi Billingham
13 George Clarke
Subs
14 Matty Scott
15 Jack Briggs
11 Harry Dodd
17 McKenzie Haigh
Tries: Hullock (30), Dargan (61, 66)
Goals: Rowse 3/3
Sinbinned: Clarke (76 - high tackle)
WEST HULL
18 Jack Lazenby
2 Elliott Shore
3 Tom Burke
5 Jack Ridsdill
1 Brett Turner
6 Josh Wood
7 Elliott Jones
20 Ryan Wilson
9 Nathan Powley
10 Oscar Ellerington
11 Benn Arbon
12 Louis Crowther
13 Ryan Steen
Subs
19 Ryan Langton
17 Marcus Hall
15 Jansin Targut
14 Paul Stamp
Tries: Shore (26), Wilson (37), Lazenby (77)
Goals: Wilson 1/3
Referee: Carl Hughes
