Match Report | Hunslet 16-24 Sheffield Eagles

01/03/2026

Written by Will Russell

Sheffield Eagles continued their unbeaten start in the 2026 Betfred Championship today as they ran out 16-24 winners away at Hunslet. 

Head Coach Craig Lingard named an unchanged starting 13 from the win against Barrow Raiders last time out, with Jack Bussey replacing Lewis Peachey on the bench as the only change in the squad.

The Eagles were looking to maintain their winning start to their Betfred Championship season and build on their two wins so far as they came up against a Hunslet side who recorded their first victory themselves last weekend at Rochdale. 

The Eagles got the game underway at the South Leeds Stadium, but it was Hunslet who started better. Going close within the first few minutes of the game, some strong Eagles defence was only able to keep them out for ten minutes before Mackenzie Turner broke down the wing for Hunslet’s first try of the game. 

An all-action first half, only four minutes after Hunslet's try, the Eagles bounced back as a brilliant kick from Jordan Lilley gave Kieran Gill a simple finish in the corner to level the score for his 150th career try. 

Keeping in line with how the first 15 minutes went, it didn’t take long for Hunslet to go ahead once again wuth Turner scoring in the right corner. 

Just before the half-an-hour mark, it was the Eagles' turn to score their second. Connor Bower dived over the line, and with a successful conversion from Lilley, the score was level once again.

Tails up after that try, the Eagles put Hunslet under all sorts of pressure, as they forced the home side into a mistake, allowing Lilley to score his first try for the Eagles and put the visitors into a 10-14 lead at half time. 

Starting the second half as they ended the first, the Eagles came out flying. Three visits inside Hunslet’s five meter line were unsuccessful inside the first ten minutes, and it took until the hour mark for the Eagles to extend their lead through Joel Farrell.

More Eagles pressure was repelled by the hosts, who were looking to stem the flow of Eagles attacks. Rewarded for their defensive efforts, Billy Jowitt scored for Hunslet and converted his try, bringing the score back to two points. 

With that try, the final ten minutes of the game could have gone either way, with both sides aware a try could hand them the points. It was the Eagles however who took charge in the game. Going close through Bussey, it took until the 77th minute for the Eagles to make their pressure count. With three minutes to go, Corey Johnson put the result beyond doubt, scoring the Eagles’ fifth of the game and securing the win. 

Lilley added the extras and that was the final action of note in the game as the Eagles secured their third win on the bounce.

An all-action game, the Eagles continued their unbeaten start to the Betfred Championship, running out 16-24 winners away at Hunslet.

The Eagles are back in action next Sunday away at the Rochdale Hornets as they look to maintain their perfect start to the season. 

Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Brown, Hodson, Gill, Walkley, Morgan, Lilley, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Farrell, Griffin

Replacements: Fitzsimmons, Johnson, Bussey, Foster

18th Man: Broadbent

Tries: Kieran Gill (14'), Connor Bower (27’), Jordan Lilley (36’), Joel Farrell (60’), Corey Johnson (77’)

Goals: Jordan Lilley (2/5)

 Hunslet: Jowitt, Faraimo, Harrop, Graham, Turner, Gaskell, Abram, Hallas, Misky, O’Hanlon, Gilmore, Whittel, Battye

Interchanges (all used): Berry, Simpson, Corbett, Carr

18th Man: Simpson

Tries: Mackenzie Turner (9', 20’), Billy Jowitt (67),  

Goals: Billy Jowitt (2/3)