Match Report | Sheffield Eagles 28-26 Hunslet RLFC
16/08/2026
Sheffield Eagles returned to winning ways in the Betfred Championship this afternoon, edging out Hunslet 28-26.
Craig Lingard’s men saw their six-match winning run ended by a narrow defeat away at Oldham last weekend, but the Eagles responded in style as they looked to get back on track and close the gap on sixth-placed Widnes Vikings.
For the visit of Hunslet, Head Coach Craig Lingard made three changes to his starting thirteen. Masi Matongo came into the side to replace Conor Fitzsimmons at prop, while Billy Walkley and Harry Bowes both returned. Bowes came back in at hooker, with Corey Johnson moving into the halves in the absence of Kai Morgan.
The Eagles made the perfect start. After keeping the ball alive on the last tackle, Connor Bower’s kick towards the Hunslet line was taken brilliantly in the air by Joe Brown, who managed to get down and ground the ball to open the scoring.
Sheffield then produced some strong defensive work to force Hunslet into conceding a goal-line drop-out, but the hosts were unable to capitalise as a knock-on handed possession back to the visitors.
Hunslet took full advantage, with Jayden Hatton crossing in the corner after another kick towards the edge to bring the scores level.
The Eagles hit back almost immediately. After winning a penalty just ten metres from the Hunslet line, Connor Bower powered his way through the defensive line to put Sheffield back in front.
However, Hunslet continued to threaten and turned the game on its head with two tries inside the final ten minutes of the first half.
Myles-Dalton Harrop crossed in the 31st minute before Harrison Gilmore added another three minutes later, giving the visitors a 16-12 advantage at the interval.
The Eagles needed a response after the restart, and they delivered.
Sheffield scored three tries inside the opening 15 minutes of the second half to take control of the contest.
Alex Foster crashed over from close range in the 43rd minute to bring the Eagles level, before Billy Walkley finished off a neat scrum play to cross out wide seven minutes later.
Greg Eden then extended Sheffield’s advantage five minutes later, capitalising on a Mo Agoro error after Jordan Abdull’s kick through on the last tackle.
With the Eagles now 28-16 ahead, Sheffield looked to have established a commanding lead, but Hunslet refused to go away.
Loanee Aiden Doolan crossed twice in the closing stages, first in the 73rd minute before scoring again with just a minute remaining to reduce the deficit to 28-26 and set up a nervy finish.
Doolan then had the chance to level the scores with the subsequent touchline conversion, but his effort went wide.
That allowed the Eagles to hold on for a crucial 28-26 victory and two valuable Championship points as they returned to winning ways.
The Eagles now face their final away fixture of the season next Sunday, travelling to Club Doncaster Sports Village to take on Doncaster in the second South Yorkshire derby of the year.
Sheffield Eagles: Eden, Brown, Oakes, Gill, Walkley, Johnson, Abdull, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Foster, Griffin
Interchanges (all used): Bussey, Butterworth, Peachey, Millar
18th Man: Fitzsimmons
Tries: Brown (7’), Bower (21’), Foster (43’), Walkley (50’), Eden (55’)
Goals: Abdull (4/5)
Hunslet: Watson, Agoro, Hatton, Harrop, Graham, Gaskell, Battye, Larroyer, Doolan, Grice, Gilmore, Carr, Baldwinson
Interchanges (all used): Berry, Hallas, O’Hanlon, Walker
18th Man: Simpson
Tries: Hatton (15’), Harrop (31’), Gilmore (34’), Doolan (73’,79’)
Goals: Doolan (3/5)
Referee: F. Lincoln
Attendance: 571
