HUDDERSFIELD dented Hunslet’s hopes of a top four finish when the Leeds side came to Fartown looking to keep their play-off hopes alive.

But tries from Ernie Ashcroft and Don Lockwood, coupled to the accurate kicking of Frank Dyson and some resolute defence, left them trailing the Fartowners 14-9 at the final whistle.

With Hunslet without Walker on the wing, they had to bring in South African threequarter Colin, who lined up against his fellow countryman in Fartown winger Athol Brown.

An early penalty from Dyson put Huddersfield in good field position and after Aiden Breen had been stopped near the Hunslet ‘25’, they took the ball from the next scrum with Tommy Smales feeding Lockwood, who in turn found Dyson who had come up to the make the extra man, and his inside pass sent Ashcroft over by the posts, Dyson kicking the goal.

The Hunslet forwards led the way back to the Huddersfield line, but a penalty taken by Dyson regained a good 40 yards.

Newall and Shaw, however, put the visitors back inside the home half as Hunslet started to look an enterprising side with Tate looking more than a handful of numerous occasions.

And this spell of Hunslet pressure was rewarded when a smart passing move ended in Geoff Shelton going over for a try far out, but too far out for Langton to kick the goal.

That score reduced Fartown’s lead to just two points, but Dyson extended it again when the visitors were penalised for trying to steal the ball in the tackle.

Brown was checked 10 yards short of Hunslet’s line but Shelton led the visitors back again and when Huddersfield were penalised on a play-the-ball, Langton cut Huddersfield’s lead again with a good penalty goal, and then levelled the match with another before half time.

Colin looked to have given Hunslet the lead when he went over the line, but Brown got in a last-ditch tackle and the Hunslet player lost the ball.

As the sides changed ends, it was still anybody’s game, but Huddersfield were the first to attack with Ashcroft gonig well and getting within 10 yards of the Hunslet line.

Then from a scrum in front of the posts, Peter Ramsden put in a grubber kick and sent the ball over the line for Lockwood to get the touchdown for a try which restored the lead for Huddersfield.

Athough the position was well out wide, Dyson kicked an excellent goal and added a fourth through a penalty to give his side a seven-point lead.

Hunslet piled on the pressure and were twice held inches short of the line, while at the other end Smales came close to going over but could not keep is feet after breaking away from a tackle.

Langton added a late penalty for Hunslet, but Huddersfield took up a strong position and ended the game on attack, Smales again going close.