The miserable conditions of last Sunday afternoon certainly took the shine off my bonce, with the current NFP East Pennine top dogs - the Keighley Cougars (canine or feline??..well it was raining cats and dogs, you see) - then purring smoothly to another win at muddy Derwent Park to further dim the dome. Oh dear, and to think I had tipped us for a win (miaow!!).

It was a double celebration for the cats, as their A-team had also triumphed 24 hours earlier, in much drier conditions, so a sad weekend all round for us Townies.

We've sailed these seas before, and so we shall again. Town will recover from last weekend and go forward to better things. I know many will shudder at this, but my money is still on a top eight finish.

I think I'm correct in saying that old sailing sea shanty is one adopted as the club song of our visitors this weekend: Hunslet Hawks a phoenix-like, but homely, little club if ever there was. In actual fact a club who have certainly suffered more than a fair share of ups and downs in their Rugby League life - perhaps struggling in the shadow of a more famous RL rival. Of course, soccer is king in big cities these days.

The most recent downer was a couple of seasons ago when Hunslet won the NFP title and staked a strong claim (so they thought) for Super League admission. A longish battle ensued with the hierarchy of SL, which the Hawks eventually lost. It is a matter of opinion/conjecture as to whether that refusal was for better or worse for the South Leeds outfit. Many of their most loyal followers are probably still harbouring indignant reflections on the sensitive issue. But if it helps alleviate the disappointment let them remember how we suffered here at Derwent Park from a brief SL episode: a cruel sea to sail, indeed.

I'll turn back the tide now to those early days of my life as a Townie. Hunslet played at a rather run down Greyhound Stadium almost opposite the Elland Road soccer palace. I recall being amused at their small, but enthusiastic, crowd shouting: "up the Huns" and "come on you Huns"!! I began thinking are these players 'jairmans' or what? I asked one fan that question: "are your lot jairmans?" Only to receive the traditional: "oh, right oh mate, we've never heard that one before". A bit like someone telling me my wig has blown off, I guess. (Your wig has blown off - Ed)

Years later I travelled to see Town at Hunslet for only the second time (shame on me). They had died, and risen as New Hunslet, since I first travelled there and thankfully their location was a lot more salubrious, on the same road but at the soccer stadium. It was rather strange, though, with 700 people scattered amidst a 40,000 capacity arena. The 'town ladies committee' were present that afternoon to add their vocals, shrill, high-pitched, but very noisy I recall. Ashtons 'eroes lost out by one point, but all the Town lads, and lasses, still enjoyed the banter with the 'jairmans' (Huns supporters).

Nowadays the Hawks have settled into their own stadium. Very nice it is too, at least it will be when it is finished. Only joking, because the huge grandstand that dominates the one side of South Leeds Stadium is top class, and the facilities within the stand make me quite envious. So much better surroundings than I saw on my first visit to that old, defunct, Elland Road site, when everything/everyone seemed to be going to the dogs - literally.

It shows what dreams can be realistically achieved when the tide is high, but you keep holding on. If only Workington Town could have the same local council backing for our needs as the Hunslet Hawks received.
K.S.