Sheffield Eagles continued their perfect start to the season beating Hunslet 24-16.

Eagles 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 the two wins so far.

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, 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 end-to-end first half, only four minutes after Hunslet's try, the Eagles bounced back, a brilliant kick from Jordan Lilley gave Kieran Gill a simple finish in the corner to level the score, and in doing so, brought him to 150 career tries.

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

Just before the half an hour mark, it was the Eagles turn to score their second. Connor Bower dove 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 score 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

Interchanges (All used): 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)