Despite a late flurry, Cornwall saw victory slip from their grasp in an intense 33-26 defeat to Hunslet.

In round 20 of Betfred League One, Cornwall, led by Mike Abbott, fell to a home loss at the Memorial Ground on Saturday.

Doubles from Callum Abbott, Aaron Small and a score from Nathan Cullen kept the scores close, but barces from Jack Render and George Flanaghan, as well as a try from Cam Berry and the crucial score from Michael Knowles got the visitors over the line.

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Hunslet were fast out the blocks, opening the scoring nine minutes in, courtesy of Jack Render.

After Matty Beherell failed to add the extra two points, Cornwall regathered the ball from the restart, laying on an onslaught of their own as Maltese international Kaine Dimech was ruled just short of the line when the ball spread out wide, before Abbott made things right by scoring for a second consecutive home match.

After Render once again crossed just before the 20-minute mark, Luke Collins was sent to the bin for a late hit, giving Hunslet the platform to expand their lead as George Flanaghan grubbered through and regathered to score.

Cornwall showed they were still in the contest, as centre Aaron Small cut a shrewd line to score his first try for the Choughs, before Brown added the extras.

After making his return from the bin, Collins soon returned to where he came from two minutes before the interval for a tip-tackle.

Despite their man disadvantage, Cornwall were fast out the blocks in the second half with the best try of the contest, as a sweeping team move from deep saw Brown make the break and put Small in for his second, before the Australian nudged the Cloughs ahead with the extras.

But a quickfire double from Flanaghan and Cam Berry for Hunslet, both of which were converted by Beherell, gave Hunslet the double-digit lead.

Hunslet's Matt Fletcher's sin binning for a swinging arm on Brown gave Cornwall some hope, who piled on the pressure.

After Tom Ashton, a former Parksider, failed to gather a kick through cleanly, the Cloughs rallied as Cullen crashed over from a short ball to score, and Abbott finished nicely from an Adam Rusling kick.

However veteran forward Knowles spoiled the party, driving over from short range under the posts as the final whistle neared.

Beherell's extras saw Hunslet leave the Memorial Ground with a six-point victory.