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The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is organised by the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union and is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup. Current Champions are Driffield RUFC

Quick Facts Sport, Instituted ...
Yorkshire Cup
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SportRugby Union
Instituted1877; 147 years ago (1877)
Number of teams15
Country England
HoldersDriffield RUFC (1st title) (2023/24)
Most titlesHalifax RUFC (13 titles)
WebsiteYorkshire RFU
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The Yorkshire Senior Cup is currently the premier county cup competition for club sides based in Yorkshire that play in tier 4 (National League 2 North), tier 5 (National League 3 North) and tier 6 (North 1 East) of the English rugby union league system. The current format is as a knock-out cup with a first round, second round, quarter-final, semi-final and final, which is to be played at neutral ground in the county. Teams ranked lower than tier 6 play in the Yorkshire Shield or Yorkshire Trophy.[1]

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History

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Trophy of Yorkshire Cup

In 1877, despite reservations within the Rugby Football Union, the committee of the Yorkshire County Football Club (composed from the clubs of Bradford FC, Huddersfield FC, Leeds FC, Hull FC and York FC) sanctioned a knock-out tournament - the first of its kind in the UK.

The notion of competing for a trophy appealed to the public of Yorkshire as much as it appalled the guardians of amateurism. The proceeds from the final were distributed among local charities.The trophy itself is known as "T'owd Tin Pot", pronounced with a Yorkshire accent.

In the first season, 16 teams battled it out for the T'owd Tin Pot, with York eventually losing out to Halifax in the final.

In its early years the competition was dominated by clubs who now play rugby league. Since the schism of 1895 which led to the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union and the development of rugby league football, the cup has been competed for by clubs who remained with the Rugby Football Union or were founded after 1895.

According to the Hallmarks on the trophy it was made by Martin, Hall & Co. Sheffield and London, in 1877. It is made of Sterling Silver .925.

The trophy was won by Morley Rugby Club in the two seasons prior to the Second World War, and was kept "in a drawer under the secretary's bed" for the duration of the war.

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Finals

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Score Runner Up Venue
1 1878 Halifax Panthers 1g, 1t, 9m - 0g, 0t, 0m[a] York Recreation Ground, Leeds
2 1879 Wakefield Trinity 2g, 1t, 7m - 0g, 0t, 0m Kirkstall Thrum Hall, Halifax
3 1880 Wakefield Trinity (2) 3g, 6g, 7m - 0g, 1t, 2m Heckmondwike Cardigan Fields, Leeds
4 1881 Dewsbury Rams 1g, 0t, 0m - 0g, 0t, 4m Wakefield Trinity
5 1882 Thornes 1g, 0t, 5m - 0g, 1t, 5m Wakefield Trinity
6 1883 Wakefield Trinity (3) 1g, 2t, 11m - 0g, 0t, 0m Halifax Panthers
7 1884 Bradford 1g, 4t, 5m - 0g, 1t, 3m Hull F.C.
8 1885 Batley Bulldogs 0g, 0t, 6m - 0g, 0t, 2m Manningham
9 1886 Halifax Panthers (2) 1g, 0t, 3m - 0g, 0t, 2m Bradford
10 1887 Wakefield Trinity (4) 2g, 0t, 2m - 0g, 0t, 2m Leeds Rhinos Thrum Hall, Halifax
11 1888 Halifax Panthers (3) 0g, 2t, 2m - 0g, 1t, 1m Wakefield Trinity Cardigan Fields, Leeds
12 1889 Otley 1g, 1t,4m - 1g, 0t, 3m Liversedge
13 1890 Huddersfield Giants 1g, 0t, 1m - 0g, 0t, 0m Wakefield Trinity Thrum Hall, Halifax
14 1891 Pontefract 1g, 1t, 3m - 1g, 0t, 3m Wakefield Trinity Headingley, Leeds
15 1892 Hunslet 21-0 Leeds Rhinos Huddersfield
16 1893 Halifax Panthers (4) 8-2 Batley Bulldogs Headingley, Leeds
17 1894 Halifax Panthers (5) 38-9 Castleford
18 1895 Brighouse Rangers 16-4 Morley
19 1896 Castleford 3-0 West Riding Scatcherd Lane, Morley
20 1897 Hull Kingston Rovers 11-5 Shipley West Riding F. C, Leeds
21 1898 Ossett 13-3 Hebden Bridge Wortley, Leeds
22 1899 Alverthorpe 0-0 Sowerby Bridge Keighley
Replay Sowerby Bridge 4-0 Alverthorpe
23 1900 Mytholmroyd 11-0 Castleford Claro Road, Harrogate
24 1901 Castleford (2) 20-6 Morley
25 1902 Castleford (3) 9-5 Old Dewsburians
26 1903 Castleford 6-6 [b] Skipton
Replay Skipton [c] Castleford Wakefield
27 1904 Skipton (2) 3-0 Mytholmroyd Claro Road, Harrogate
28 1905 Harrogate 5-5 Wakefield Balne Lane Castleford
Replay Harrogate 7-5 Wakefield Balne Lane
29 1906 Castleford (4) 11-0 Wakefield Balne Lane Clarence Fields, Leeds
30 1907 Harrogate (2) 11-6 Headingley Castleford
31 1908 Castleford (5) 29-0 Skipton Cross Green, Otley
32 1909 Headingley 3-0 [d] Skipton Ilkley
33 1910 Otley (2) 6-0 Hull & East Riding Claro Road, Harrogate
34 1911 Otley (3) 12-0 Hull & East Riding Ilkley
35 1912 Skipton (3) 7-0 Otley
36 1913 Headingley (2) 20-5 Harrogate Old Boys
37 1914 Headingley (3) 18-5 Harrogate Old Boys Cross Green, Otley
38 1920 Wakefield RFC 9-4 Bradford RFC
1915-1920: Competitions cancelled due to First World War
39 1921 Headingley (4) 13-3 Wakefield RFC Cross Green, Otley
40 1922 Wakefield RFC (2) 3-0 Leeds University
41 1923 Bradford RFC 6-0 Wakefield RFC Skipton
42 1924 Bradford RFC (2) 14-3 Wakefield RFC Cross Green, Otley
43 1925 Bradford RFC (3) 22-9 Otley Ilkley
44 1926 Halifax RUFC 8-0 Otley Lidget Green, Bradford
45 1927 Halifax RUFC (2) 17-0 Otley
46 1928 Halifax RUFC 6-6 Otley
Replay Halifax RUFC (3) 11-0 (AET) Otley
47 1929 Otley (4) 9-0 Morley
48 1930 Halifax RUFC (4) 17-4 Ilkley Cross Green, Otley
49 1931 Otley (5) 13-6 Halifax RUFC Lidget Green, Bradford
50 1932 Morley 18-0 Huddersfield Old Boys
51 1933 Halifax RUFC (5) 22-14 Bradford RFC Cross Green, Otley
52 1934 Otley (6) 19-3 Sandal Lidget Green, Bradford
53 1935 Halifax RUFC (6) 14-0 Harrogate Old Boys Cross Green, Otley
54 1936 Otley (7) 26-0 Harrogate Old Boys Lidget Green, Bradford
55 1937 Otley (8) 16-3 Wakefield RFC Skipton
56 1938 Morley (2) 5-0 Wakefield RFC Ovenden Park, Halifax
57 1939 Morley (3) 10-0 Bradford RFC Cross Green, Otley
1940-1946: No competition held due to Second World War
- 1947 Competition abandoned due to bad weather
59 1948 Keighley 14-9 Otley Skipton
60 1949 Harrogate (3) 20-6 Skipton Cross Green, Otley
61 1950 Halifax RUFC (7) 11-0 Wakefield RFC
62 1951 Halifax RUFC (8) 9-6 Morley
63 1952 Royal Signals 11-10 Halifax RUFC
64 1953 Morley (4) 8-3 Goole Grammar School Old Boys Clarence Fields, Leeds
65 1954 Royal Signals (2) 17-3 Roundhay Cross Green, Otley
66 1955 Morley (5) 16-9 Bramley Old Boys
67 1956 Goole Grammar School Old Boys 3-3 Old Pomfretians Lidget Green, Bradford
Replay Goole Grammar School Old Boys 6-0 Old Pomfretians Selby
68 1957 West Leeds Old Boys 13-3 Old Roundhegians Clarence Fields, Leeds
69 1958 Old Roundhegians 11-0 Sandal Lidget Green, Bradford
70 1959 Old Hymerians 15-11 West Leeds Old Boys Scatcherd Lane, Morley
71 1960 Old Crossleyans 9-0 Sandal
72 1961 Old Thornensians 6-3 West Leeds Old Boys
73 1962 Old Thornensians 3-3 York Railway Institute
Replay Old Thornensians 0-0 York Railway Institute Cross Green, Otley
2nd Replay Old Thornensians (2) 12-6 York Railway Institute
- 1963 Competition abandoned due bad weather
75 1964 Halifax RUFC (9) 8-6 Otley Lidget Green, Bradford
76 1965 Harrogate (4) 9-8 Wakefield RFC Cross Green, Otley
77 1966 Bradford RFC (4) 8-3 Harrogate
78 1967 Halifax RUFC 0-0 Roundhay
Replay Halifax RUFC (10) 11-9 Roundhay
79 1968 Bradford RFC 3-3 Halifax RUFC
Replay Bradford RFC (5) 8-6 Halifax RUFC
80 1969 Wakefield RFC (3) 15-12 (AET) Roundhay
81 1970 Bradford RFC (6) 19-6 Huddersfield RUFC Scatcherd Lane, Morley
82 1971 Halifax RUFC (11) 9-3 Old Thornensians Cross Green, Otley
83 1972 Morley (6) 16-3 Bradford RFC
84 1973 Morley (7) 10-9 Roundhay Clarence Fields, Leeds
85 1974 Morley (8) 27-16 Roundhay
86 1975 Headingley 13-13 Roundhay Cross Green, Otley
Replay Roundhay 20-16 Headingley
87 1976 Middlesbrough 10-9 (AET) Roundhay
88 1977 Morley (9) 23-9 Halifax RUFC Clarence Fields, Leeds
89 1978 Wakefield RFC (4) 18-9 Middlesbrough Cross Green, Otley
90 1979 Morley (10) 9-9 Harrogate Clarence Fields, Leeds
91 1980 Roundhay 15-6 Morley
92 1981 Harrogate (5) 12-3 Morley Cross Green, Otley
93 1982 Wakefield RFC (5) 23-3 Sheffield Tigers Clarence Fields, Leeds
94 1983 Headingley (5) 8-3 Morley Cross Green, Otley
95 1984 Headingley (6) 17-3 Wakefield RFC
96 1985 Headingley (7) 7-0 Wakefield RFC
97 1986 Wakefield RFC (6) 18-6 Morley Clarence Fields, Leeds
98 1987 Headingley (8) 18-4 Morley
99 1988 Headingley (9) 21-9 Wakefield RFC Scatcherd Lane, Morley
100 1989 Headingley (10) 48-9 Otley
101 1990 Wakefield RFC (7) 16-3 Sheffield Tigers Clarence Fields, Leeds
102 1991 Harrogate (6) 23-4 Otley Scatcherd Lane, Morley
103 1992 Harrogate (7) 12-7 Bradford & Bingley
104 1993 Otley (9) 22-5 Rotherham Clarence Fields, Leeds
105 1994 Wakefield RFC (8) 35-9 Sandal Scatcherd Lane, Morley
106 1995 Rotherham 39-3 Harrogate Clarence Fields, Leeds
107 1996 Morley (11) 16-10 Rotherham
108 1997 Sandal (2) 17-13 Doncaster Cross Green, Otley
109 1998 Leeds Tykes 21-11 Doncaster Scatcherd Lane, Morley
110 1999 Doncaster 13-10 Sandal Brantingham Park, Hull
111 2000 Doncaster (2) 29-26 Morley Lockwood Park, Huddersfield
112 2001 Sandal 26-24 Middlesbrough Claro Road, Harrogate
113 2002 Harrogate (8) 24-19 Wharfedale Cross Green, Otley
114 2003 Harrogate (9) 13-12 Doncaster Scatcherd Lane, Morley
115 2004 Halifax RUFC (12) 23-21 Otley Claro Road, Harrogate
116 2005 Halifax RUFC (13) 19-14 Cleckheaton Wagon Lane, Bingley
117 2006 Leeds Tykes (2) 22-11 Wharfedale
118 2007 Doncaster (3) 31-6 Wharfedale York
119 2008 Doncaster (4) 24-17 Wharfedale Claro Road, Harrogate
120 2009 Leeds Tykes U19(3)[2] 23-13 Beverley Brantingham Park, Hull
121 2010 Wharfedale 36-13 Sheffield Tigers Huddersfield YMCA, Huddersfield
122 2011 Huddersfield RUFC 25-18 Hull RUFC York
123 2012 Hull RUFC 20-10 Wharfedale York
- 2013 Competition abandoned due to bad weather
125 2014 Wharfedale (2) 34-29 Otley Wagon Lane, Bingley
126 2015 Harrogate (10) 16-12 Wharfedale The Sycamores, Leeds
127 2016 Harrogate (11) 38-3 Sheffield Tigers Moor Lane, Pontefract
128 2017 Harrogate (12) [e][3][4] Sheffield Tigers Scatcherd Lane
129 2018 Hull RUFC (2) 34-7 Doncaster Phoenix Clifton Park, York
130 2019 Sandal (3) 33-14 Sheffield Scatcherd Lane, Morley
2020-2021: Competitions cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
131 2023 Middlesbrough 30-24 Sandal Castle Park
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Results

  • § Denotes club now defunct
  • ± Denotes club plays rugby league following the schism
  • Teams in bold are active clubs currently competing in rugby union competitions.
More information Club, Wins ...
Club Wins Runners
up
Winning Years
1 Halifax RUFC 13 4 1926, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1933, 1935, 1951, 1951, 1964, 1967, 1971, 2004, 2005
2 Harrogate 12 2 1905, 1907, 1949, 1965, 1981, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017
3 Morley 11 9 1932, 1938, 1939, 1953, 1955, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1996
4 Headingley§ 10 3 1909, 1913, 1914, 1921, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
5 Otley 9 11 1889, 1910, 1911, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1993
6 Wakefield RFC§ 7 10 1920, 1922, 1969, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994
7 Bradford & Bingley 6 4 1923, 1924, 1925, 1966, 1968, 1970
8 Castleford§ 5 4 1896, 1901, 1902, 1906, 1908
9 Halifax Panthers± 1 1878, 1886, 1888, 1893, 1894
10 Wakefield Trinity± 4 5 1879, 1880, 1883, 1887
11 Doncaster 3 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008
12 Skipton 3 3 1903, 1904, 1912
13 Sandal 2 1997, 2001, 2019
14 Leeds Tykes 0 1998, 2006, 2009
15 Wharfedale 2 6 2010, 2014
16 Roundhay§ 5 1975, 1980
17 Old Thornisions 1 1961, 1962
18 Hull RUFC 1 2012, 2018
19 Royal Signals 0 1952, 1954
1 West Leeds Old Boys§ 1 2 1957
1 Middlesbrough 1976, 2023
1 Bradford±§ 1 1884
1 Batley Bulldogs± 1885
Mytholmroyd 1900
1 Goole Grammar School Old Boys 1956
1 Old Roundheigians 1958
1 Rotherham 1995
1 Huddersfield RUFC 2011
1 Dewsbury Rams± 0 1881
1 Thornes§ 1882
1 Huddersfield Giants± 1890
1 Pontefract 1891
1 Hunslet±§ 1892
1 Brighouse Rangers±§ 1895
1 Hull Kingston Rovers± 1897
1 Ossett 1898
1 Sowerby Bridge 1899
1 Keighley 1948
1 Old Hymerians 1959
1 Old Crossleyions 1960
1 West Park Leeds 2022
1 Sheffield Tigers 0 4
1 Hull & East Riding 0 2
1 Wakefield Balne Lane 0 2
1 Old Pomfretians 0 2
1 Alverthorpe 0 1
1 Beverley 0 1
1 Bramley Old Boys 0 1
1 Cleckheaton 0 1
1 Doncaster Phoenix 0 1
1 Heckmondwike± 0 1
1 Hebden Bridge 0 1
1 Hull F.C.± 0 1
1 Ilkley 0 1
1 Kirkstall 0 1
1 Liversedge± 0 1
1 Manningham± 0 1
1 Old Dewsburians 0 1
1 Sheffield 0 1
1 Shipley 0 1
1 West Riding 0 1
1 York Railway Institute 0 1
1 York RUFC 0 1
1 York±§ 0 1
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See also

Bibliography

  • Cup final programmes, including the 1978 Centenary Programme.
  • Wakefield Rugby Football Club—1901-2001 A Centenary History. Written and compiled by David Ingall in 2001.
  • Yorkshire Rugby Union Centenary 1869-1969 book produced by Yorkshire RFU.

Notes

  1. Until 1891, the scoring system in place used goals (g), tries (t) and minor points (m) to decide the winners
  2. Skipton contested result on grounds that Castleford had included an ineligible player, therefore a replay was arranged.
  3. Castleford refused to play. Skipton were declared the winners.
  4. Cup awarded to Headingley after Skipton, objecting to one of the referees decisions, walked off the field five minutes before half time.
  5. Harrogate won by walkover as Sheffield Tigers could not agree a date to play the final citing player welware. Final had originally been scheduled for 26 April 2017 at Scatcherd Lane in Morley but was ultimately cancelled.
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References

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