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 York RUFC
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.
History
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.
Finals
Year Winner Score Runner up Venue11878Halifax Panthers1g, 1t, 9m - 0g, 0t, 0mYorkRecreation Ground, Leeds21879 Wakefield Trinity2g, 1t, 7m - 0g, 0t, 0mKirkstallThrum Hall, Halifax31880 Wakefield Trinity (2)3g, 6g, 7m - 0g, 1t, 2mHeckmondwikeCardigan Fields, Leeds41881 Dewsbury Rams1g, 0t, 0m - 0g, 0t, 4mWakefield Trinity51882 Thornes1g, 0t, 5m - 0g, 1t, 5mWakefield Trinity61883 Wakefield Trinity (3)1g, 2t, 11m - 0g, 0t, 0mHalifax Panthers71884 Bradford1g, 4t, 5m - 0g, 1t, 3mHull F.C.81885 Batley Bulldogs 0g, 0t, 6m - 0g, 0t, 2mManningham91886Halifax Panthers (2)1g, 0t, 3m - 0g, 0t, 2mBradford101887Wakefield Trinity (4)2g, 0t, 2m - 0g, 0t, 2mLeeds RhinosThrum Hall, Halifax111888Halifax Panthers (3)0g, 2t, 2m - 0g, 1t, 1mWakefield TrinityCardigan Fields, Leeds121889Otley1g, 1t,4m - 1g, 0t, 3mLiversedge131890Huddersfield Giants1g, 0t, 1m - 0g, 0t, 0mWakefield TrinityThrum Hall, Halifax141891Pontefract 1g, 1t, 3m - 1g, 0t, 3mWakefield TrinityHeadingley, Leeds151892Hunslet21-0Leeds RhinosHuddersfield161893Halifax Panthers (4)8-2Batley BulldogsHeadingley, Leeds171894 Halifax Panthers (5)38-9Castleford181895 Brighouse Rangers 16-4Morley191896 Castleford 3-0West RidingScatcherd Lane, Morley201897 Hull Kingston Rovers 11-5ShipleyWest Riding F. C, Leeds211898 Ossett 13-3Hebden BridgeWortley, Leeds221899Alverthorpe0-0Sowerby BridgeKeighleyReplay Sowerby Bridge4-0Alverthorpe231900 Mytholmroyd11-0CastlefordClaro Road, Harrogate241901 Castleford (2)20-6Morley251902 Castleford (3)9-5Old Dewsburians261903 Castleford6-6 SkiptonReplay Skipton CastlefordWakefield271904 Skipton (2)3-0MytholmroydClaro Road, Harrogate281905Harrogate5-5Wakefield Balne LaneCastlefordReplay Harrogate 7-5Wakefield Balne Lane291906 Castleford (4)11-0Wakefield Balne LaneClarence Fields, Leeds301907 Harrogate (2)11-6HeadingleyCastleford311908 Castleford (5)29-0SkiptonCross Green, Otley321909 Headingley 3-0 SkiptonIlkley331910 Otley (2)6-0Hull & East RidingClaro Road, Harrogate341911 Otley (3)12-0Hull & East RidingIlkley351912 Skipton (3)7-0Otley361913 Headingley (2)20-5Harrogate Old Boys371914 Headingley (3)18-5Harrogate Old BoysCross Green, Otley381920 Wakefield RFC 9-4Bradford RFC1915-1920: Competitions cancelled due to First World War391921 Headingley (4)13-3Wakefield RFCCross Green, Otley401922Wakefield RFC (2)3-0Leeds University411923Bradford RFC6-0Wakefield RFCSkipton421924Bradford RFC (2)14-3Wakefield RFCCross Green, Otley431925Bradford RFC (3)22-9OtleyIlkley441926Halifax RUFC8-0OtleyLidget Green, Bradford451927Halifax RUFC (2)17-0Otley461928Halifax RUFC 6-6OtleyReplayHalifax RUFC (3)11-0 (AET)Otley471929Otley (4)9-0Morley481930Halifax RUFC (4)17-4IlkleyCross Green, Otley491931Otley (5)13-6Halifax RUFCLidget Green, Bradford501932Morley18-0Huddersfield Old Boys511933Halifax RUFC (5)22-14Bradford RFCCross Green, Otley521934Otley (6)19-3SandalLidget Green, Bradford531935Halifax RUFC (6)14-0Harrogate Old BoysCross Green, Otley541936Otley (7)26-0Harrogate Old BoysLidget Green, Bradford551937Otley (8)16-3Wakefield RFCSkipton561938Morley (2)5-0Wakefield RFCOvenden Park, Halifax571939Morley (3)10-0Bradford RFCCross Green, Otley1940-1946: No competition held due to Second World War -1947 Competition abandoned due to bad weather591948 Keighley 14-9OtleySkipton601949 Harrogate (3)20-6SkiptonCross Green, Otley611950Halifax RUFC (7)11-0Wakefield RFC621951Halifax RUFC (8)9-6Morley631952Royal Signals11-10Halifax RUFC641953Morley (4)8-3Goole Grammar School Old BoysClarence Fields, Leeds651954Royal Signals (2)17-3RoundhayCross Green, Otley661955Morley (5)16-9Bramley Old Boys671956Goole Grammar School Old Boys3-3Old PomfretiansLidget Green, BradfordReplayGoole Grammar School Old Boys6-0Old PomfretiansSelby681957West Leeds Old Boys13-3Old RoundhegiansClarence Fields, Leeds691958Old Roundhegians11-0SandalLidget Green, Bradford701959Old Hymerians15-11West Leeds Old BoysScatcherd Lane, Morley711960Old Crossleyans9-0Sandal721961Old Thornensians6-3West Leeds Old Boys731962Old Thornensians3-3York Railway InstituteReplayOld Thornensians0-0York Railway InstituteCross Green, Otley2nd ReplayOld Thornensians (2)12-6York Railway Institute -1963 Competition abandoned due bad weather751964Halifax RUFC (9)8-6OtleyLidget Green, Bradford761965 Harrogate (4)9-8Wakefield RFCCross Green, Otley771966Bradford RFC (4)8-3Harrogate781967Halifax RUFC0-0RoundhayReplayHalifax RUFC (10)11-9Roundhay791968Bradford RFC3-3Halifax RUFCReplayBradford RFC (5)8-6Halifax RUFC801969Wakefield RFC (3)15-12 (AET)Roundhay811970Bradford RFC (6)19-6Huddersfield RUFCScatcherd Lane, Morley821971Halifax RUFC (11)9-3Old ThornensiansCross Green, Otley831972Morley (6)16-3Bradford RFC841973Morley (7)10-9RoundhayClarence Fields, Leeds851974Morley (8)27-16Roundhay861975Headingley13-13Roundhay Cross Green, OtleyReplayRoundhay20-16Headingley871976Middlesbrough10-9 (AET)Roundhay881977Morley (9)23-9Halifax RUFCClarence Fields, Leeds891978Wakefield RFC (4)18-9MiddlesbroughCross Green, Otley901979Morley (10)9-9HarrogateClarence Fields, Leeds911980Roundhay15-6Morley921981 Harrogate (5)12-3MorleyCross Green, Otley931982Wakefield RFC (5)23-3SheffieldClarence Fields, Leeds941983 Headingley (5)8-3MorleyCross Green, Otley951984 Headingley (6)17-3Wakefield RFC961985 Headingley (7)7-0Wakefield RFC971986Wakefield RFC (6)18-6MorleyClarence Fields, Leeds981987 Headingley (8)18-4Morley991988 Headingley (9)21-9Wakefield RFCScatcherd Lane, Morley1001989 Headingley (10)48-9Otley1011990Wakefield RFC (7)16-3SheffieldClarence Fields, Leeds1021991 Harrogate (6)23-4OtleyScatcherd Lane, Morley1031992 Harrogate (7)12-7Bradford & Bingley1041993Otley (9)22-5RotherhamClarence Fields, Leeds1051994Wakefield RFC (8)35-9SandalScatcherd Lane, Morley1061995Rotherham39-3HarrogateClarence Fields, Leeds1071996Morley (11)16-10Rotherham1081997Sandal (2)17-13DoncasterCross Green, Otley1091998 Leeds Tykes 21-11DoncasterScatcherd Lane, Morley1101999Doncaster13-10SandalBrantingham Park, Hull1112000Doncaster (2)29-26MorleyLockwood Park, Huddersfield1122001 Sandal 26-24MiddlesbroughClaro Road, Harrogate1132002 Harrogate (8)24-19WharfedaleCross Green, Otley1142003 Harrogate (9)13-12DoncasterScatcherd Lane, Morley1152004Halifax RUFC (12)23-21OtleyClaro Road, Harrogate1162005Halifax RUFC (13)19-14CleckheatonWagon Lane, Bingley1172006 Leeds Tykes (2)22-11Wharfedale1182007Doncaster (3)31-6WharfedaleYork1192008Doncaster (4)24-17WharfedaleClaro Road, Harrogate1202009 Leeds Tykes U19(3)23-13BeverleyBrantingham Park, Hull1212010Wharfedale36-13Sheffield TigersHuddersfield YMCA, Huddersfield1222011Huddersfield RUFC25-18Hull RUFCYork1232012Hull RUFC20-10WharfedaleYork -2013 Competition abandoned due to bad weather1252014Wharfedale (2)34-29OtleyWagon Lane, Bingley1262015 Harrogate (10)16-12WharfedaleThe Sycamores, Leeds1272016 Harrogate (11)38-3Sheffield TigersMoor Lane, Pontefract1282017 Harrogate (12)Sheffield TigersScatcherd Lane 1292018Hull RUFC (2)34-7Doncaster PhoenixClifton Park, York1302019Sandal (3)33-14SheffieldScatcherd Lane, Morley2020-2021: Competitions cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic1312023Middlesbrough30-24SandalCastle Park
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.
ClubWinsRunnersupWinning years1Halifax RUFC1341926, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1933, 1935, 1951, 1951, 1964, 1967, 1971, 2004, 20052Harrogate1221905, 1907, 1949, 1965, 1981, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2015, 2016, 20173Morley1191932, 1938, 1939, 1953, 1955, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 19964Headingley§1031909, 1913, 1914, 1921, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 19895Otley9111889, 1910, 1911, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 19936Wakefield RFC§710 1920, 1922, 1969, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 19947Bradford & Bingley641923, 1924, 1925, 1966, 1968, 19708Castleford§541896, 1901, 1902, 1906, 19089Halifax Panthers±11878, 1886, 1888, 1893, 189410Wakefield Trinity±451879, 1880, 1883, 188711Doncaster31999, 2000, 2007, 200812Skipton331903, 1904, 191213Sandal21997, 2001, 201914Leeds Tykes01998, 2006, 200915Wharfedale262010, 201416Roundhay§51975, 198017Old Thornisions11961, 196218Hull RUFC12012, 201819Royal Signals01952, 19541West Leeds Old Boys§1219571Middlesbrough1976, 20231Bradford±§118841Batley Bulldogs±1885Mytholmroyd19001Goole Grammar School Old Boys19561Old Roundheigians19581Rotherham19951Huddersfield RUFC20111Dewsbury Rams±018811Thornes§18821Huddersfield Giants±18901Pontefract18911Hunslet±§18921Brighouse Rangers±§18951Hull Kingston Rovers±18971Ossett18981Sowerby Bridge18991Keighley19481Old Hymerians19591Old Crossleyions19601West Park Leeds20221Sheffield Tigers041Hull & East Riding021Wakefield Balne Lane021Old Pomfretians021Alverthorpe011Beverley0 11Bramley Old Boys011Cleckheaton0 11Doncaster Phoenix0 11Heckmondwike±011Hebden Bridge011Hull F.C.±011Ilkley011Kirkstall011Liversedge±011Manningham±011Old Dewsburians011Sheffield0 11Shipley011West Riding011York Railway Institute011York RUFC011York±§01
See also Yorkshire RFU Rugby league county cups
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
References
External links Yorkshire Cup results on Yorkshire RU