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History is made, York RUFC finally win the Yorkshire Cup
Report from Yorkshire Cup Final against Cleckheaton by Jonathan Leach. Photos by Rob Long.
For the first time in its history York progressed to the final of the Yorkshire Cup, the county’s premier cup competition. A fitting finale to another successful league season finishing 4th in a very competitive league. They had already played their opponents Cleckheaton twice in the league winning on both occasions. The venue was the John Charles Stadium ,home of Hunslet Wolves RUFC in south Leeds. The game kicked off at 5pm and was the last of the county cup competitions played on the same day. Why the cup games were played 6 weeks after the season had ended was puzzling.
The weather was dry and sunny, the pitch in good competition although with a running track around the pitch the sizeable crowd was some way from the action. York had brought a large contingent who provided vocal support to their team. York received the kick off and quickly went on the attack, a penalty allowed them to kick to their opponent’s 22 and after 4 minutes were awarded another penalty which Harry Shackleton had no trouble in converting to register the first points on the board. Cleckheaton then spent time in the York half, but another penalty allowed York to clear and take the game to Cleckheaton and after 13 minutes earned another penalty which Harry Shackleton again kicked to take the score to 6-0.
York then had to spend time on the defensive Cleckheaton trying a drop goal from the 10 metre line which fell short but good defence kept them out before they took the ball to Cleckheaton’s 22 and a score seemed inevitable but were forced into touch 5 metres from the line. The chance was gone as Cleckheaton broke out and York conceded 2 quick penalties which took play to their 5 metre line. Their initial defence was good but at the expense of another penalty which was kicked on 25 minutes to take the score to 6-3.The next 10 minutes saw attacks by both sides. York not able to take their chances and when their opponents attacked, desperate defence was needed to keep them out. A line out on the York 5 metre line looked ominous but the initial catch and drive was repulsed but the pressure eventually told and Cleckheaton scored in the corner. The conversion hit the post but for the first time in the match they were in the lead at 6-8 after 37 minutes.
The score seemed to galvanise York who immediately went on the attack, a penalty took them to the 22 and then 2 quick penalties saw the referee lose patience and a Cleckheaton prop receive a yellow card. York elected for the scrum and another penalty followed. York elected for another scrum. Some of the York support wondered whether the points on offer should have been taken, their doubt disappeared when Harry Shackleton scored the try, the conversion was missed. The half time whistle went, the score 11-8.
The half had been very forward dominated with neither side opting to put width on the ball. The error and penalty count for both sides was high which considering the occasion and that neither side had played for 6 weeks was understandable. York were the dominant side in terms of possession and territory but didn’t have the points to reflect it. Plenty to do in the second half to protect and hopefully increase the narrow lead.
York began the second half on the attack but Cleckheaton were able to clear and spend time on the ball and when York conceded a penalty kick 30 metres out after 7 minutes it was kicked to level the score. This seemed to fire up York and from a penalty kicked to the 5 metre line, a catch and drive was held up over the line but they remained on the attack and the pressure finally told when Jonty Atkinson playing on the wing went over in the corner after 17 minutes. Harry Shackleton put over a difficult conversion to take the score to 18-11.
From the kick off York again took play to their opponent’s half and earned a penalty 30 metres out which Harry Shackleton kicked to stretch the lead to 10 points after 20 minutes. It was now a two-score lead which provided a buffer. This quickly disappeared as 3 minutes later Cleckheaton put over a penalty to take the score to 21-14. It was not long before Harry Shackleton put over another penalty to restore the two-score lead.
With 12 minutes to go a red card was issued to a Cleckheaton player for foul play and the York supporters hoped that their team would put the game to bed. They attacked and from a line out another catch and drive was held up over the line. Further pressure resulted in another yellow card for Cleckheaton leaving York facing only 13 players. Understandably they opted for the scrum, but the ball squirted out. York conceded a penalty their opponents kicked to the York 10 metre line and a catch and drive saw them cross the line for a try which they converted to take the score to 24-19.
There was no time for a further score and when the whistle went, York for the first time in their history were the winners of the Yorkshire Cup. They were the deserved winners playing most of the game in their opponent’s half but rustiness and lack of game time meant that they could not score the points to put the game away. All credit to the players who certainly had to work hard to subdue a very physical Cleckheaton side and the coaching staff. A very satisfactory end to a successful season.