# RFL Yorkshire Cup

The RFL Yorkshire Cup is a rugby league county cup competition for teams in Yorkshire. Starting in 1905 the competition ran, with the exception of 1915 to 1918, until the 1992–93 season, when it folded due to fixture congestion.
The competition was open to all senior member clubs of the Rugby Football League in Yorkshire and was normally played in the opening months of the season. On two occasions, 1918–19 and 1940–41 the competition was held towards the end of the season due to the two world wars. During the Second World War the Lancashire Cup was not played for between 1941 and 1945 and several Lancashire clubs were admitted into the Yorkshire Cup competition instead. The cup finals in 1942, 1943 and 1944 were played over two legs with the winner being determined by aggregate score over the two matches.

## Finals

| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
| 1905–06 | Hunslet | 13–30 | Halifax | Park Avenue, Bradford |
| 1906–07 | Bradford FC | 8–5 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1907–08 | Hunslet | 17–00 | Halifax | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1908–09 | Halifax | 9–5 | Hunslet | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1909–10 | Huddersfield | 21–00 | Batley | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1910–11 | Wakefield Trinity | 8–2 | Huddersfield | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1911–12 | Huddersfield | 22–10 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1912–13 | Batley | 17–30 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1913–14 | Huddersfield | 19–30 | Bradford Northern | Thrum Hall, Halifax |
| 1914–15 | Huddersfield | 31–00 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1918–19 | Huddersfield | 14–80 | Dewsbury | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1919–20 | Huddersfield | 24–50 | Leeds | Thrum Hall, Halifax |
| 1920–21 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 2–0 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1921–22 | Leeds | 11–30 | Dewsbury | Thrum Hall, Halifax |
| 1922–23 | York | 5–0 | Batley | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1923–24 | Hull F.C. | 10–40 | Huddersfield | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1924–25 | Wakefield Trinity | 9–8 | Batley | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1925–26 | Dewsbury | 2–0 | Huddersfield | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1926–27 | Huddersfield | 10–30 | Wakefield Trinity | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1927–28 | Dewsbury | 8–2 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1928–29 | Leeds | 5–0 | Featherstone Rovers | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1929–30 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 13–70 | Hunslet | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1930–31 | Leeds | 10–20 | Huddersfield | Thrum Hall, Halifax |
| 1931–32 | Huddersfield | 4–2 | Hunslet | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1932–33 | Leeds | 8–0 | Wakefield Trinity | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| 1933–34 | York | 10–4 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1934–35 | Leeds | 5–5 | Wakefield Trinity | Crown Flatt, Dewsbury |
| Replay 1 | Leeds | 2-2 | Wakefield Trinity | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| Replay 2 | Leeds | 13-0 | Wakefield Trinity | Parkside, Hunslet |
| 1935–36 | Leeds | 3–0 | York | Thrum Hall, Halifax |
| 1936–37 | York | 9–2 | Wakefield Trinity | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1937–38 | Leeds | 14–80 | Huddersfield | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1938–39 | Huddersfield | 18–10 | Hull F.C. | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1939–40 | Featherstone Rovers | 12–90 | Wakefield Trinity | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1940–41 | Bradford Northern | 15–50 | Dewsbury | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| 1941–42 | Bradford Northern | 24–00 | Halifax | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| 1942–43 | Dewsbury | 7–0 | Huddersfield | Crown Flatt, Dewsbury |
| 1942–43 | Dewsbury | 0–2 | Huddersfield | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| 1942–43 | Dewsbury won 7–2 on aggregate |
| 1943–44 | Bradford Northern | 5–2 | Keighley | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1943–44 | Bradford Northern | 5–5 | Keighley | Lawkholme Lane, Keighley |
| 1943–44 | Bradford Northern won 10–7 on aggregate |
| 1944–45 | Halifax | 12–30 | Hunslet | Parkside, Hunslet |
| 1944–45 | Halifax | 2–0 | Hunslet | Thrum Hall, Halifax |
| 1944–45 | Halifax won 14–3 on aggregate |
| 1945–46 | Bradford Northern | 5–2 | Wakefield Trinity | Thrum Hall, Halifax |
| 1946–47 | Wakefield Trinity | 10–00 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1947–48 | Wakefield Trinity | 7–7 | Leeds | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| Replay | Wakefield Trinity | 8–7 | Leeds | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1948–49 | Bradford Northern | 18–90 | Castleford | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1949–50 | Bradford Northern | 11–40 | Huddersfield | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1950–51 | Huddersfield | 16–30 | Castleford | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1951–52 | Wakefield Trinity | 17–30 | Keighley | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| 1952–53 | Huddersfield | 18–80 | Batley | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1953–54 | Bradford Northern | 7–2 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1954–55 | Halifax | 22–14 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1955–56 | Halifax | 10–10 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| Replay | Halifax | 7–0 | Hull F.C. | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1956–57 | Wakefield Trinity | 23–50 | Hunslet | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1957–58 | Huddersfield | 15–80 | York | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1958–59 | Leeds | 24–20 | Wakefield Trinity | Odsal, Bradford |
| 1959–60 | Featherstone Rovers | 15–14 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1960–61 | Wakefield Trinity | 16–10 | Huddersfield | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1961–62 | Wakefield Trinity | 19–90 | Leeds | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1962–63 | Hunslet | 12–20 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1963–64 | Halifax | 10–00 | Featherstone Rovers | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1964–65 | Wakefield Trinity | 18–20 | Leeds | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| 1965–66 | Bradford Northern | 17–80 | Hunslet | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1966–67 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 25–12 | Featherstone Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1967–68 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 8–7 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1968–69 | Leeds | 22–11 | Castleford | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1969–70 | Hull F.C. | 12–90 | Featherstone Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1970–71 | Leeds | 23–70 | Featherstone Rovers | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1971–72 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 11–70 | Castleford | Belle Vue, Wakefield |
| 1972–73 | Leeds | 36–90 | Dewsbury | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| 1973–74 | Leeds | 7–2 | Wakefield Trinity | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1974–75 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 16–13 | Wakefield Trinity | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1975–76 | Leeds | 15–11 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1976–77 | Leeds | 16–12 | Featherstone Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1977–78 | Castleford | 17–70 | Featherstone Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1978–79 | Bradford Northern | 18–80 | York | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1979–80 | Leeds | 15–60 | Halifax | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1980–81 | Leeds | 8–7 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield |
| 1981–82 | Castleford | 10–50 | Bradford Northern | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1982–83 | Hull F.C. | 18–70 | Bradford Northern | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1983–84 | Hull F.C. | 13–20 | Castleford | Elland Road, Leeds |
| 1984–85 | Hull F.C. | 29–12 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Boothferry Park, Hull |
| 1985–86 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 22–18 | Castleford | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1986–87 | Castleford | 31–24 | Hull F.C. | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1987–88 | Bradford Northern | 12–12, | Castleford | Headingley, Leeds |
| Replay | Bradford Northern | 11–20 | Castleford | Elland Road, Leeds |
| 1988–89 | Leeds | 33–12 | Castleford | Elland Road, Leeds |
| 1989–90 | Bradford Northern | 20–14 | Featherstone Rovers | Headingley, Leeds |
| 1990–91 | Castleford | 11–80 | Wakefield Trinity | Elland Road, Leeds |
| 1991–92 | Castleford | 28–60 | Bradford Northern | Elland Road, Leeds |
| 1992–93 | Wakefield Trinity | 29–16 | Sheffield Eagles | Elland Road, Leeds |
| Source: |

### Wins by club

| | Club | Wins | Winning years |
| 1 | Leeds | 17 | 1921, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1958, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980 & 1988 |
| 2 | Huddersfield | 12 | 1909, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1919, 1919, 1926, 1931, 1938, 1950, 1952 & 1957 |
| 3 | Bradford | 11 | 1941, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1965, 1978, 1987 & 1989 |
| 4 | Wakefield Trinity | 10 | 1910, 1924, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1964 & 1992 |
| 5 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 7 | 1920, 1929, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1974 & 1985 |
| 6= | Castleford | 5 | 1977, 1981, 1986, 1990 & 1991 |
| 6= | Hull F.C. | 5 | 1923, 1969, 1982, 1983 & 1984 |
| 6= | Halifax | 5 | 1908, 1944, 1954, 1955 & 1963 |
| 9= | Hunslet | 3 | 1905, 1907 & 1962 |
| 9= | Dewsbury | 3 | 1925, 1927 & 1942 |
| 9= | York | 3 | 1922, 1933 & 1936 |
| 12 | Featherstone Rovers | 2 | 1940 & 1959 |
| 13= | Batley | 1 | 1912 |
| 13= | Bradford FC | 1 | 1906 |
* ↑ The 1918–1919 competition was played in April — May 1919
* ↑ The 1940–1941 competition was played in March — April 1941

## Sponsors

| Years | Sponsor | Name |
| 1972–1979 | Esso | Esso Yorkshire Cup |
| 1980–1982 | Webster's Brewery | Webster's Yorkshire Cup |
| 1983–1984 | Phillips | Phillips Yorkshire Cup |
| 1985–1992 | John Smith's Brewery | John Smith's Yorkshire Cup |

## Records
### Cup final

* Most appearances: 21, Leeds
* Most wins: 17, Leeds
* Most consecutive wins: 4, Huddersfield 1913-14, 14-15, 1919 Spring & 1919 Autumn
* Highest score: 34–8, Leeds v Dewsbury 1972
* Highest aggregate score: 65, 31-24 Castleford v Hull F.C. 1986
* Lowest aggregate score: 2–0 on four occasions 1920, 1925, 1942, 1944
* Biggest winning margin: 28, 30–2 Huddersfield v Hull 1914
* Biggest attendance: 36,000, Bradford Northern v Huddersfield at Headingley 1949
* Smallest attendance: 5,536, Castleford v Hull Kingston Rovers at Belle Vue 1971
* Highest receipts: £83,591 Leeds v Castleford at Elland Road 1988

### Individual records in the final

* Most tries in a final: 4, Stan Moorhouse for Huddersfield v Leeds 1919
* Most goals in a final: 6, David Stephenson for Leeds v Castleford 1988
* Most points in a final: 16, Graham Steadman (4 goals and 2 tries) for Castleford v Bradford Northern 1991
* Most appearances in a final: 10, Douglas Clark, Huddersfield 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1919 Spring, 1919 Autumn, 1923, 1925, 1926
* Most tries in finals: 6 (two times), Stan Moorhouse, Huddersfield 1911, 1914, 1919 Autumn and Stan Smith, Leeds 1934, 1935, 1937
* Most goals in finals: 19, Neil Fox Wakefield Trinity, Hull Kingston Rovers & Bradford Northern 1958, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1978
* Most points in finals: 53, Neil Fox Wakefield Trinity, Hull Kingston Rovers & Bradford Northern 1958, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1978

### Competition records

* Highest score: 6–100, Nottingham City v Hull Kingston Rovers 1990
* Highest score v a junior club: 79–5, Huddersfield v Yorkshire Amateurs 1948
* Highest aggregate score in two-legged fixture: 140–5, Huddersfield v Yorkshire Amateurs 1948
Sources:

## White Rose Trophy

Between 1966 and 1993 a trophy, called the White Rose Trophy, was awarded to the man of the match in each final. The judging was conducted by members of the press.

## 2019 revival

In 2019, the name of the competition was reused as a pre-season tournament between seven of the non-Super League teams; Batley, Bradford, Dewsbury, Featherstone, Halifax, Hunslet and York; and amateur side Hunslet Club Parkside. The competition was a one-off has not been played since.
Bradford Bulls won the tournament beating Batley Bulldogs 14–12 at Mount Pleasant, Batley.