Doncaster Rugby Club

Sadly, the Yorkshire Cup no longer has the appeal of former times to either players or spectators in this area. Doncaster chose to start with a 2^nd XV in front of a paltry “crowd” and proceeded to play an hour of error strewn rugby with very little obvious enthusiasm against a Wharfedale team who were up for it, who contested the breakdown avidly and whose backs ran with vigour through a centre field where tackling seemed like a lost skill. Doncaster were fortunate to be only 6-26 behind at the interval, Jon Benson’s two penalties the only scores that looked remotely likely. The Greens, on the other hand, had scored fine tries through Malherbe, Horsefall and Bedworth who added one conversion and four penalties.

After the break there was a significant improvement once Greenslade had been replaced by Hunt at centre and the backs began to threaten with the injection of pace. Dan Storey’s try with half an hour to play ended the first cohesive play of the night and gave some hope to the spectators; but that looked to be wiped out when a Dale player broke clear and certain to score only to be caught by a wonderful cover tackle from Brad Hunt that in theory kept the match alive. When Doncaster’s first spell of concerted pressure found the Dale defence conceding penalties, the referee was quick to produce the yellow card and with a man advantage Duncan Murray scored wide out on the left to narrow the deficit to 16-26. But that was all Doncaster could manage. A late penalty for offside saw the gap widen again before the last move brought a comedy try for Longstaff courtesy of a kick through and a crazy bounce.

With so many of the Cup games won on walkovers this year, one wonders if the Yorkshire Cup has any future played at this stage of the league season.