The Final was played at Pontefract which is where Harrogate’s captain, Jake Brady, started his rugby along with his younger brother, Sam. It was very fitting that the Brady brothers scored the opening two tries in the Final

Harrogate’s scrum, which was dominant throughout the match, forced Sheffield to concede an early penalty and Lewis Minikin’s kick opened the score. Almost immediately, Harrogate were penalised for a side entry and Mark Ireland duly equalised for Tigers. Ten minutes into the game, Sheffield’s defence failed to deal with an attacking Callum Irvine cross kick and the predatory Sam Brady crashed over to score a converted try in the corner. Harrogate then recovered from a midfield fumble, Irvine made a spectacular break and Jake Brady was in support to score another converted try. A period of sustained Harrogate pressure followed but Sheffield managed to hang on by the skin of their teeth until the final minutes of the half when two Minikin penalties made it 23-3 at the break.

Sheffield conceded an early second half penalty and Harrogate edged further ahead but the Tigers rallied and made Harrogate’s defence work hard to contain them. Former Harrogate and Rotherham Championship player, Jamie Broadley did touch down for Sheffield although a half way line-out had already been given. The Tigers’ scrum struggled to contain Harrogate throughout the match and they got no respite when Aarin Yorke replaced Tom Larder at hooker and young props, Will Dennis and Josh Peace replaced the experienced Nino Cutino and Ben Reaveley. Scrum half, Danny Matthews harried his opposite number constantly and Phil Wickham gave Sheffield more of the same when he replaced him. Flanker, Jonny Coser had another outstanding game and, along with replacement forward, Chris Wilson, provided regularly good line-out ball. Fellow flanker, Tom Harvey’s physicality kept Tigers on the back throughout and Guy Coser continued the good work when he came on

A high tackle on Harry Barnard led to a Harrogate attacking line-out and a forward drive from which Willem Enslin powered over to score. The final try came from an Irvine cross kick which was brilliantly taken by Sam Bottomley. He held off attempted tackles and passed to Lewis Minikin who sprinted clear and converted his own try.

This was Mike Aspinall’s last match as Harrogate’s Director of Rugby so a successive Yorkshire Cup win was an appropriate finale. Irvine and Lewis Minikin also had their Harrogate swansongs and created openings for the highly skilled centres Edwards and Noel Minikin. Alex Nesbitt also made a big midfield impact from the bench

Harrogate: L Minikin, Bottomley, N Minikin, Edwards, Barnard, Irvine, Matthews, Cutino, Larder, Reaveley, J Brady, S Brady, Harvey, J Coser, Enslin.
Subs:- Yorke, Peace, Dennis, Nesbitt, Wickham, Wilson, G Coser.

Sheffield Tigers: Broadley, Outram, Buchanan, Wallace, Ireland, Holmes, Simmons, Bennett, Cone, Wragg, Symcox, Barnes, Walker, Pearson, Orton.
Subs:- Langan, Coates, Dunn, Pond, Graham, Gelsthorpe.

Referee: Ben Rayner (South Yorkshire)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by Richard Bown