York pip Featherstone in extra time to win 1895 Cup

York Knights won the 1895 Cup for the first time after edging past Featherstone

1895 Cup final, Wembley Stadium

Featherstone (2) 4

Goals: Reynolds 2

York (4) 5

Goals: Harris 2 Drop-goal: Harris

Match ended 4-4 after 80 minutes

York Knights lifted the 1895 Cup for the first time as they edged Championship rivals Featherstone Rovers in golden-point extra time at Wembley.

Liam Harris slotted a 35-metre drop-goal in the fifth minute of added time to spark celebrations after a tryless 80 minutes had ended level at 4-4.

Featherstone, aiming to become the first side to win the 1895 Cup for a second time by following-up their win in 2021 against York, started well and hit the front with a 12th-minute penalty from scrum-half Ben Reynolds.

However, as errors crept into Rovers' game, York took control of a physical first half, levelling through the boot of Harris before the scrum-half kicked a long-range second penalty as the hooter blew for half-time.

York's Liam Harris slotted the decisive drop-goal in extra time

Harris was stopped just short as York restarted well, but Featherstone responded, with Clay Webb denied by Toa Mata'afa's try-saving tackle before Reynolds' second penalty levelled the scores on the hour.

Knights' back-row Oli Field was brought down a few metres short of the line and Featherstone wasted a late drop-goal opportunity as nerves and fatigue built.

Both sides missed drop-goal attempts in extra time through Harris and Ryan Hampshire, before the former found the target to clinch a tense final.

Featherstone: Aekins, Olpherts, Hardcastle, Gale, Wynne, Reynolds, Hampshire, Springer, Jubb, Beckett, Day, Webb, Addy.

Interchanges: Jones, Williams, Vuniyayawa, Arnold.

York: Mata'afa, Brown, Buchanan, Field, Galeano, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Ta'ai, Dee, Bailey, Thompson.

Interchanges: Cook, Santi, Gannon, Hudson.

Referee: Liam Rush.