York pip Featherstone in extra time to win 1895 Cup
York Knights won the 1895 Cup for the first time after edging past Featherstone
- Published
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.