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The muddy Wharfedale players line up after playing their part in a thrilling Yorkshire Cup final.

Wharfedale got off to a cracking start against Doncaster in the Yorkshire Cup final on Wednesday but couldn't hold out against the more powerful National League One side and had to settle for the runners-up trophy.

The Greens lost the game, which was played at Harrogate, 24-17, after leading 17-0 in the first half with tries by David Lister, James Doherty and Mark Bedworth.

Wharfedale chairman of rugby Michael Harrison said: "It was interesting in that it was played on a very heavy ground which favoured Doncaster's big forwards.

"However the ground was in good condition at the start and our backs were running riot.

"We definitely caught them by surprise. We came out fired up and hit the ground running."

Harrison referred to this year's result as a "step in the right direction" as the Greens also played Doncaster's full-time professionals in the final last season but lost 31-6.

Harrison said: "Our team was fantastic right to the end. They played well but it's a pity we couldn't hold out."

But with the deteriorating field conditions favouring Doncaster, their forwards used sheer brute force to score all of their tries off five-yards scrums or driven line-outs.

But Harrison said Simon Horsfall's disallowed try ten minutes from the end could have made all the difference.

Harrison added: "We had a seven-point lead at the time and if that try would have be allowed I think we would have won it."

Although the Greens lost their third consecutive Yorkshire Cup final, they did close their National League 1 campaign on a high with 41-10 victory at home to Halifax last Saturday.

Wharfedale won six of their last seven games and Saturday's result was their ninth successive home win (in league and cup games).

The victory assured the Greens of a seventh place finish in the National Two table.

Harrison said: "To finish in seventh position is a testament to how well the lads played at the end of the season."

He said the Greens played "some good running rugby" and that formula coupled with the last season success drew regular crowds of 500 to 600 people at The Avenue.

Wharfedale's Memorial game in honour of Trace Aldersley, which was held on Sunday, was a fantastic event with over 250 attending on a rainy day.

The Over 35s finally saw off the "cheeky upstarts" (U-25s) with two late scores to win 48-36. Over 50 players graced the field and the whole day raised over £1,000 which will be donated to the Aldersley's nominated charity Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yorkshire, who open their Rugby Union County Championship campaign with a game against Cheshire at Macclesfield (3pm), have seen their challenge in the competition over the past three seasons extinguished by the old enemy', Lancashire, in what have proved to be winner take all' Roses clashes.

Once again, the White Rose men look to National Division Two sides Otley and Wharfedale for a substantial part of their 28-man squad.

2:46pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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