The 1943âÂÂ44 Yorkshire Cup competition was a knock-out competition between (mainly professional) rugby league clubs from the county of Yorkshire. The actual area was at times increased to encompass other teams from outside the county such as Newcastle, Mansfield, Coventry, and even London (in the form of Acton & Willesden. The competition always took place early in the season, in the Autumn, with the final taking place in (or just before) December (The only exception to this was when disruption of the fixture list was caused during, and immediately after, the two World Wars)
The Second World War was continuing and the Yorkshire Cup remained in the early part of the 1943âÂÂ44 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season
1943âÂÂ44 was the thirty-sixth occasion on which the Yorkshire Cup competition had been held.
Bradford Northern won the trophy by beating Keighley over two legs by an aggregate score of 10-7
Bradford Northern played the first leg match at home (at Odsal) and won 5âÂÂ2. The attendance was 10,251 and receipts were ã757.
Keighley were at home (at Lawkholme Lane) for the second leg match and drew 5âÂÂ5. The attendance at the second leg match was 8,993 and receipts ã634.
Hull Kingston Rovers â The club dropped out of the wartime Lancashire league after the âÂÂfirst (1939âÂÂ40) season. They did not return to league competition until 1945âÂÂ46 peacetime season.
Bramley withdrew after the third wartime season (1941âÂÂ42) had finished and did not rejoin until the 1945âÂÂ46 season.
Castleford withdrew after the third wartime season (1941âÂÂ42) had finished and did not participate for two seasons, re-joining for the 1944âÂÂ45 season.
Hunslet withdrew after the third wartime season (1941âÂÂ42) had finished and did not participate for one season, and re-joined in time for this season.
Wigan â This club entered the Yorkshire Cup competition for the fourth successive season
Oldham â The club, as Wigan, also entered the Yorkshire Cup competition and for the fourth successive season
St. Helens â The club, as Wigan and Oldham}, also entered the Yorkshire Cup competition and for their second successive season
Barrow â withdrew after the end of the first (1939âÂÂ40) season finished and did not rejoin the league, including the Yorkshire Cup until this season.
Dewsbury had a relatively successful time during the war years. Managed by Eddie Waring, and with the side boosted by the inclusion of a number of big-name guest players, the club won the Wartime Emergency League in 1941âÂÂ42 and again the following season 1942âÂÂ43 (though that championship was declared null and void when it was discovered they had played an ineligible player). They were also runners-up in the Championship in 1943âÂÂ44, Challenge Cup winners in 1943 and Yorkshire Cup final appearances in this season 1940âÂÂ41 and winners in 1942âÂÂ43.
This season there were no junior/amateur clubs taking part, Hunslet rejoined after one season's absence, and with Barrow adding to the previous Lancashire presence of Wigan, Oldham and St. Helens, this increased the entries by two, bringing the total up to sixteen.
This in turn resulted in no byes in the first round.
For the third successive year, ALL the ties (this season including the actual final) were played on a two-legged home and away basis.
Involved 8 matches (with no byes) and 16 clubs
All first round ties are played on a two-legged home and away basis
Involved 8 matches (with no byes) and 16 clubs
All first round ties are played on a two-legged home and away basis
Involved 4 matches and 8 clubs
All second round ties are played on a two-legged home and away basis
Involved 4 matches and 8 clubs
All second round ties are played on a two-legged home and away basis
Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs
Both semi-final ties are played on a two-legged home and away basis
Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs
Both semi-final ties are played on a two-legged home and away basis
The final was played on a two-legged home and away basis this season
The final was played on a two-legged home and away basis this season
Scoring - Try = three (3) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = two (2) points
All the ties (including the final itself) were played on a two leg (home and away) basis.
The first club named in each of the ties played the first leg at home.
The scores shown are the aggregate score over the two legs.
1 * The first Yorkshire Cup match to be played by Barrow and also the first to be played at Craven Park