Huddersfield YMCA, a neutral venue hosted the 2026 Yorkshire Cup final between league winners Heath and lower tabled Sandal in a final which felt for many like David v Goliath.
Heath have only lost one game in this season’s league fixtures and secured promotion weeks ago while Sandal moved to relegation safety a couple of weeks ago and suffered a 37 point loss against Harrogate at the weekend prior.
The stage was set for a clash of Yorkshire clubs with a long history of playing elite amateur rugby and pride was at stake on this mild Wednesday April evening.

The early exchanges showed where each team was in the league with Heath applying pressure to Sandals 22, however Sandal showed great defence and controlled the game well from within their own half and errors from Heath meant they were unable to capitalise on their possession. Will Henshall was strong at the breakdown winning ball for Sandal allowing them to exit and good kicking from number 10 Hali Joannou released the building pressure. Sandal were penalised for offside on the 26th minute and Heath’s number 10 kicked the penalty to register the first score of the game.

From the restart, Heath kicked well for territory and penned Sandal back into their own half again. However, Will Henshall again won at the breakdown giving Sandal possession and Harry Jukes and Oliver Farrah broke the Heath line to make in roads into the Heath half and half time registered 3 – 0 to Heath.

Heath started the second half well and a push over try after 2 minutes forced Sandal to dig deep to gain control of the game that had the potential to run away from them. Mac Walsh stepped the Heath centre and had a strong run off loading to Dafdd Ebsworth to go within 10 yards of the Heath try line. Will Henshall picked from the back of the scrum and the resulting breakdown saw Declan Thompson pick and dive over to score for Sandal with the extra’s converted by Tom Hodson taking the score to 8 – 7 to Heath. It felt the momentum had swung in favour of Sandal. From the restart Sandal started to throw the ball around and play with the confidence we have seen in this’s leagues fixtures. Great play from Sandal forced a penalty from Heath and Sandal’s Tom Hodson slotted the penalty over to take the score to 10 – 8 to Sandal.

From the restart Heath galvanised themselves and camped on Sandal’s 22. However, a Sandal penalty allowed Heath to take the lead again 11 – 10. The Heath pressure continued with Heaths Number 10 gathering the ball under the sticks yet missing an attempted drop goal. The game again swung back in favour of Sandal and they marched up the centre of the field with Heath failing to roll away giving Sandal a penalty kick within range. Tom Hodson didn’t fail to take advantage and Sandal took the lead again with 11 – 13.
It was a grandstand last five minutes and the restart saw Heath kick straight into touch, giving a Sandal scrum on the half way line. A Sandal penalty gave Heath a penalty in the last minute to clinch the win for Heath, however their number 10 missed it and the 2026 Yorkshire Cup went to Sandal. Congratulations Sandal - much deserved and a great defensive and patient performance.

Match Report – Justin English