YORK RUFC is bracing itself for its biggest crowd of the season when Clifton Park hosts the Yorkshire Cup final tonight (7.30pm).

National One big guns Doncaster will start hot favourites to win T'Owd Tin Pot when they tackle Wharfedale, who play in National Two.

Doncaster are one of the emerging powers in Northern rugby union under coach Clive Griffiths.

They have just finished third in an all-Yorkshire top three which saw Leeds Tykes reclaim their place in the Guinness Premiership ahead of Rotherham Titans.

Griffiths, who was appointed last June, was the Wales defence coach when they won the Grand Slam in 2005. The former Llanelli man won one Welsh cap, against England in 1979. He also played rugby league for St Helens.

Doncaster skipper Jason Forster is also a Welshman and their powerful squad contains several players with England honours at a variety of levels, including scrum-half Dave Scully, who has represented his country at Sevens.

Such is Doncaster's strength that they put out a virtually A' team in their semi-final against Morley and still won 35-8 with tries from Mark Woodrow, Rob Worrincy, Michael Wood, Simon Grainger and Dan Storey.

However, they won't be taking Wharfedale lightly as the Greens are the longest serving club in National League Two, consistently securing their place in the top 40 clubs in the country.

They are based at Threshfield, near Grassington, and expect to bring plenty of support from the Dales to York tonight.

They are coached by John Lawn and in centre Mark Bedworth and speedy Chris Malherbe have potential match-winners while James Hutchinson weighed in with a hat-trick in the second round victory against Huddersfield.

The also fought back from 17-0 down in their semi-final against National Two rivals Harrogate to win 40-22.

Wharfedale are also proud of their youth development programme and their Under-17 side beat York in the Yorkshire Cup semi-final last week and will face Middlesbrough in the final at Wetherby.


How they reached the final

Round 1: Doncaster 45, (Tries: Rob Worrincy, Ben Phillips, Ollie Cook, Mark Woodrow, Dan Storey, Netani Talei, Paul Bailey. Cons: Woodrow 4, Dave Scully), Cleckheaton 13. Wharfedale walkover v Bridlington.

Round 2: Doncaster 41 (Tries: Worrincy 2, Ryan Peacy 2. Cons: Cerith Rees 3. Pens: Rees 5), Rotherham 14. Wharfedale 52 (Tries: James Hutchinson 4, Andy baggett, Neil Baggett, Gavin Hindle, Alastair Allen. Cons: Mark Bedworth 4, A Baggett 2), Huddersfield 21

Semi-final: Doncaster 35 (Tries: Woodrow, Worrincy, Michael Wood, Simon Grainger, Storey. Cons: Woodward 4, Storey), Morley 8. Wharfedale 40 (Tries Chris Malherbe, N Baggett, Bedworth 2, Hindle, Hutchinson. Cons: Bedworth 5), Harrogate 22.

* Tonight's referee is Revis Phillips