Devon RFU Senior Cup

The Devon Senior Cup is an annual rugby union league and cup club competition organized by the Devon Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced in the 1886-87 season and the inaugural competition was won by Tiverton.[1] During the early years of the cup the format changed several times from a knock-out competition to a league format, then to hybrid league/cup, then back to being a knock-out cup once again. The competition also was had periods of inactivity, with World War I preventing play for a number of seasons and then the cup being cancelled in the 1930s before being reintroduced for the 1969-70 season when it was won by St. Luke's College (now Exeter University). The Havill Plate was introduced in the 1970s for teams knocked out of the first round of the cup which would continue until 1999. Competitions similar to the Havill Plate were introduced in 2009 for teams that got knocked out of the earlier stages of the cup were introduced - plate (semi finals) and vase (quarter finals) - but these were discontinued due to a lack of interest by the clubs involved.[2]

For the football competition, see Devon Senior Cup.
Devon Senior Cup
SportRugby Union
Instituted1886 (1886)
Number of teams6 (Cup)
4 (Shield)
Country England
HoldersBarnstaple (13th title) (2018–19)
Most titlesExeter (16 titles)
WebsiteDevon RFU

The Devon Senior Cup is currently the premier county cup competition for club sides based in Devon that play in tier 5 (South West Premier) of the English rugby union league system. Since 2018–19 the format will change from a knockout cup competition to a hybrid league-cup. Running alongside it will be the Devon Senior Shield, which is for club sides in Devon that play in tier 6 (Tribute South West 1 West) and will also take place in a hybrid league-cup format.[3][4]

Format from 2018–19

Senior Cup

Previously a knockout cup competition, for the 2018-19 season the format has been changed to a mini league, with league results between Devon teams playing in South West Premier also counted towards the Devon Senior Cup. At the end of the season the top two teams in this mini-league will then meet in the cup final, to be held at the home ground of the club with the superior league record. It is worth noting that these top two teams will not necessary be the highest ranked sides in South West Premier, as only games played against teams in Devon will count in the Senior Cup.[3]

Senior Shield

Running alongside the Senior Cup is the Devon Senior Plate, which has been reintroduced for the 2018–19 season, having been last played for back in the 2010–11 season. This will also involve a mini league with results for the Devon teams in Tribute South West 1 West counting towards the Shield, with the two top teams meeting in a final at the end of the season, at the home ground of the club with the superior record.[4]

Devon Senior Cup winners
Devon Senior Cup Finals
Season Winner Score Runners–up Venue
1886-87Tiverton
1887-88[1][5]TivertonNewton AbbotCounty Ground, Exeter
1888-89[6]Devonport Albion3-0ExeterCounty Ground, Exeter
1889-90[7]Exeter10-6Torquay AthleticCounty Ground, Exeter
1890-91[8]Devonport AlbionN/A[a 1]RNECN/A
1891-92Devonport Albion
1892-93Devonport Albion
1893-94Barnstaple
1894-95Devonport Albion
1895-96Sidmouth
1896-97[9]Sidmouth3-0TotnesCounty Ground, Exeter
1897-04No competition
1904-05[10]Plymouth3-0ExeterRectory Field, Plymouth
1905-06Plymouth12-4Paignton
1906-07Torquay Athletic
1907-08Devonport Albion
1908-09[11]Devonport AlbionNewton Abbot
1909-10Plymouth
1910-11Plymouth
1911-12Devonport Albion
1912-13Devonport Albion
1913-14Devonport Albion
1914-20No competition due to World War I
1920-21Plymouth Albion
1921-22[12]Brixham3-0Torquay AthleticRackerhayes, Kingsteignton
1922-23Newton Abbot
1923-24Newton Abbot
1924-25[13]ExmouthNewton Abbot
1925-26[12]Barnstaple11-3[a 2]BrixhamCounty Ground, Exeter
1926-27Newton Abbot
1927-28Barnstaple
1928-29[12]Teignmouth6-3BrixhamRecreation Ground, Torquay
1929-30[9]Sidmouth3-0BrixhamRecreation Ground, Torquay
1930-31[9]Paignton6-0Sidmouth
1931-32[14]Brixham9-0PaigntonRecreation Ground, Torquay
1932-68No competition
1968-69[15]St. Luke's CollegePlymouth AlbionRecreation Ground, Torquay
1969-70[16]St. Luke's College12-9Barnstaple
1970-71Exeter
1971-72Exeter
1972-73Exeter
1973-74Plymouth Albion16-6St. Luke's CollegeRectory Field, Plymouth
1974-75[17]St. Luke's College25-10BarnstapleCounty Ground, Exeter
1975-76Exeter
1976-77Plymouth Albion10-0ExeterBeacon Park, Plymouth
1977-78[9]Exeter28-13SidmouthCounty Ground, Exeter
1978-79Torquay Athletic
1979-80Exeter
1980-81[18]Exeter UniversityExeter
1981-82Exeter
1982-83Plymouth Albion30-13Devon & Cornwall PoliceBeacon Park, Plymouth
1983-84Plymouth Albion22-7Devon & Cornwall PoliceBeacon Park, Plymouth
1984-85Plymouth Albion12-4Exeter UniversityCounty Ground, Exeter
1985-86Plymouth Albion15-6ExeterCounty Ground, Exeter
1986-87Plymouth Albion47-12Devonport ServicesBeacon Park, Plymouth
1987-88[19]Plymouth Albion32-6OkehamptonShowfield, Okehampton
1988-89Exeter
1989-90Exeter
1990-91Exeter
1991-92Exeter
1992-93Exeter
1993-94Exeter
1994-95Exeter
1995-96Exeter
1996-97[19]BarnstapleOkehamptonShowfield, Okehampton
1997-98[20]Tiverton23-14Torquay AthleticRecreation Ground, Torquay
1998-99Barnstaple
1999-00Barnstaple
2000-01Barnstaple
2001-02Barnstaple
2002-03[21]ExmouthBarnstaplePottingham Road, Barnstaple
2003-04[22]Newton Abbot33-31BrixhamAstley Park, Brixham
2004-05[23]Barnstaple21-0CullomptonStafford Park, Cullompton
2005-06Exmouth
2006-07Torquay AthleticPaigntonQueen's Park, Paignton
2007-08[24]Barnstaple23-19ExmouthImperial Recreation Ground, Exmouth
2008-09[25]Barnstaple21-0CullomptonStafford Park, Cullompton
2009-10[26]Barnstaple28-25BrixhamAstley Park
2010-11[27]Exmouth20-15Newton AbbotRackerhayes, Kingsteignton
2011-12[28]Exmouth28-15BrixhamAstley Park, Brixham
2012-13[29]Exmouth39-3BarnstapleImperial Recreation Ground, Exmouth
2013-14[30]Exmouth31-12Newton AbbotImperial Recreation Ground, Exmouth
2014-15[31]Brixham39-31Newton AbbotRackerhayes, Kingsteignton
2015-16[32]Exmouth31-25BrixhamImperial Recreation Ground, Exmouth
2016-17[33]Brixham35-20OkehamptonAstley Park, Brixham
2017-18[34]Ivybridge38-31ExmouthCross-in-Hand, Ivybridge
2018-19[35]Barnstaple61-22ExmouthPottingham Road, Barnstaple

[36][37]

Devon Senior Plate winners
Devon Senior Plate Finals
Season Winner Score Runners–up Venue
2009-10[38]Paignton28-3CullomptonStafford Park, Cullompton
2010-11[36][39]Barnstaple50-12BrixhamPottington Road, Barnstaple

[36]

Devon Senior Shield winners
Devon Senior Plate Finals
Season Winner Score Runners–up Venue
2018-19[40]Okehampton24–20Devonport ServicesShowground, Okehampton

[36]

Devon Senior Vase winners
Devon Senior Vase Finals
Season Winner Score Runners–up Venue
2009-10[41]Tiverton20-15KingsbridgeCoronation Field, Tiverton
2010-11[42]CullomptonN/A[a 3]PaigntonStafford Park, Cullompton

[36]

Number of wins

Notes
  1. The 1890-91 season saw the competition renamed the Devon League Cup and would take place in the form of a league for the next five seasons.
  2. 1926 final was replayed after the first game finished 3-3.
  3. Final was awarded to Cullompton as Paignton were unable to raise a side.[36]
  4. If you include the Devon Cup titles won by Plymouth Albion's parent clubs - Devonport Albion and Plymouth RFC - that merged to create the modern club in the 1920s then they have actually won 23 titles which would make them the most prolific team in the competition's history.
  5. Exeter University's figure includes Devon Cups won by St. Luke's College before it was amalgamated into Exeter University in 1978.

See also

References
  1. "History - Tiverton Rugby Club". Tiverton Rugby Club. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  2. "Finalists have no enthusiasm for the Devon Senior Plate". This is Cornwall. 22 April 2011.
  3. "2018/19 Devon Senior Cup". Devon RFU. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  4. "2018/19 Devon Senior Shield". Devon RFU. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  5. "16th Season 1887-8" (PDF). Exeter Chiefs Supporters Club. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  6. "17th Season 1888-9" (PDF). Exeter Chiefs Supporters Club. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. "18th Season 1889-90" (PDF). Exeter Chiefs Supporters Club. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. "19th Season 1890-91" (PDF). Exeter Chiefs Supporters Club. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  9. "History Sidmouth RFC". Sidmouth RFC. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  10. "33rd Season 1904-95" (PDF). Exeter Chiefs Supporters Club. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  11. "37th Season 1908-09" (PDF). Exeter Chiefs Supporters Club. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  12. "Brixham Rugby Introduction". Brixham RFC. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  13. "Exmouth RFC Club History". Exmouth RFC. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  14. "1900-1939". BRFC Supporters. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  15. "DEVON CUP FINAL RUGBY PROGRAMME 1969". ebay. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  16. "Steve is still going strong after 50-year association with The Mariners!". Pembrokeshire Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  17. "Reunion for Barnstaple's 1975 Devon Cup rugby team". North Devon Journal. 19 March 2015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  18. "Exeter v. Gloucester - Gloucester Rugby Heritage" (PDF). Gloucester Rugby Heritage. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  19. "History Okehampton RFC". Oke Rugby. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  20. Wevill, Richard (23 April 2013). "Rugby club reflecting on two glorious moments". Mid Devon Gazette. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  21. "Cockles are in a mood to retain grip on cup". Western Morning New. 6 April 2012.
  22. "Brixham win semi-final to set up Devon Cup final showdown". Brixham RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  23. "'Professional' Barum deserve cup triumph". North Devon Journal. 26 April 2005.
  24. "Exmouth pipped at the post". Exmouth Journal. 10 April 2008.
  25. "Barum win the Devon Senior Cup". North Devon Journal. 25 April 2009.
  26. "Full-strength Teigns have Force for final". Western Morning News. 11 May 2010.
  27. "Second-half display wins Devon Cup for Exmouth". Western Morning News. 25 April 2011.
  28. "Exmouth claim second successive County Cup win". Exmouth Journal. 1 May 2012.
  29. "Early end to Barnstaple's Devon Senior Cup final challenge at Exmouth". North Devon Journal. 6 May 2013.
  30. "RUGBY DEVON CUP FINAL: Exmouth hold on tight to cup as Newton Abbot fade away". Torquay Herald Express. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  31. "RUGBY: Brixham beat Newton Abbot to win Devon Senior Cup for the first in 83 years". Torquay Herald Express. 14 March 2015. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  32. "RUGBY: Brixham get into good position but lose Devon Senior Cup to Exmouth at Imperial Ground". Torquay Herald Express. 1 May 2016.
  33. "Brixham claim Devon Senior Cup with hard-earned win over Okehampton". Devon RFU. 29 April 2017.
  34. "DEVON SENIOR CUP WINNERS". Ivybridge RFC (Pitchero). 13 May 2018.
  35. "Exmouth lose Easter Saturday Devon Cup final at Barnstaple". Exmouth Journal. 20 April 2019.
  36. "DRFU Handbook 2011-12" (PDF). Devon RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  37. "Devon Senior Cup winners". Devon RFU. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  38. "Cully beaten by Paignton". Western Morning News. 3 May 2010.
  39. "Senior Plate date fails to inspire Brixham or Barum". This is Devon. 22 April 2011.
  40. "GALLERY: Devonport Services so close to cup final upset against Okehampton". Plymouth Gazette. 22 April 2019.
  41. "Okehampton dig in to edge out determined Crediton and claim inaugural cup victory". This is Cornwall. 3 May 2010.
  42. "Cullompton win the cup and never win a game!". Cullompton RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 1 February 2017.
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