YORK Rugby Union Club team manager Allan Robsertshaw believes it is time for a 're-jig' of the Yorkshire Cup after his side were forced to hand scheduled second round opponents Doncaster a walkover last night.

The pressure of their crucial Yorkshire One/Durham and Northumberland One play-off against Hartlepool Rovers on Saturday and a club tour to Germany, left the club's chiefs little choice but waiver the tie - although it wasn't a decision they took lightly.

And having missed out on the chance to lock horns with Derek Eves' National Two giants Doncaster at home, Robertshaw believes it is time for change in the competition.

"They have started the competition just before the league season has been finalised and to be honest everyone is thinking about that rather than the cup," said Robertshaw.

"I think that they (the Yorkshire Cup committee) need to re-jig the competition. It needs a rethink."

York could have fielded a patched-up side, but with the majority of the club personnel off to Germany, they would have been left stretched beyond all means for Saturday's decider against Hartlepool Rovers should there have been any injuries.

"We've got the bare bones of a team for Hartlepool Rovers, with no back up, so we took the step to give Doncaster the game," said Robertshaw.

"A lot of thought went in to it before making the decision, but with the tour and the grounds as hard as they are, we couldn't risk it. We couldn't afford any injuries.

"About 30 players are going away, but a lot of the first team squad have forgone their money and decided to stay. They see as we've played 22 games to get this far, so it would be silly not to see it out to this last one."

Meanwhile, defending champions Harrogate strolled through into the quarter-finals after they edged past Huddersfield YMCA 38-18.

A brave show from the Yorkshire One side threatened to cause an upset, with matters finely poised at 21-13, but Harrogate kicked on to finish off the resistance.

Full-back Ed Smithies bagged a brace, with Mark Farrar, Andrew Burrell and James Tapster also crossing, while Lee Cholewa added five conversions and a penalty.

Updated: 11:01 Wednesday, April 23, 2003