The Bottle Match started as a rugby union match, but as the schools sporting interests diversified, other sports began to be played as part of the match. Since 2006, the match has included six games played between the two institutions: men's rugby union, football, men's and women's hockey, squash and golf. As of 2010, Netball has been included as an event. In 2017, mixed-gender Lacrosse was added to the list of sports.
The Bottle Match is traditionally held in February, normally on the third weekend of the month. The match reflects a long-standing rivalry between the RSM and CSM.[1]
The winner of the Bottle trophy itself hinges entirely on the outcome of the rugby match. The winning team takes home the 'Bottle', a 3-ft tall tin beer bottle adorned with the two crests of the institution, which was acquired in 1926 by a number of RSM students from the top of a Bass lorry. Since the 1950s, players on the winning side were presented with personal tankards from the South African-based company Union Corporation/Gencor. This tradition continues with the tankards provided by Michael West and the Mining Journal. There is also a trophy awarded to the man of the match. The Centenary Bottle Match was held in Cornwall in 2002, with RSM being victorious, and Anton Griffiths from CSM winning the man of the match trophy.
The winners of the men's hockey take the Sharpley Cup, a silver cup presented by J.E. Sharpley, an RSM alumnus, in the 1950s.
The winners of the women's hockey take the Golders Cup, a small silver cup presented by Golder Associates the 1990s.
