1980–81 Rugby Football League season
1980–81 Rugby Football League season | |
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League | York |
Top try-scorer(s) | John Crossley Jr. 35 |
The 1980–81
Season summary
- Slalom Lager League Champions: Bradford Northern
- Challenge Cup Winners: Widnes (18-9 v Hull Kingston Rovers)
- Slalom Lager Premiership Trophy Winners: Hull Kingston Rovers (11-7 v Hull)
- John Player Special Trophy Winners: Warrington (12-5 v Barrow)
- 2nd Division Champions: York
For the only time in their history, Wigan competed outside the top flight of Rugby League in this season. Fulham RLFC joined the competition in Division Two, later becoming the London Crusaders, London Broncos (twice), and Harlequins Rugby League.
Bradford Northern finished on top of the First Division table to claim their second championship, and Hull Kingston Rovers won the Rugby League Premiership competition.
Warrington beat Wigan 26–10 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Leeds beat Hull Kingston Rovers 8–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.
League Tables
ChampionshipFinal Standings
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Second Division
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Challenge Cup
The 1980–81 State Express Challenge Cup was won by Widnes after defeating Hull Kingston Rovers 18–9 in the final.
The Final was played at Wembley before a crowd of 92,496.
John Player Trophy
Warrington won the John Player Trophy for the third time in their history, beating Barrow 12–5 at Central Park, Wigan.
Premiership
Hull Kingston Rovers won the Premiership competition for the first time, defeating local rivals Hull 11–7 at Headingley, Leeds.
New Zealand Kiwis Tour
September until November also saw the appearance of the
The 1980 Kiwis were coached by
Dane O'Hara, who would join Hull F.C. following the tour was the leading try scorer with 6. Scrum half Gordon Smith (who would join Hull Kingston Rovers in 1982) was the tours leading point scorer with 33 from 1 try and 15 goals.
game | Date | Result | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 28 September | New Zealand def. Blackpool Borough 23–5 | Borough Park, Blackpool | 1,312 |
2 | 5 October | New Zealand def. Hull F.C. 33–10 | Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull | 15,945 |
3 | 8 October | Cumbria def. New Zealand 9–3 | Recreation Ground, Whitehaven | 4,070 |
4 | 12 October | St Helens def. New Zealand 11–6 | Knowsley Road, St Helens | 6,000 |
5 | 14 October | Bradford Northern def. New Zealand 15–10 |
Odsal Stadium, Bradford | 4,553 |
6 | 18 October | Great Britain drew with New Zealand 14–14 | Central Park, Wigan | 7,031 |
7 | 22 October | New Zealand def. Hull Kingston Rovers 20–12 | Craven Park, Kingston upon Hull | 9,516 |
8 | 26 October | New Zealand def. Leeds 25–5 | Headingley, Leeds | 5,662 |
9 | 29 October | Warrington def. New Zealand 13–6 | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | 5,680 |
10 | 2 November | New Zealand def. Great Britain 12–8 | Odsal Stadium, Bradford | 10,946 |
11 | 5 November | Great Britain U/24 18–14 |
Craven Cottage, London | 2,397 |
12 | 9 November | Widnes def. New Zealand 13–7 | Naughton Park, Widnes |
6,416 |
13 | 11 November | Leigh 22–5 |
Hilton Park, Leigh | 3,166 |
14 | 15 November | Great Britain def. New Zealand 10–2 | Elland Road, Leeds | 8,210 |
Statistics
The following are the top points scorers in all competitions in the 1980–81 season.[1]
Most tries
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Most goals (including drop goals)
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Notes
- ^ Fletcher & Howes (1981), p. 125.
Sources
- Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1981). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1981-82. Rothmans Publications. ISBN 978-0-907574-07-1.
- 1980-81 Rugby Football League season at wigan.rlfans.com