1980–81 Rugby League Premiership

1980–81 Premiership
1980–81 Premiership
Structure	National knockout championship
Winners	Hull Kingston Rovers
Runners-up	Hull F.C.
	← 1979–80 1981–82 →

The 1980–81 Rugby League Premiership was the seventh staging of the end of season Rugby League Premiership competition.

The final was contested by Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull F.C. at Headingley, Leeds. Hull Kingston Rovers won the match 11–7, and was the first time the club had won the Premiership trophy. The prize money for the winning team was £4,000.^[1]

First round

Date	Home team	Score	Away team	Attendance
26 April 1981	Wakefield Trinity	8–25	Castleford	4,403
29 April 1981	Bradford Northern	12–14	St Helens	5,224
4 May 1981	Warrington	7–19	Hull	4,889
6 May 1981	Hull Kingston Rovers	14–12	Widnes	13,508

Semi-finals

10 May 1981

Castleford	11 – 12	Hull
Tries: Wraith, Crampton, J. Kear Goals: Finch		Tries: Elliott, Banks, Dean Goals: Woods Drop goals: Dean

Wheldon Road, Castleford
Attendance: 10,660

10 May 1981

Hull Kingston Rovers	30 – 17	St Helens
Tries: Hartley (3), Hubbard (2), Lowe Goals: Hubbard (6)		Tries: James, Litherland, Gorley Goals: Pinner (4)

Craven Park, Hull
Attendance: 13,760

Final

16 May 1981

Hull Kingston Rovers	11 – 7	Hull F.C.
Tries: Hogan, Hartley, Smith Goals: Hubbard	^[1]	Tries: Crane Goals: Woods (2)

Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 29,448
Referee: John Holdsworth (Leeds)
Player of the Match: Len Casey


1	Paul Proctor
2	Steve Hubbard
3	Mike Smith
4	Phil Hogan
5	Peter Muscroft
6	Steve Hartley
7	Paul Harkin
8	Roy Holdstock
9	David Watkinson
10	John Millington
11	Phil Lowe
12	Len Casey (c)
13	Dave Hall
Substitutions:
14	Chris Burton
15	Kevin Watson
Coach:
Roger Millward


1	Paul Woods
2	Gary Peacham
3	David Elliott
4	Tim Wilby
5	Paul Prendiville
6	Barry Banks
7	Tony Dean
8	Keith Tindall
9	Ron Wileman
10	Charlie Stone (c)
11	Trevor Skerrett
12	Mick Crane
13	Steve Norton
Substitutions:
14	Ian Madley
15	Robin Chester
Coach:
Arthur Bunting

Notes

^ ^a ^b Fletcher & Howes (1981), p. 194.

References

Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1981). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1981-82. Rothmans Publications. ISBN 978-0-907574-07-1.
"Premiership Trophy 1980/81 – Results". Rugby League Project.

[FOOTNOTEFletcherHowes1981194-1] Fletcher & Howes (1981), p. 194.

[1]