1980–81 Challenge Cup

1980–81 Three Fives Challenge Cup
Duration5 Rounds
Number of teams32
Winners Widnes
Runners-up Hull Kingston Rovers
Lance Todd Trophy Mick Burke

The 1980–81 Challenge Cup was the 80th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. Known as the Three Fives Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, the final was contested by Widnes and Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley, with Widnes winning 18–9.

First round

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Hull Kingston Rovers 18–13 Barrow 8,220
2 Batley 7–15 Keighley 1,714
3 Blackpool Borough 2–11 Oldham 2,837
4 Bramley 5–18 Warrington 3,350
5 Castleford 42–7 Huyton 3,020
6 Dewsbury 15–10 Hunslet 1,777
7 Fulham 5–9 Wakefield Trinity 15,013
8 Halifax 3–2 Wigan 8,360
9 Huddersfield 8–10 St. Helens 3,094
10 Hull 14–5 Leeds 15,119
11 Leigh 20–6 Whitehaven 5,139
12 Pilkington Recs 7–18 York
13 Salford 17–13 Bradford Northern 5,371
14 Swinton 8–10 Featherstone Rovers 2,987
15 Widnes 50–0 Doncaster 4,563
16 Workington Town 17–8 Rochdale Hornets 2,459

Second round

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 St. Helens 5–3 Hull 8,263
2 Featherstone Rovers 10–7 Keighley 3,126
3 Hull Kingston Rovers 23–7 York 13,764
4 Oldham 18–7 Workington Town 4,350
5 Salford 12–3 Leigh 8,759
6 Wakefield Trinity 18–8 Halifax 9,604
7 Widnes 7–5 Castleford 7,436
8 Dewsbury 10–18 Warrington 5,200

Third round

Tie no Home team Score Away team Attendance
1 Warrington 13–9 Wakefield Trinity 7,587
2 Featherstone Rovers 5–21 Widnes 7,620
3 Hull Kingston Rovers 19–8 Salford 14,315
4 Oldham 5–6 St. Helens 8,712

Semi final

28 March 1981
Warrington 9 – 17 Widnes
Try: Bevan
Goal: Hesford (3) 		Report
 Try: Burke, Cunningham, Wright
Goal: Burke (4)
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 12,624
Referee: John Holdsworth (Leeds)
4 April 1981
Hull Kingston Rovers 22 – 5 St. Helens
Try: Hogan, Hartley (2), Muscroft
Goal: Hubbard (5) 		Report
 Try: Pinner
Goal: Griffiths
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 17,073
Referee: Ron Campbell (Widnes)

Final

Hull Kingston Rovers returned to Wembley as defending champions, having won the Challenge Cup for the first time in their history in the previous year. Widnes won the match 18–9, with Widnes full-back Mick Burke being awarded the Lance Todd Trophy.

2 May 1981
Widnes 18 – 9 Hull Kingston Rovers
Try: Burke, George, Gregory
Goal: Burke (4)
Drop goal: Adams 		Report
 Try: Burton
Goal: Hubbard (3)
Wembley, London
Attendance: 92,496
Referee: Gerry Kershaw (Easingwold)[1]
Player of the Match: Mick Burke
FB 1 Mick Burke
RW 2 Stuart Wright
RC 3 Mick George
LC 4 Eddie Cunningham
LW 5 Keith Bentley
SO 6 Eric Hughes
SH 7 Andy Gregory
PR 8 Mike O'Neill
HK 9 Keith Elwell
PR 10 Brian Lockwood
SR 11 Les Gorley
SR 12 Eric Prescott
LF 13 Mick Adams (c)
Substitutions:
IC 14 John Myler
IC 15 Glyn Shaw
Coach:
Doug Laughton
FB 1 David Hall
RW 2 Steve Hubbard
RC 3 Mike Smith
LC 4 Phil Hogan
LW 5 Peter Muscroft
SO 6 Steve Hartley
SH 7 Paul Harkin
PR 8 Roy Holdstock
HK 9 David Watkinson
PR 10 Steve Crooks
SR 11 Phil Lowe
SR 12 Chris Burton
LF 13 Len Casey (c)
Substitutions:
IC 14 Paul Proctor
IC 15 John Millington
Coach:
Roger Millward

References

  1. ^ Nicholson, Geoffrey (3 May 1981). "Burke has no peers". The Observer. p. 27. ProQuest 476685224.