1980–81 Rugby League Premiership

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

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

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

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

10 May 1981

Wheldon Road, Castleford Attendance: 10,660

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

10 May 1981

Craven Park, Hull Attendance: 13,760

Final

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

16 May 1981

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

1. 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.