1980–81 Lancashire Cup


The 1980–81 Lancashire Cup was the 68th staging of the rugby league knockout competition, the Lancashire Cup.
Warrington won the trophy with a 26–10 victory over Second Division side Wigan.

Background

The total number of teams entering the competition remained at last season’s total of 14 with no junior/amateur clubs taking part.

Competition and results

First Round

Involved six matches and 12 clubs. Barrow and Whitehaven received byes into the next round. Huyton's match against Warrington was moved to Wilderspool due to vandalism at Huyton's home ground, Alt Park.
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueAttRef
115 August 1980Swinton5–11OldhamStation Road2026
217 August 1980Blackpool Borough2–31WidnesBorough Park2200
317 August 1980Huyton2–31WarringtonWilderspool1937
417 August 1980Salford23–12LeighThe Willows3579
517 August 1980Wigan25–10Rochdale HornetsCentral Park3562
617 August 1980Workington Town5–15St. HelensDerwent Park2957

Second Round

Involved four matches and eight clubs
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueAttRef
124 August 1980Barrow9–16WarringtonCraven Park3328
224 August 1980Oldham15–13SalfordWatersheddings3445
324 August 1980Whitehaven10–13WiganRecreation Ground3910
424 August 1980Widnes22–20St. HelensNaughton Park8427

Semi-finals

Involved two matches and four clubs.
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueAttRef
110 September 1980Oldham2–11WarringtonWatersheddings3963
210 September 1980Widnes10–14WiganNaughton Park6563

Final

The final was played at Knowsley Road, St Helens, with an attendance of 6,279 and gate receipts of £8,629. This was Warrington's seventh Lancashire Cup win, and their first since 1965.

Teams

WarringtonWigan
Derek Finnegan1George Fairbairn
Richard Thackray2Dennis Ramsdale
Ian Duane3Dave Willicombe
John Bevan4Steve Davies
Steve Hesford5Jimmy Hornby
Ken Kelly 6Martin Foy
Alan Gwilliam7Les Bolton
Neil Courtney8Steve Breheny
Tony Waller9John Pendlebury
Brian Case10Steve O'Neill
Tommy Martyn11Bill Melling
Bob Eccles12John Clough
Edwin Hunter13Terry Hollingsworth
Tony Worrall14Bernard Coyle
Ian Potter 15Malcolm Smith
Billy BenyonCoachGeorge Fairbairn