1979–80 Rugby Union County Championship

The 1979–80 Thorn EMI Rugby Union County Championship was the 80th edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition. [1] [2] [3]

1979–80 Thorn EMI County Championship
Countries	England
Champions	Lancashire (11th title)
Runners-up	Gloucestershire

Lancashire won their 11th title after defeating Gloucestershire in the final.

First Round

Pos	Northern Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Lancashire	5	5	0	0	210	42	10
2	Northumberland	5	4	0	1	109	56	8
3	Yorkshire	5	3	0	2	60	49	6
4	Durham	5	1	1	3	39	101	3
5	Cheshire	5	1	0	4	63	97	2
6	Cumberland & Westmorland	5	0	1	4	31	158	2

Pos	Midlands Group A	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	North Midlands	2	2	0	0	47	16	4
2	East Midlands	2	1	0	1	27	41	2
3	Notts, Lincs & Derby	2	0	0	2	16	33	0

Pos	Midlands Group B	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Warwickshire	2	2	0	0	50	22	4
2	Staffordshire	2	1	0	1	37	36	2
3	Leicestershire	2	0	0	2	24	53	0

Pos	London Group A	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Surrey	2	2	0	0	33	29	4
2	Middlesex	2	1	0	1	33	25	2
3	Kent	2	0	0	2	37	49	0

Pos	London Group B	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Eastern Counties	3	2	0	1	71	26	4
2	Sussex	3	2	0	1	50	22	4
3	Hampshire	3	1	0	2	25	46	2
4	Hertfordshire	3	1	0	2	22	74	2

Pos	South-West Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Gloucestershire	3	2	0	1	40	36	4
2	Devon	3	2	0	1	44	40	4
3	Somerset	3	1	1	1	43	40	3
4	Cornwall	3	0	1	2	35	46	1

Pos	Southern Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Oxfordshire	3	3	0	0	43	18	6
2	Buckinghamshire	3	1	0	2	43	42	2
3	Dorset & Wilts	3	1	0	2	25	39	2
4	Berkshire	3	1	0	2	19	31	2

Second Round

Venue	Team One	Team Two	Score
Moseley	North Midlands	Warwickshire	13-7
Woodford	Surrey	Eastern Counties	26-6
Oxford	Oxfordshire	Gloucestershire	10-36

Semi finals

Date	Venue	Team One	Team Two	Score
8 Dec	Moseley	North Midlands	Gloucestershire	17-21
9 Dec	Old Deer Park	Surrey	Lancashire	6-31

Final

9 February 1980

Lancashire	21-15	Gloucestershire
Try: O'Brien, Slemen, Carleton (2), Con: O'Brien Pen: O'Brien		Try: Pomphrey Con: Butler Pen: Bulter (3)

Powderhouse Lane, Vale of Lune Attendance: 10,000 (estimated)[4] Referee: Laurie Prideaux (North Midlands)

15 Kevin O'Brien Broughton Park 14 John Carleton Orrell 13 Tony Wright Sale 12 P Phillips Orrell 11 Mike Slemen Liverpool 10 Peter Williams Orrell 9 Steve Smith Sale 1 Dave Tabern Fylde 2 Colin Fisher Waterloo 3 Fran Cotton Sale 4 Bill Beaumont (capt) Fylde 5 Jim Syddall Waterloo 6 Roger Creed Sale 7 Tony Neary Broughton Park 8 Laurie Connor Waterloo Replacements: J Heaton Orrell T S K Aitcheson Fylde D J Carfoot Waterloo T Simon Sale K Pacey Broughton Park T Morris Liverpool Coach: Des Seabrook

15 Peter Butler Gloucester 14 Bob Clewes Gloucester 13 Richard Mogg Gloucester 12 Alastair Hignell Bristol 11 Alan Morley Bristol 10 Dave Sorrell Bristol 9 Peter Kingston Gloucester 1 Gordon Sargent Gloucester 2 Steve Mills Gloucester 3 Phil Blakeway Gloucester 4 John Fidler Gloucester 5 Nigel Pomphrey Bristol 6 Mike Rafter (capt) Bristol 7 P A Wood Gloucester 8 Bob Hesford Bristol Replacements: M Priddy Gloucester F Reed Gloucester S Boyle Gloucester P Johnson Clifton B Russell Gloucester S Baker Gloucester

See also

• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. Jenkins, Vivian (1980–81). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. pp. 125–131. ISBN 0362-02018-3.
2. "English County Championship". Rugby Football History.
3. "The County Finals". County Rugby.com.
4. "100 CLUB OF THE DAY: VALE OF LUNE RUFC". Sale Sharks.