1980–81 John Player Cup

The 1980–81 John Player Cup was the tenth edition of England's premier rugby union club competition at the time. Leicester won the competition for a third consecutive year defeating Gosforth in the final. The competition was extended with extra rounds replacing the previous format of 32 teams only.[1] The event was sponsored by John Player cigarettes and the final was held at Twickenham Stadium.[2]

1980–81 John Player Cup
Tournament statistics
Champions	Leicester Tigers (3rd title)
← 1979–80 (Previous) (Next) 1981–82 →

Draw and Results

First Round

Team One	Team Two	Score
Sutton & Epsom	Crawley	3-13
Upper Clapton	Woodford	13-4
Metropolitan Police	Fullerians	22-12
High Wycombe	Midsomer Norton	12-9
Havant	Maidstone	10-9
Oxford	Bournemouth	3-3*
Matson	Exeter	8-14
Hereford	Walsall	15-15*
Coventry Welsh	Kettering	19-12
Alnwick	Broughton Park	0-12
Nottingham	Birmingham	33-10
Derby	Westleigh	12-7
Aspatria	Hartlepool Rovers	10-10*
Sale	Morley	29-10
Abbey	Redruthy	6-9

Away team progress*

Second Round

Team One	Team Two	Score
Upper Clapton	Crawley	18-0
Metropolitan Police	High Wycombe	25-9
Bournemouth	Havant	18-10
Blackheath	Exeter	11-15
Walsall	Coventry Welsh	6-4
Camp Hill	Broughton Park	6-3
Nottingham	Derby	12-9
Hartlepool Rovers	Sale	8-17
Guildford & Gosalming	Redruth	3-9
Stroud	Southend	13-16

Third Round

Team One	Team Two	Score
Bournemouth	Exeter	15-19
Moseley	Bedford	25-0
Camborne	Metropolitan Police	9-16
Harlequins	Rosslyn Park	9-20
Camp Hill	Nottingham	0-18
Richmond	Bath	6-12
Waterloo	West Hartlepool	17-0
Gosforth	Fylde	17-7
Roundhay	Leicester	3-34
Upper Clapton	Bristol	3-22
Northampton	Sale	13-20
Saracens	Coventry	7-15
Wasps	London Scottish	9-15
Orrell	Walsall	24-3
Redruth	London Irish	4-12
Southend	Gloucester	6-12

Fourth Round

Team One	Team Two	Score
London Irish	Gloucester	13-22
Waterloo	Gosforth	9-12
Exeter	Moseley	7-15
Metropolitan Police	Rosslyn Park	15-6
Nottingham	Bath	4-3
Leicester	Bristol	27-14
Sale	Coventry	18-12
London Scottish	Orrell	12-10

Quarter Finals

Team One	Team Two	Score
Leicester	Sale	21-7
Moseley	Metropolitan Police	22-6
Nottingham	Gosforth	3-23
London Scottish	Gloucester	9-9*

London Scottish progressed on more tries rule*

Semi Finals

Team One	Team Two	Score
London Scottish	Leicester	12-18 aet
Gosforth	Moseley	24-3

Final

2 May 1981

Leicester	22-15	Gosforth
Try: Steve Kenney Tim Barnwell Dusty Hare Con: Dusty Hare 2 Pen: Dusty Hare 3		Try: Bob Cunnimgham Con: David Johnson Pen: David Johnson 2           Brian Patrick

Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 24,000 Referee: Roger Quittenton (London & Sussex Societies)

O Dusty Hare N Kevin Williams L Clive Woodward M Paul Dodge K Tim Barnwell J Les Cusworth I Steve Kenney G Garry Adey H Ian "Dosser" Smith F Steve Johnson E Nick Jackson D Nick Joyce C Steve Redfern B Peter Wheeler (c) A Robin Cowling Replacements: P Angus Collington for Johnson (82m) Q Chris Tressler R Wayne Richardson S Mick Merriman T Andy Key U Brian Hall Coach: Chalkie White

15 Brian Patrick 14 Stuart Archer 13 Richard Breakey 12 Alan MacMillan 11 Neil McDowall 10 David Johnson 9 Malcolm Young 8 John Butler 7 Simon Smith 6 Terry Roberts 5 Steve Bainbridge 4 Bob Anderson 3 Jeff Bell 2 Bob Cunningham 1 Colin White (c) Replacements: 16 Steve Gustard 17 John Storey 18 Ian Ramage 19 Stuart Lewis 20 John Blissett 21 Paul Simpson Coach: David Robinson

References

1. Jenkins, Vivian (1981). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Rothmans Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-907574-05-X.
2. "Times Archives". Oxfordshire Libraries.