1980–81 John Player Cup
The 1980-1981 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]
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
|
|
| | |
| | 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
- ↑ Jenkins, Vivian (1981). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Rothmans Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-907574-05-X.
- ↑ "Times Archives". Oxfordshire Libraries.