The 1980–81 Challenge Cup was the 80th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. Known as the Three Fives Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, the final was contested by Widnes and Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley, with Widnes winning 18–9.

First round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Hull Kingston Rovers18–13Barrow8,220
2Batley7–15Keighley1,714
3Blackpool Borough2–11Oldham2,837
4Bramley5–18Warrington3,350
5Castleford42–7Huyton3,020
6Dewsbury15–10Hunslet1,777
7Fulham5–9Wakefield Trinity15,013
8Halifax3–2Wigan8,360
9Huddersfield8–10St. Helens3,094
10Hull14–5Leeds15,119
11Leigh20–6Whitehaven5,139
12Pilkington Recs7–18York
13Salford17–13Bradford Northern5,371
14Swinton8–10Featherstone Rovers2,987
15Widnes50–0Doncaster4,563
16Workington Town17–8Rochdale Hornets2,459

Second round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1St. Helens5–3Hull8,263
2Featherstone Rovers10–7Keighley3,126
3Hull Kingston Rovers23–7York13,764
4Oldham18–7Workington Town4,350
5Salford12–3Leigh8,759
6Wakefield Trinity18–8Halifax9,604
7Widnes7–5Castleford7,436
8Dewsbury10–18Warrington5,200

Third round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Warrington13–9Wakefield Trinity7,587
2Featherstone Rovers5–21Widnes7,620
3Hull Kingston Rovers19–8Salford14,315
4Oldham5–6St. Helens8,712

Semi final

28 March 1981
Warrington9 – 17Widnes
Try: Bevan Goal: Hesford (3)Try: Burke, Cunningham, Wright Goal: Burke (4)
Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 12,624 Referee: John Holdsworth (Leeds)
4 April 1981
Hull Kingston Rovers22 – 5St. Helens
Try: Hogan, Hartley (2), Muscroft Goal: Hubbard (5)Try: Pinner Goal: Griffiths
Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 17,073 Referee: Ron Campbell (Widnes)

Final

Hull Kingston Rovers returned to Wembley as defending champions, having won the Challenge Cup for the first time in their history in the previous year. Widnes won the match 18–9, with Widnes full-back Mick Burke being awarded the Lance Todd Trophy.

2 May 1981
Widnes18 – 9Hull Kingston Rovers
Try: Burke, George, Gregory Goal: Burke (4) Drop goal: AdamsTry: Burton Goal: Hubbard (3)
Wembley, London Attendance: 92,496 Referee: Gerry Kershaw (Easingwold) Player of the Match: Mick Burke
FB 1 Mick Burke RW 2 Stuart Wright RC 3 Mick George LC 4 Eddie Cunningham LW 5 Keith Bentley SO 6 Eric Hughes SH 7 Andy Gregory PR 8 Mike O'Neill HK 9 Keith Elwell PR 10 Brian Lockwood SR 11 Les Gorley SR 12 Eric Prescott LF 13 Mick Adams (c) Substitutions: IC 14 John Myler IC 15 Glyn Shaw Coach: Doug LaughtonFB 1 David Hall RW 2 Steve Hubbard RC 3 Mike Smith LC 4 Phil Hogan LW 5 Peter Muscroft SO 6 Steve Hartley SH 7 Paul Harkin PR 8 Roy Holdstock HK 9 David Watkinson PR 10 Steve Crooks SR 11 Phil Lowe SR 12 Chris Burton LF 13 Len Casey (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Paul Proctor IC 15 John Millington Coach: Roger Millward
FB1Mick Burke
RW2Stuart Wright
RC3Mick George
LC4Eddie Cunningham
LW5Keith Bentley
SO6Eric Hughes
SH7Andy Gregory
PR8Mike O'Neill
HK9Keith Elwell
PR10Brian Lockwood
SR11Les Gorley
SR12Eric Prescott
LF13Mick Adams (c)
Substitutions:
IC14John Myler
IC15Glyn Shaw
Coach:
Doug Laughton
FB1David Hall
RW2Steve Hubbard
RC3Mike Smith
LC4Phil Hogan
LW5Peter Muscroft
SO6Steve Hartley
SH7Paul Harkin
PR8Roy Holdstock
HK9David Watkinson
PR10Steve Crooks
SR11Phil Lowe
SR12Chris Burton
LF13Len Casey (c)
Substitutions:
IC14Paul Proctor
IC15John Millington
Coach:
Roger Millward

External links