Misplaced Pages

The fixture list for the 2021 season was issued on 14 February 2021. The regular season comprised 18 rounds.

The end-of-season play-offs featured the clubs finishing second to sixth in the regular season in a four round elimination competition to decide which team accompanied the team finishing first into the Championship for 2022.

Four matches were postponed due under the RFL COVID-19 protocols and were not rearranged.

All times are UK local time (UTC+1) on the relevant dates.

Regular season

Round 1

Betfred League 1: round one

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
London Skolars	24–44	North Wales Crusaders	8 May 2021, 15:30	New River Stadium	J. Vella	—
Hunslet	16–28	Workington Town	9 May 2021, 14:00	South Leeds Stadium	C. Worsley
Coventry Bears	20–38	Barrow Raiders	9 May 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	M. Rossleigh
Keighley Cougars	44–18	Doncaster	9 May 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	J. McMullen
Rochdale Hornets	40–16	West Wales Raiders	9 May 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	M. Mannifield
Source:

1. Matches played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions

Round 2

Betfred League 1: round two

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
North Wales Crusaders	18–26	Hunslet	15 May 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	M. Rossleigh	—
West Wales Raiders	10–36	Coventry Bears	15 May 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	L. Staveley
Workington Town	50–16	London Skolars	16 May 2021, 14:00	Derwent Park	J. McMullen
Barrow Raiders	40–18	Keighley Cougars	16 May 2021, 15:00	Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium	M. Mannifield
Doncaster	30–22	Rochdale Hornets	16 May 2021, 15:00	Keepmoat Stadium	N. Bennett
Source:

1. Matches played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions

Round 3

Betfred League 1: round three

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Doncaster	62–24	West Wales Raiders	23 May 2021, 14:30	Keepmoat Stadium	C. Worsley	784
North Wales Crusaders	16–44	Workington Town	23 May 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	T. Crashley	—
Coventry Bears	26–44	London Skolars	23 May 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	L. Staveley	210
Hunslet	6–29	Barrow Raiders	23 May 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	M. Smaill	452
Keighley Cougars	36–43	Rochdale Hornets	23 May 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	K. Moore	700
Source:

1. Limited attendances allowed but by home fans only.
2. Match played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions

Round 4

Betfred League 1: round four

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
West Wales Raiders	10–52	London Skolars	29 May 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	T. Crashley	—
Workington Town	24–26	Doncaster	30 May 2021, 14:00	Derwent Park	M. Mannifield	942
Barrow Raiders	44–8	North Wales Crusaders	30 May 2021, 15:00	Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium	K. Moore	1,915
Coventry Bears	38–30	Rochdale Hornets	30 May 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	A. Sweet	232
Keighley Cougars	40–0	Hunslet	30 May 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	N. Bennett	683
Source:

1. Limited attendances allowed in England under COVID-19 restrictions
2. COVID-19 regulations in Wales did not permit spectator attendance at matches on this date

Round 5

Betfred League 1: round five

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
West Wales Raiders	10–60	Barrow Raiders	5 June 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	A. Sweet	—
Workington Town	34–20	Keighley Cougars	6 June 2021, 14:00	Derwent Park	G. Hewer	942
North Wales Crusaders	36–12	Coventry Bears	6 June 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	C. Worsley	—
Doncaster	46–12	London Skolars	6 June 2021, 15:00	Keepmoat Stadium	J. McMullen	882
Hunslet	36–22	Rochdale Hornets	6 June 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	A. Moore	483
Source:

1. Limited attendances allowed in England under COVID-19 restrictions
2. ^ COVID-19 regulations in Wales did not permit spectator attendance at matches on this date

Round 6

Betfred League 1: round six

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Barrow Raiders	40–4	Rochdale Hornets	12 June 2021, 15:00	Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium	C. Worsley	1,758
London Skolars	10–62	Hunslet	12 June 2021, 15:30	New River Stadium	K. Moore	370
Coventry Bears	12–30	Workington Town	13 June 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	T. Crashley	198
Keighley Cougars	70–12	West Wales Raiders	13 June 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	M. Rossleigh	463
North Wales Crusaders	0–68	Doncaster	13 June 2021, 15:00	Eirias Stadium	J. Vella	—
Source:

1. COVID-19 regulations in Wales did not permit spectator attendance at matches on this date

Round 7

Betfred League 1: round seven

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
West Wales Raiders	10–60	North Wales Crusaders	19 June 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	M. Rossleigh	285
London Skolars	14–24	Barrow Raiders	19 June 2021, 15:30	New River Stadium	J. Vella	391
Workington Town	34–28	Rochdale Hornets	20 June 2021, 14:00	Derwent Park	C. Smith	942
Coventry Bears	24–18	Keighley Cougars	16 July 2021, 20:00	Butts Park Arena	K. Moore	387
Hunslet	18–18	Doncaster	20 June 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	L. Staveley	527
Source:

1. Match original scheduled for 20 June but postponed on 18 June under RFL COVID-19 protocols due to a number of Keighley players either testing positive or being required to self-isolate.

Round 8

Betfred League 1: round eight

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
West Wales Raiders	12–38	Hunslet	26 June 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	C. Smith	100
Barrow Raiders	24–24	Workington Town	27 June 2021, 15:00	Craven Park	T. Crashley	3,146
Coventry Bears	16–34	Doncaster	27 June 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	K. Moore	275
Keighley Cougars	34–22	London Skolars	27 June 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	B. Milligan	548
Rochdale Hornets	38–28	North Wales Crusaders	27 June 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	J. Vella	1,389
Source:

Round 9

Betfred League 1: round nine

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Workington Town	66–0	West Wales Raiders	4 July 2021, 14:00	Derwent Park	L. Bland	942
North Wales Crusaders	34–28	Keighley Cougars	4 July 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	M. Smaill	437
Barrow Raiders	31–6	Doncaster	4 July 2021, 15:00	Craven Park	C. Smith	2,005
Coventry Bears	46–44	Hunslet	4 July 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	B. Milligan	255
Rochdale Hornets	22–4	London Skolars	4 July 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	A. Sweet	1,171
Source:

Round 10

Betfred League 1: round ten

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
West Wales Raiders	18–30	Rochdale Hornets	10 July 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	J. Jones	318
Workington Town	P–P	Coventry Bears	Not rearranged	Derwent Park
Hunslet	24–34	North Wales Crusaders	11 July 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	K. Moore	404
Keighley Cougars	40–12	Barrow Raiders	11 July 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	N. Bennett	572
London Skolars	16–16	Doncaster	16 July 2021, 19:00	New River Stadium	M. Rossleigh	575
Source:

1. Match postponed under RFL COVID-19 protocols due to a number of Workington players either testing positive or having to self-isolate.

Round 11

Betfred League 1: round eleven

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
London Skolars	46–30	West Wales Raiders	24 July 2021, 15:30	New River Stadium	J. Jones	196
Doncaster	P–P	North Wales Crusaders	Not rearranged	Keepmoat Stadium
Barrow Raiders	40–12	Coventry Bears	25 July 2021, 15:00	Craven Park	M. Smaill	1,862
Hunslet	20–20	Keighley Cougars	25 July 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	C. Smith	714
Rochdale Hornets	P–P	Workington Town	Not rearranged	Crown Oil Arena
Source:

1. Match postponed under RFL COVID-19 protocols after Doncaster reported more than seven players isolating.
2. Match postponed under RFL COVID-19 protocols after Rochdale reported more than seven players isolating.

Round 12

Betfred League 1: round twelve

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
London Skolars	12–14	Coventry Bears	31 July 2021, 15:30	New River Stadium	L. Rush	190
Workington Town	P–P	Barrow Raiders	Not rearranged	Derwent Park
Doncaster	24–46	Hunslet	1 August 2021, 14:30	Keepmoat Stadium	M. Rossleigh	1,179
North Wales Crusaders	72–4	West Wales Raiders	1 August 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	J. Vella	610
Rochdale Hornets	20–42	Keighley Cougars	1 August 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	J. Jones	891
Source:

1. Match postponed under COVID-19 protocols after Barrow reported seven or more players required to self-isolated through positive tests or close contacts.

Round 13

Betfred League 1: round thirteen

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
West Wales Raiders	24–24	Doncaster	7 August 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	L. Rush	180
London Skolars	34–38	Rochdale Hornets	7 August 2021, 15:30	New River Stadium	J. Vella	208
Barrow Raiders	40–10	Hunslet	8 August 2021, 15:00	Craven Park	M. Mannifield	1,918
Coventry Bears	16–32	North Wales Crusaders	8 August 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	C. Smith	378
Keighley Cougars	18–22	Workington Town	8 August 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	M. Smaills	774
Source:

Round 14

Betfred League 1: round fourteen

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
West Wales Raiders	24–36	Workington Town	14 August 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	K. Moore	239
North Wales Crusaders	23–10	Barrow Raiders	15 August 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	M. Smaill	727
Hunslet	38–10	London Skolars	15 August 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	C. Worsley	435
Keighley Cougars	46–18	Coventry Bears	15 August 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	L. Staveley	1,028
Rochdale Hornets	44–8	Doncaster	15 August 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	J. Jones	882
Source:

Round 15

Betfred League 1: round fifteen

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
London Skolars	14–34	Keighley Cougars	21 August 2021, 15:00	New River Stadium	L. Bland	228
Workington Town	18–40	North Wales Crusaders	22 August 2021, 14:00	Derwent Park	C. Smith	1,457
Coventry Bears	50–18	West Wales Raiders	22 August 2021, 15:00	Butts Park Arena	M. Smaill	280
Doncaster	26–18	Barrow Raiders	22 August 2021, 15:00	Keepmoat Stadium	K. Moore	1,019
Rochdale Hornets	34–34	Hunslet	22 August 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	L. Rush	822
Source:

Round 16

Betfred League 1: round sixteen

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Barrow Raiders	38–24	London Skolars	28 August 2021, 14:00	Craven Park	L. Rush	1,486
North Wales Crusaders	36–10	Rochdale Hornets	28 August 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	M. Mannifield	617
West Wales Raiders	12–42	Keighley Cougars	28 August 2021, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	J. Jones	267
Doncaster	22–12	Workington Town	29 August 2021, 15:00	Keepmoat Stadium	C. Smith	948
Hunslet	32–30	Coventry Bears	29 August 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	J. Vella	353
Source:

Round 17

Betfred League 1: round seventeen

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
London Skolars	18–35	Workington Town	4 September 2021, 15:30	New River Stadium	A. Sweet	241
Doncaster	18–13	Coventry Bears	5 September 2021, 15:00	Keepmoat Stadium	K. Moore	1,138
Hunslet	82–6	West Wales Raiders	5 September 2021, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	L. Bland	474
Keighley Cougars	34–14	North Wales Crusaders	5 September 2021, 15:00	Cougar Park	L. Staveley	1,327
Rochdale Hornets	30–32	Barrow Raiders	5 September 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	J. Jones	1,064
Source:

Round 18

Betfred League 1: round eighteen

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
North Wales Crusaders	44–0	London Skolars	11 September 2021, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	B. Milligan	560
Barrow Raiders	76–0	West Wales Raiders	11 September 2021, 15:00	Craven Park	J. McMullen	1,922
Workington Town	14–32	Hunslet	12 September 2021, 14:00	Derwent Park	T. Crashley	1,397
Doncaster	26–28	Keighley Cougars	12 September 2021, 14:30	Keepmoat Stadium	M. Mannifield	738
Rochdale Hornets	50–22	Coventry Bears	12 September 2021, 15:00	Crown Oil Arena	M. Smaill	693
Source:

Play-offs

Workington Town, who finished the regular season in second place, advanced straight to the qualifying semi-final in the second week of the play-offs. Teams that finished 3rd to 6th after the regular season played off in qualifying and elimination play-offs respectively. Keighley Cougars defeated North Wales Crusaders in the qualifying play-off and proceeded to the qualifying play-off against Workington Town, where they lost. Doncaster defeated Hunslet in the elimination play-off which resulted in the latter being eliminated from the play-offs. Doncaster then proceeded to defeat North Wales in the elimination semi-final which saw them advance to the preliminary final against Keighley.

Team bracket

	Qualifying play-off					Qualifying semi-final					Preliminary final					Promotion play-off final
						2	Workington Town	18									Workington Town	36
							Keighley Cougars	16									Doncaster	12
	3	North Wales Crusaders	14									Keighley Cougars	26
	4	Keighley Cougars	28			Elimination semi-final						Doncaster	28
							North Wales Crusaders	34
	5	Doncaster	31				Doncaster	48
	6	Hunslet	10

Week 1: Elimination and qualifying play-offs

North Wales Crusaders	14 – 28	Keighley Cougars
	Report

Doncaster	31 – 10	Hunslet
	Report

Week 2: Semi-finals

Workington Town	18 – 16	Keighley Cougars
	Report

1. After golden point extra time

North Wales Crusaders	34 – 48	Doncaster
	Report

Week 3: Preliminary final

Keighley Cougars	26 – 28	Doncaster
	Report

Week 4: Promotion play-off final

Workington Town	36 – 12	Doncaster
	Report

References

1. "Easter return for the Betfred Championship". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
2. "Sky Sports to televise Betfred Championship Play-offs". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
3. Butcher, Tim; Spencer, Daniel, eds. (2021). Rugby League Yearbook 2021-2022. p. 296. ISBN 978-190134740-1.
4. "Betfred League 1: Round one". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3276. 10 May 2021. p. 32.
5. "Betfred League 1: Round two". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3277. 17 May 2021. p. 32.
6. "Coronavirus: Sports fans return as restrictions ease under third step of government road map". Sky Sports. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
7. "Betfred League 1: Round three". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3278. 24 May 2021. p. 36.
8. ^ Butcher, Tim; Spencer, Daniel, eds. (2021). Rugby League Yearbook 2021-2022. pp. 290–297. ISBN 978-190134740-1.
9. "Betfred League 1: Round four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3279. 31 May 2021. p. 39.
10. "Betfred League 1: Round five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3280. 7 June 2021. p. 32.
11. "Betfred League 1: Round six". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3281. 14 June 2021. p. 36.
12. "Betfred League 1 Update - June 18". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
13. "Betfred League 1: Round seven". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3282. 21 June 2021. p. 36.
14. "Betfred League 1: Round seven". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3286. 19 July 2021. p. 36.
15. "Betfred League 1: Round eight". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3283. 28 June 2021. p. 36.
16. "Betfred League 1: Round nine". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3284. 5 July 2021. p. 36.
17. "Workington Town postpones game following positive Covid cases in the squad". ITV News. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
18. "Betfred League 1: Round ten". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3285. 12 July 2021. p. 39.
19. ^ "Betfred League 1 update - July 20". rugby-league.com. RFL. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
20. "Betfred League 1: Round eleven". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3287. 26 July 2021. p. 36.
21. "POSTPONED: Workington Town v Barrow Raiders | Barrow Raiders". Barrow RLFC. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
22. "Betfred League 1: Round twelve". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3288. 2 August 2021. p. 36.
23. "Betfred League 1: Round thirteen". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3289. 9 August 2021. p. 36.
24. "Betfred League 1: Round fourteen". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3290. 16 August 2021. p. 40.
25. "Betfred League 1: Round fifteen". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3291. 23 August 2021. p. 36.
26. "Betfred League 1: Round sixteen". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3292. 30 August 2021. p. 35.
27. "Betfred League 1: Round seventeen". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3293. 6 September 2021. p. 40.
28. "Betfred League 1: Round eighteen". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3294. 13 September 2021. p. 38.
29. "Santi double provides crucial for Cougars". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3295. 20 September 2021. p. 14.
30. "Town on top after late drama". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3296. 27 September 2021. p. 20.
31. "Beharrell's return inspires Dons". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3295. 20 September 2021. p. 14.
32. "Dons hold off Crusaders' comeback". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3296. 27 September 2021. p. 20.
33. "Third Division 2021 - Workington Town - Rugby League Project".

• RFL League One
• 2021 in English rugby league
• 2021 in Welsh rugby league