# 2021 RFL League 1 results

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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ Matches played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions

### Round 2

Betfred League 1: round two :
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ Matches played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions

### Round 3

Betfred League 1: round three :
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ Limited attendances allowed but by home fans only.
* ↑ Match played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions

### Round 4

Betfred League 1: round four :
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ Limited attendances allowed in England under COVID-19 restrictions
* ↑ 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ Limited attendances allowed in England under COVID-19 restrictions
* 1 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ Match postponed under RFL COVID-19 protocols after Doncaster reported more than seven players isolating.
* ↑ 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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: |||||||
* ↑ 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | 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 play-off | Qualifying play-off | Qualifying semi-final | Qualifying semi-final | Qualifying semi-final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Promotion play-off 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 | Elimination semi-final | Elimination semi-final | Doncaster | 28 | | |
| | | | | North Wales Crusaders | 34 | | | | |
| 5 | Doncaster | 31 | | Doncaster | 48 | | | | |
| 6 | Hunslet | 10 | | | | | | | |

### Week 1: Elimination and qualifying play-offs

* 18 September 2021 18:30 BST (UTC+01)
| North Wales Crusaders | 14 – 28 | Keighley Cougars |
| | Report | |
* Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay Attendance: 488 Referee: Michael Smaill
* 19 September 2021 16:00 BST (UTC+01)
| Doncaster | 31 – 10 | Hunslet |
| | Report | |
* Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster Attendance: 547 Referee: Nick Bennett

### Week 2: Semi-finals

* 26 September 2021 14:00 BST (UTC+01)
| Workington Town | 18 – 16 | Keighley Cougars |
| | Report | |
* Derwent Park, Workington Attendance: 1,221 Referee: Marcus Griffiths
* ↑ After golden point extra time
* 26 September 2021 16:30 BST (UTC+01)
| North Wales Crusaders | 34 – 48 | Doncaster |
| | Report | |
* Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay Attendance: 432 Referee: Tom Grant

### Week 3: Preliminary final

* 3 October 2021 15:00 BST (UTC+01)
| Keighley Cougars | 26 – 28 | Doncaster |
| | Report | |
* Cougar Park, Keighley Attendance: 1,128 Referee: Tom Grant

### Week 4: Promotion play-off final

* 10 October 2021 13:00 BST (UTC+01)
| Workington Town | 36 – 12 | Doncaster |
| | Report | |
* Derwent Park, Workington Attendance: 2,997 Referee: Tom Grant