1935 Match of Champions

{{Infobox rugby league football match |year = 1935 |title = Match of Champions |image = |imagesize = 250px |caption = |alt = |home = |away = |home_abbr = VIL {{leagueicon|villeneuve|12}} |away_abbr = SWI {{leagueicon|Swinton|12}} |home_half1 = 9 |home_half2 = 16 |home_total = 25 |away_half1 = 11 |away_half2 = 16 |away_total = 27 |date = 19 May 1935<ref name="auto-18may35">{{cite news |author= |date=18 May 1935 | url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46348462/f3.item | title=Swinton, Champion d'Angleterre, et Villeneuve, Champion de France, joueront demain, à Bordeaux |newspaper=L'Auto |location=Paris |page=3 | language=fr}}</ref> |location = Talence, Gironde, France |MoM = |referee = Albert Dupouy<ref name="dep-22may35"/> |attendance = 15,000<ref name="jour-20may35">{{cite news |author= |date=20 May 1935 |title=Rugby à 13 : Par deux points, Swinton a battu les Villeneuvois |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/le-jour/20-mai-1935/1125/2993889/8 |newspaper=Le Jour |location=Paris |page=8}}</ref> |stadium = Parc de Suzon<ref name="auto-18may35"/> |network = n/a }} The '''1935 Match of Champions''' was a single-game rugby league football contest pitting Rugby Football League champions Swinton RLFC against French champions SA Villeneuvois of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. It took place in the Bordeaux suburb of Talence on 19 May 1935, shortly after their respective domestic wins.

==Background== The Rugby Football League of England played an active role in the introduction of its code to France, and was eager to support its fledgling equivalent, the Ligue de Rugby à XIII, by agreeing to many Anglo-French fixtures, which served as both teaching tools and promotional vehicles for the game thanks to the longstanding rivalry between the two countries. A grand final between the national champions of both countries was considered as soon as both organizations started working together on the 1934–35 schedule in May 1934.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=18 May 1934 | url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k32642101/f2.item | title=Les 'treize' s'organisent |newspaper=France Olympique |location=Toulouse |page=2 | language=fr}}</ref> The date of the game was announced as part of the season's provisional schedule in late August 1934.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=30 August 1934 |title=Nouvelles de partout : Rugby |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k821668b/f5.item |newspaper=Le Populaire |location= |page=5 | language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=F.A. Marsh |date=1 September 1934 |title=Rugby League Men and Matters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/940595607/ |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |page=4}}</ref> A game between French Cup winners US Lyon-Villeurbanne and Challenge Cup winners Castleford RLFC was also organized on 12 May in the Paris suburb of Montrouge.<ref name="ath-15may35">{{cite magazine |author= |date=15 May 1935 |title=La grande recontre 'd'équipe' de la saison : Swinton, Champion d'Angleterre contre Villeneuve, Champion de France |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k45585848/f4.item.zoom |magazine=L'Athlète moderne |location=Bordeaux |issue=940 |page=4}}</ref> Before both were assigned to French cities, each contest was planned to alternate between a French and a British host.<ref name="auto-29may34">{{cite news |author= |date=29 May 1934 |title=Quelques précisions au sujet des rencontres franco-anglaises de la saison prochaine |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634493b/f4.item |newspaper=L'Auto |location=Paris |page=4}}</ref>

Swinton RLFC, which had already expressed their intent to participate prior to their domestic championship game,<ref name="mec-20apr35">{{cite news |author= |date=20 April 1935 |title=Swinton and France |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/930724573 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Manchester |page=1 | language=fr}}</ref> finalized playing arrangements on May 14, and left Manchester for France on May 17. Their contract stipulated that they would receive no share of the games' proceeds, other than the reimbursement of their expenses.<ref name="mec-14may35">{{cite news |author= |date=14 May 1935 |title=Swinton's Tour to Leave France on Wednesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/930727665/ |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Manchester |page=1 | language=fr}}</ref> The touring party consisted of three executives, a secretary, a trainer and 16 players, including three alternates named as Th. Holland (scrum-half), S. Woodall (second row) and John Stoddart (front row).<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=23 May 1935 |title=Swinton contre Pau 13 |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5271387p/f4.item |newspaper=L'Indépendant des Pyrénéées |location=Pau |page=3 | language=fr}}</ref> Villeneuve presented its best possible lineup for the game.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=17 May 1935 |title=Swinton, champion d'Angleterre rencontre Villeneuve, champion de France, dimanche à Bordeaux |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3264311s/f1.item |newspaper=France Olympique |location=Toulouse |page=1 | language=fr}}</ref> As they were already assured of the French title (which was then decided by a regular season only), Villeneuve stars Max Rousié and Jean Galia opted to sit out their final championship game the previous week against Bordeaux, which resulted in a loss.<ref>{{cite news |author=E.B.|date=18 May 1935 |title=A Bordeaux les champions s'affrontent |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/le-jour/18-mai-1935/1125/2993895/8 |newspaper=Le Jour |location=Paris |page=8 | language=fr}}</ref> It was particularly crucial to Rousié, who was still limited by the same knee injury that had caused him kept him to miss Team France's Jubilee Game against Great Britain.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=14 May 1935 |title='Je crois que je pourrai jouer le 19' nous dit Max Rousié |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634842d/f6.item |newspaper=L'Auto |location=Paris |page=4 | language=fr}}</ref>

Following the French representatives' encouraging showings in the Jubilee Match and the Cup Winners' Match, a win was considered a real possibility by the press,<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=19 May 1935 |title=Champion de France contre Champion d'Angleterre : Villeneuve battra-t-il Swinton ? |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-petite-gironde/19-mai-1935/241/2008171/2 |newspaper=La Petite Gironde |location=Bordeaux |page=2 | language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=17 May 1935 |title=Champions de France et d'Angleterre dimanche prochain à Bordeaux |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634845n/f4.item |newspaper=L'Auto |location=Paris |page=4 | language=fr}}</ref> although it was noted that Villeneuve had looked fatigued in the final stretch of the domestic season.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=19 May 1935 |title=Les champions de la Rugby League à Bordeaux |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137935b/f5.item |newspaper=La Dépêche |location=Toulouse |page=4 | language=fr}}</ref> In the UK, the ''Manchester Evening Chronicle'' thought that Swinton had a good chance of prevailing, but noted that their workmanlike style had left many observers unimpressed.<ref name="mec-20apr35"/> Tickets were priced between 8 and 15 francs according to one source,<ref name="ath-15may35"/> and between 5 and 13.25 francs according to another.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=19 May 1935 |title=Swinton, Champion d'Angleterre contre Villeneuve, Champion de France |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-france-de-bordeaux-et-du-sud-ouest/19-mai-1935/1113/4431045/2 |newspaper=La France de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest |page=2 | language=fr}}</ref> The event proved a massive success at the gate, and Parc de Suzon was too small to satisfy public demand.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=20 May 1935 |title=Sinton le meilleur : Il a battu Villeneuve à Bordeaux par 27 à 25 |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7640722z/f10.item.zoom |newspaper=Paris-soir |page=10 | language=fr}}</ref>

==Game summary== The game was a prolific affair. The scoring started almost immediately with a 50-metre penalty kick by Rousié,<ref name="gaz-20may35">{{cite news |author= |date=20 May 1935 |title=Swinton F.C. Champion d'Angleterre, bat Villeneuve, Champion de France, par 25 pts à 7. |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-gazette-de-biarritz-bayonne-et-saint-jean-de-luz/20-mai-1935/695/2307423/4 |newspaper=La Gazette de Bayonne, du Pays basque et des Landes |location=Biarritz |page=4 | language=fr}}</ref> but the pace picked up even further in the second, with both teams scoring four tries each.<ref name="auto-20may35">{{cite news |last=Bardet |first=O. |date=20 May 1935 | url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634848w/f5.item | title=Entre champions : Villeneuve a succombé de justesse devant Swinton |newspaper=L'Auto |location=Paris |page=5 | language=fr}}</ref> While the contest was close and ultimately decided by a single penalty kick in the first, the scoreline was somewhat flattering for the French, who were outplayed most of the time, especially in scrums.<ref name="gaz-20may35"/><ref name="fra-20may35">{{cite news |last1=Dumail |first1=J. |date=20 May 1935 | url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-france-de-bordeaux-et-du-sud-ouest/20-mai-1935/1113/4431547/6 | title=Match international : A Bordeaux-Suzon – Swinton bat Villeneuve par 27 points à 25 | newspaper=La France de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest |page=6 |language=fr }}</ref> Hodgson's second-period try, an almost coast-to-coast effort that started behind the Brittons' 22-metre line, and only took seven or eight passes to move the ball all the way up the field, was revelatory of the true difference in class between the two teams, and some were underwhelmed by Villeneuve's performance.<ref name="fra-20may35"/> Hodgson shone for the Brittons, while Daffis was deemed to have been Villeneuve's best player.<ref name="gaz-20may35"/><ref name="ath-22may35">{{cite news |last=Gibert |first=Jean |date=22 May 1935 | url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4558585p/f4.item | title=Champion d'Angleterre contre Champion de France à Suzon : Swinton F.C. bat Villeneuve XIII |newspaper=L'Athlète moderne |location=Bordeaux |pages=4 | language=fr}}</ref> French teammate and star Jean Galia was injured during the game.<ref name="fra-20may35"/>

===Incident=== Just like in the Cup Winners' Match held in Paris one week prior,<ref>{{cite news |last=De Lascoumettes |first=Jean |date=14 May 1935 | url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7947454/f6.item | title=Après le match Lyon–Castleford, petite supplique au public |newspaper=L'Intransigeant |location=Paris |page=6 | language=fr}}</ref> the French representative's narrow defeat, possibly exacerbated by a misunderstanding of the new code's offside rules, inflamed the public's frustration.<ref name="ath-22may35"/> The referee was blamed for awarding a disputed try to Swinton, and denying one to Villeneuve.<ref name="auto-20may35"/> Although, unlike in the Paris, lead official Albert Dupouy was French and a former union international, this did not do anything to pacify the crowd, who invaded the field at the end of the game, and attempted to assault him.<ref name="dep-22may35">{{cite news |last=Lery |first=O. |date=22 May 1935 | url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137938k/f4.item | title=Propos du mercredi : Haro sur l'arbitre ! |newspaper=La Dépêche |location=Toulouse |pages=4 | language=fr}}</ref> He had to be escorted back to his locker room under the protection of the police.<ref name="gaz-20may35"/>

==Match details== {{rugbyleaguebox | bg = #eeeeee | date = 19 May 1935 | time = 15:30<ref name="auto-18may35"/> | team1 = {{leagueicon|villeneuve|12}} SA Villeneuvois | score = 25–27 | report = | team2 = {{leagueicon|Swinton|12}} Swinton RLFC | try1 = Cougnenc, Puyuelo (2), Daffis, Camo | goal1 = Rousié [2 uncredited conversions in 2nd half] '''Penalty:''' Rousié (2) | drop1 = | try2 = Buckingham (2), Hodgson, Shaw, Wright | goal2 = Hodgson [2 uncredited conversions in 2nd half] '''Penalty:''' Hodgson (3) | drop2 = | stadium = Parc de Suzon<ref name="auto-18may35"/> | attendance =15,000<ref name="jour-20may35"/> | referee = Albert Dupouy<ref name="dep-22may35"/> | manofmatch = }}

===SA Villeneuvois=== '''Fullback:''' Marius Guiral '''Threequarters:''' Ernest Camo, Étienne Cougnenc, Max Rousié, ? Dazenières '''Halfbacks:''' Georges Lhespitaou (fly-half), Pierre Brinsolles (scrum-half) '''Forwards:''' Maurice Laffargue (lock), Jean Galia, Antoine Puyuelo (second row), Jean Daffis, Maurice Porra, Jean Barrès (front row)

===Swinton RLFC=== '''Fullback:''' Bob Scott '''Threequarters:''' Frank Buckingham, Arthur Hickman, Harold Evens, W. Shaw '''Halfbacks:''' R. Green (fly-half), Bryn Evans (scrum half) '''Forwards:''' James Sullivan (lock), Fred Butters, Martin Hodgson (second row), Gomer Hughes, Tom Armitt, Joe Wright (front row)

==Swinton tour of France== Contrary to Castleford's visit, which consisted of a standalone fixture, Swinton's visit was turned into a four-game tour. Following the unification game, they followed with three exhibition fixtures. The Mancunians' trip was planned to run concurrently with a second French tour by Leeds RLFC.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=10 May 1935 |title='Nous comptons sur la venue de grandes équipes anglaises' |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634838h/f4.item |newspaper=L'Auto |location=Paris |page= | language=fr}}</ref> However, Leeds cancelled their appearance<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=15 May 1935 |title=Chez les Treize : Leeds ne viendra pas |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k53920907/f6.item |newspaper=L'Express du Midi |location=Toulouse |page=6 | language=fr}}</ref> (they would reschedule one at the start of the following season), and the two tours were condensed into one.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=19 May 1935 |title=Rugby-treize : Champion d'Angleterre contre champion de France |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k794750k/f6.item.zoom |newspaper=L'Intransigeant |location=Paris |page=6 | language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=19 May 1935 |title=Un match international à Nantes |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137935b/f5.item |newspaper=La Dépêche |location=Toulouse |page=4 | language=fr}}</ref> Despite Swinton not receiving payment for their participation, host club Pau XIII found the fee charged by the French Rugby League to book the English tourists quite taxing on their finances.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=21 May 1935 |title=Swinton, champion d'Angleterre de Rugby League 1935 contre Pau XIII |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5271385v/f6.item |newspaper=L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées |location=Pau |page=6 | language=fr}}</ref> The match against the South France selects was originally scheduled to take place in Toulouse,<ref name="mec-14may35"/> before the hosting rights were picked up by a cycling club in Cognac, whose federation was typically much more accommodating to the new code than those representing rugby union and association football.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=19 May 1936 |title=Grand match international de rugby à treize à Cognac |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46636909/f2.item |newspaper=La Charente |location=Angoulème |page=2 | language=fr}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; width:100%;" |- !Date!! Opponent !! Venue!! Score |- |24 May||Pau XIII||Stade Bourbaki, Pau, Basses-Pyrénées|| 19–8 |- |26 May||South West France selects||Vélodrome Petit-Breton, Nantes, Loire-Atlantique<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=25 May 1935 |title=Grand match international à Nantes, Swinton, champion d'Angleterre, demain après-midi, contre Sélection du Sud-Ouest |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k625917v/f10.item |newspaper=L'Ouest-Éclair |location=Nantes |page=10 | language=fr}}</ref>|| 14–6 |- |30 May||South France selects||Vélodrome, Cognac, Charente|| 29–22<ref>{{cite magazine |author= |date=17 August 1935 |title=English Finance: Healthy League Coffers |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-647257995/view?sectionId=nla.obj-652085076&partId=nla.obj-647273499#page/n3/mode/1up |magazine=Rugby League News |location=Sydney |publisher= |volume=16 |issue=20 |page=2}}</ref> |}

==Cancelled 1936 Match== The contest was originally supposed to be an annual event, featuring the current champions of France and England.<ref name="auto-29may34"/> Contrary to the inaugural match, whose scheduling was agreed upon early on, the date of the 1936 edition was apparently not chosen until late into the season,<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=10 April 1936 |title=Chronique de L'Enervé |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3264377j/f2.item |newspaper=France Olympique |location=Toulouse |page=2 | language=fr}}</ref> when a 10 May date was announced.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=15 April 1936 |title=C'est à un véritable exode des Villeneuvois vers Bordeaux qu'on assistera dimanche |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4629498p/f4.item |newspaper=L'Auto |location=Paris |page=4 | language=fr}}</ref> However, the contest could not take place on that day, due to the postponement of the NRFL Championship's elimination rounds, which caused the final to be moved from 2 May to 9 May.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=11 March 1936 |title=R.L. Fixtures: Re-arrangement for matches fixed for Cup Final day |url= |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily News |page= | quote =At a meeting of the Rugby League Management Committee in Leeds this afternoon, it was decided to play the League match down for decision on April 18—the date of the R.L. Cup Final at Wembley—on April 25. It was also decided to play the League Semi-Finals on May 2 and the League Final on May 9.}}</ref> The 10 May date was filled by a contest between the winner of the French Cup (Côte Basque) and the winner of the French championship (XIII Catalan), which was played in Perpignan and won by the former by a score of 16–15.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=11 May 1936 | url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4189031k/f3.item | title=La Côte Basque a battu le XIII Catalan |newspaper=Le Petit méridional |location=Montpellier |pages=3 | language=fr}}</ref>

To accommodate the English delay, XIII Catalan adjusted their schedule, extending a new offer to the last two teams in the running for the RFL title, Widnes RLFC and Hull FC, for 17 May.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=5 May 1936 |title=Rugby League Finalists: French Offers to Widnes and Hull |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/891002616/ |newspaper=Daily Post |location=Liverpool |page=14}}</ref> Contemporary British press indicates that Widnes accepted the challenge two days prior to the final, win or lose. The financial conditions offered by the French were described as less than enticing, but the allure of a journey to France convinced the Widnes players to commit anyway.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=8 May 1936 |title=Widnes to Tour France: Sporting Gesture |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/806031491 |newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News |page=1}}</ref> Widnes also entered talks with Côte Basque and Bordeaux to play exhibitions on their grounds and extend the trip into a one-week tour.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=5 May 1936 |title=Bee's Notes On Sports |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/797028444 |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |page=10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Peel |first=John |date=7 May 1936 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/891002914/ | title=World of Sport: Widnes's Chances in the final |newspaper=Daily post |location=Liverpool |page=13 | language=fr}}</ref> Following their loss in the championship final, the unification game against XIII Catalan was dropped from the program, and Widnes' tour of France proceeded purely as an exhibition affair.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=8 May 1936 |title=The French Tour: Full Itinerary - Party Leaves To-day for France |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/806031491 |newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News |page=1}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Defunct rugby league competitions Category:Rugby league competitions in France Category:Rugby league competitions in the United Kingdom Match of Champions