1935 French Rugby League Cup final

1935 French Rugby League Cup final 250px lyon 12 LYO catalans 12 CAT 7 15 22 7 0 7 5 May 1935 Toulouse, Haute-Garonne Albert Dupouy 6,000 7 May 1935 Lyon-Villeurbanne enlève la Coupe de France de rugby à treize https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k958444c/f12.image.r À la page Paris Bonne Presse 268 13 Stade Jacques-Thomas n/a The 1935 French Rugby League Cup final was the inaugural final of the French Rugby League Cup (French: Coupe de France de Rugby à XIII), the country's original and premier knockout competition for the sport of rugby league football. It took place on 5 May 1935, at Stade Jacques-Thomas in Toulouse. Pre-game Venue selection Early into the season, newspaper Paris-soir relayed information from French league secretary Maurice Blein, suggesting that the final of the 1934-35 French Rugby League Cup could be hosted in Paris.Villetan Géo 20 September 1934 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k76381705/f4.item Saison à 'treize' Paris-soir 4 fr By early 1935, it was widely being reported that the final would be taking place in Toulouse, a crucial market for French rugby, whose control could reshape the balance of power between the two codes.A.T. 6 February 1935 Une importante réunion des présidents de clubs à treize https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137834k/f5.item La Dépêche Toulouse 5 frBioussa L.C. 6 February 1935 https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-gazette-de-biarritz-bayonne-et-saint-jean-de-luz/06-fevrier-1935/695/2307293/4 Une importante réunion des présidents de clubs à Treize à Toulouse La Gazette de Bayonne, du Pays basqque et des Landes Biarritz 4 fr and sports daily L'Auto posited that it would "likely not take place in Paris". After Lyon-Villeurbanne qualified for the final, its president Joseph Pansera claimed that his stadium offered better amenities and revenue prospects than Stade Jacques-Thomas, the only league-friendly venue in Toulouse, and that XIII Catalan had agreed to play in Villeurbanne. 25 April 1935 La finale de la Coupe des Treize à Villeurbanne https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7640697b/f4.item.r Paris-soir 4 Again, Paris-soir called the Villeurbanne move a done deal. But other papers printed a rebuke by the league, saying that neither Paris nor Villeurbanne had ever had been under serious consideration, and that only Bordeaux—where earlier games had drawn large crowds—would be considered as a possible alternative to Toulouse. 27 April 1935 26 April 1935 La finale de la Coupe de France se jouera à Toulouse ou à Bordeaux https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k41379145/f3.item La Dépêche Toulouse 3 fr 26 April 1935 La finale de la coupe : On jouera certainement à Bordeaux ou à Toulouse https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634824g/f4.item.r L'Auto-vélo Paris 4 Following much speculation, the league upheld its decision, and on 30 April ordered both teams to play in Toulouse.Busquet Marcel 3 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3264307w/f1.item Finale de la Coupe de France de rugby à treize : Lyon contre Perpignan France Olympique Toulouse 1–2 fr Possible date change In April, the French league was called upon by the RFL to send the French national team to Leeds on 6 May for a game against an England and Wales select squad, organized in honor of King George V's Silver Jubilee. 13 April 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634811v/f4.item Lyon contre Villeneuve en demi-finale de la Coupe de France L'Auto Paris 4 fr It was initially announced that the French Cup final would be moved one week earlier, on 28 April, to present the best possible roster for the event.Philippoff Daniel 15 April 1935 L'équipe de France ira à Leeds et rencontrera ensuite les Dominions https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634813p/f8.item L'Auto Paris 6 fr but this was quickly rescinded. Galia expressed interest in postponing the final, but this did not come to pass either,Ancel Alex 30 April 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k76407026/f4.item Galia modifie Paris-soir 4 fr possibly to avoid going head-to-head with the final of the French Rugby Union Championship, which was played at Toulouse's Stade des Ponts Jumeaux the following weekend.Villetan Géo 1 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7640703m/f4.item Toulouse ville des finales Paris-soir 4 fr The Cup final kept its original 5 May date and the Team France traveled without players from the two finalist clubs. 18 April 1935 A Leeds, on se passera bien des finalistes de la Coupe, estime Jean Galia https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634816x/f4.item L'Auto Paris 4 fr Both teams arrived in Toulouse by train in the evening of the day before the final.Bioussa L.C. https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-petite-gironde/06-mai-1935/241/1396241/4 Confirmant sa grande classe de 'fin de saison', Lyon-Villeurbanne a enlevé la Coupe de France en triomphant nettement de Perpignan La petite Gironde Bordeaux 4 fr Weather disruption On the eve of the game, the roof protecting the main stands was torn off by wind bursts, and torrential rains poured over the city for a large part of game day, offering less than enticing conditions to prospective attendees.Bioussa L.C. 6 May 1935 Le rugby à treize a un champion: Aux Lyonnais la Coupe de France https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7640708p/f11.item Paris-soir 11 Tickets cost between 5 and 15 francs apiece, but some who had booked at the higher price to be seated under a roof filed complaints when they found it gone. Members of the press were also left to work under the rain.Bioussa L.C. 7 May 1935 Supérieurs aux Catalans dans toutes leurs lignes, les Lyonnais gagnent la Coupe de France https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k32643089/f1.item.r France Olympique Toulouse 1–2 fr Curtain raiser At 13:15, Stade Jacques-Thomas' resident organization Gallia Club de Toulouse (not relation with Jean Galia), recent converts to rugby league who were not participating in the championship, played an exhibition against a team from Espéraza as a curtain raiser to the final. 5 May 1935 Rugby à XIII https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k41379219/f6.item.r La Dépêche Toulouse 6 fr The Espéraza squad featured several defectors from the nearby US Quillan union club that had been at the center of a shamateurism controversy a few years earlier, and of which several French league pioneers were alumni. Gallia Club won by a score of 35–0. 6 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137922q/f8.item Le Gallia bat Espéraza La Dépêche Toulouse 8 fr Game summary Like the semifinal played on the same ground, the final was refereed by retired union international Albert Dupouy of Bordeaux,Vidal J. 5 May 1935 Qui, de Lyon ou Perpignan, gagnera la Coupe de France de rugby à treize? La Dépêche Toulouse 4 fr although his officiating was looser in the climactic game. Despite not being announced on the pre-game roster, René Barnoud was inserted in the middle of Lyon's threequarter line, while Lucien Lafond, who was previously assigned to the position, was moved to the forward lines.Borios R. 7 May 1935 Aux Lyonnais la Coupe de France de rugby-XIII https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6130259k/f14.item Match Paris L'Intransigeant 456 14 The game started at a breakneck pace. XIII Catalan put on 7 points in the opening eight minutes. They notched a penalty kick by François Noguères right at the start of the game, followed by a try from Jean Azais. The conversion attempt failed, and they narrowly missed on a second try by Aimé Barde, but Noguères kicked a 35-metre drop from a narrow angle soon after. That would be all the offensive success they would get for the entire game. Lyon opened their scoring 17 minutes in via a Robert Samatan try, which was converted, followed by a drop kick from Henri Marty at the 25th minute, which brought the score to a 7–7 tie. The rest of the first period and the initial part of the second saw Lyon assert their dominance, with sporadic counterattacks by the Catalans.Lasserre Albert 6 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137922q/f8.item Après un très beau match, les Lyonnais gagnent la Coupe de France de rugby-13. La Dépêche Toulouse 8 fr However, they had to wait until the 60th minute to break through. Barbazanges started an offensive rush at the 50 metre line, then passed to Laurent Lambert for slick corner try, which was converted. In the final eight minutes, Lyon provided another offensive flourish with tries by Amila and Barnoud, both converted, sealing the score at a hefty 22–7.Serres J. 6 May 1935 Rugby à treize : Les Lyonnais inscrivent leur nom sur la Coupe de France de néo-rugby https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-france-de-bordeaux-et-du-sud-ouest/06-mai-1935/1113/4431301/5 La France de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest Bordeaux 5 fr Outside of Perpignan's early push, pre-game favorites Lyon dominated the action. Despite being overmatched, the Catalans' forward pack earned praised for its tenacity, especially Gilbert Ponramon. 7 May 1935 Le rugby à 13 : La Coupe de France https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5271373n/f4.item.r L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées Pau 4 But its offense was no match for Lyon's, especially their most talented player Robert Samatan, who found vindication on Toulouse soil, a few years after his falling out with rugby union's Stade Toulousain, where he had been forbidden from playing at his preferred position. The play was quite rough in the second half, with XIII Catalan suffering the brunt of it, successively losing top offensive contributor François Noguères, Roger Ramis and Aimé Barde for significant chunks of the game. Lyon's Lucien Lafond was expelled for his hit on Barde. The game received moderately positive reviews, largely due to Lyon's quality roster, but the standard of play was somewhat compromised by the heavy rain. Match details #eeeeee 5 May 1935 15:00 lyon 12 US Lyon-Villeurbanne 22–7 catalans 12 XIII Catalan Samatan, Lambert, Amila, Barnoud Barnoud (4) Penalty: Amila Marty Azais n/a Penalty: Noguères Noguères Stade Jacques-Thomas, Toulouse 6,000 Albert Dupouy Rosters US Lyon-Villeurbanne Fullback: Henri Marty Threequarters: René Barnoud, Antonin Barbazanges, Gaston Amila, Laurent Lambert Halfbacks: Robert Samatan (fly-half), Charles Mathon (scrum-half) Forwards: Gustave Genevet (lock), Joseph Griffard, Joseph Perrin (second row), ? Barcella or Lucien Lafond, Auguste Anclades or Lucien Lafond, Paul Piany or Lucien Lafond (front row) XIII Catalan Fullback: Jean Cassagneau Threequarters: Aimé Barde, François Noguères, Roger Ramis, Jean Azaïs Halfbacks: Serre Martin (fly-half), Philippe Ascola (scrum-half) Forwards: Gilbert Ponramon (lock), André Bruzy, Octave Triquera (second row), Georges Fontvieille, François Forma, Louis Sayrou (front row) Game against Challenge Cup winners 1935 Cup Winners' Match Thanks to cooperation between the French and English leagues, both French Cup and English Challenge Cup finals took place on the same weekend and, to support the new French tournament, it was decided that the Challenge Cup winners would travel to metro Paris the following weekend to face their gallic counterparts in a special unification game. The RFL representative, Castleford, narrowly beat Lyon-Villeurbanne by a score of 24–21. It is prior to that game, rather than directly after the Coupe de France final, that RFL representatives handed over to the French the trophy that would become the emblem of their main knockout competition, the Lord Derby Cup.De Lascoumettes Jean 14 May 1935 Castleford bat Lyon-Villeurbanne en rugby-treize https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k61302622/f15.image.r Match Paris 457 15 frBardet O. 13 May 1935 Castleford a éprouvé une peine infinie à vaincre l'US Lyon-Villeurbanne L'Auto Paris 4 fr References Category:Rugby league competitions in France Category:European rugby league competitions