1989 European Club Challenge

Rugby league match May 2024 1989 European Club Challenge AS Saint-Estève Widnes RLFC FFRXIII RFL STE 16x16px WID Widnes 16 0 6 6 32 28 60 27 May 1989 Stade municipal Fernand-Fournier 1 June 1989 Chemics 88–89 Scorecheck https://www.newspapers.com/image/801823855/ Runcorn Weekly News 29 Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France Man of the Match Rick Thackray Widnes 12 Ray Tennant ENG 350 Screensport EU Keith Macklin UK Gérard Hérens FRA Stefan Heinrich FRG The 1989 European Club Challenge, also promoted as The Champions Cup, was an international rugby league contest pitting RFL champions Widnes RLFC against French representatives AS Saint-Estève. Played on 27 May 1989 in Arles, France, after several delays, the game also served as a European qualifier for the 1989 World Club Challenge. Background World Club Challenge qualifier Anglo-French challenges have been an on-and-off practice since the introduction of the game to France in the mid-1930s. The 1989 incarnation was originally set up as a European qualifier for a World Club Championship against the champions of Australia. At an early stage, the event was projected to take place during the 1988 Christmas holidays in a home-and-home format. 14 April 1988 Now Champs go for Cleal https://www.newspapers.com/image/932896625/ Widnes Weekly News 64 The dates of 1 March and 12 March 1989 were eventually chosen. As the 1988–89 national championships would not yet be decided by March, the participants were the 1987–88 title holders, Widnes RLFC and US Le Pontet XIII. However, due to logistical difficulties involving the intended location of Japan, the WCC was seemingly cancelled in October 1988. 20 October 1988 Widnes aim for Anfield https://www.newspapers.com/image/120547438/ The Sydney Morning Herald 53 Although Widnes initially vouched to go on with the European Challenge regardless, the English club soon lost interest in the lesser continental event, and asked it to be axed so that the dates could be filled with outstanding championship fixtures that had been displaced by Trophy games earlier in the season.Burke David 5 January 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936027415/ Tony signs up Newton Manchester Evening News 70 11 January 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/916878713/ Davies quick to make mark Liverpool Echo 37 This was granted, and both dates were reassigned to a home-and-home against Castleford. 12 January 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/916953321/ Mystery role for ace Davies Liverpool Echo 58 Rescheduling However, the French federation still wished that the ECC be played,McNamara Jack 12 January 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936028965/ Widnes ko Aussie bid Manchester Evening News 79 and the RFL obliged despite Widnes' qualms about costs and schedule overload.Laugton Duggie April 6, 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/933494475 The Enemy Within Widnes Weekly News 48 newspapers.com As a compromise, the contest would now take place in Avignon, France, on 28 May in a single-game format.Burke David 23 March 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936037044 Rugby League Manchester Evening News 79 Widnes were promised that their travel expenditures would be covered by gate revenue, and that they would receive fifty percent of ground advertising. 15 April 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936034543 Wing twins set for stardom Manchester Evening News 11 At the demand of broadcaster Screensport, the game was moved forward one day and rescheduled for 27 May. The information was belatedly relayed to Widnes, aggravating their already disinterested coach Doug Laughton, who unsuccessfully pleaded with management to pull the plug on the event.Jones Phil 25 May 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936050300/ A French farce Manchester Evening News 79 The date change also threw a wrench into the plans of about half of Widnes' 1,200 traveling fans, who were due to arrive on the day of the game.Wilson Paul April 6, 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/717976776/ Saints go shopping for Campese The Independent London 36 newspapers.comMcNamara Jack 5 April 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936047920 Widnes in trip fury Manchester Evening News 59 Some were able to reschedule their trip with the help of local travel agencies. Mid-May, it was announced that the World Club Championship was back on with an October 1989 date. May 18, 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/933496988/ World Club Challenge Widnes Weekly News 28 newspapers.com Le Pontet withdrawal Although the European Club Challenge's new date fell shortly after the conclusion of England and France's 1988–89 championships, it was decided in advance to stick with the original participants, Widnes and Le Pontet, as chosen based on the 1987–88 results. 28 January 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/917106270 Vive le Davies say fans Liverpool Echo 37 While the French representatives were not viewed as a serious threat to any respectable RFL team, Le Pontet's players were preceded by a reputation for unruly behaviour, following several incidents in the later stages of their domestic season. Laughton and referee Ray Tennant warned the Gallic side to curb its temper or there would be little chance of renewing the ECC experiment in subsequent years.Robbie 21 May 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/847455085/ Watch it! Ray and Doug spell it out to the French The People London 39 However, at just three days' notice, Widnes were informed that Le Pontet had decided to withdraw, arguing that they had been victimized by unfair disciplinary rulings during and after their upset loss against St. Estève in the 1989 French championship final. The French federation hastily moved the game from Avignon to Arles, about 25 miles away, and summoned new French champions St. Estève to replace Le Pontet. Widnes manager John Stringer was appalled by the organizational chaos, but vouched to soldier on so as to not disappoint the fans who had booked their trip. Squads Widnes RLFC The lightly regarded event represented an opportunity for some fringe players on the powerhouse English club. Fullback Alan Tait, sidelined with a shoulder injury, was replaced as a starter by David Marsh, a recruit from Blackbrook. Andy Currier and team star Martin Offiah were already in Australia with their summer teams. Brimah Kebbie, who had only played two games with the main team, partly due to injuries, substituted for the latter.Jones Phil 26 May 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936050621/ Rookies' Euro chance Manchester Evening News 79Burke David 27 May 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936050748/ Kebbie aims to grab the glory Manchester Evening News 79 Rick Thackray returned to the line-up after being left off the Premiership final roster. Fullback: David Marsh Threequarters: Rick Thackray, Darren Wright, Jonathan Davies, Brimah Kebbie Halfbacks: Tony Myler (fly-half), Paul Hulme (scrum-half) Forwards: Kurt Sorensen (c), Phil McKenzie, Joe Grima, Mike O'Neill, Emosi Koloto, Richard Eyres Reserves: Derek Pyke, Paul Moriarty, David Smith AS Saint-Estève Saint-Estève's team was also somewhat different than the one that played in French championship final. Fullback: Jean-Philippe Pougeau Threequarters: Hugues Ratier, Brian Coles, Michel Roses, Jean-Luc Tène Halfbacks: Roger Palisses (fly-half), Bruno Castany (scrum-half) Forwards: David Barker, Mathieu Khedimi, Abet Baklouch, Morio Femia, Bernard Cartier, Steve Robinson Reserves: Bernard Guasch, Patrick Alberola, ??? Match #eeeeee AS Saint-Estève 12x12px Widnes RLFC Widnes 12 6–60 Tries: Pougeau Goals: Coles Tries: Thackray (4), Davies (2), Grima (2), Marsh, Moriarty, Kebbie Goals: Davies (5), Kebbie (3) Saturday, 27 May 1989 Stade municipal Fernand-Fournier, Arles 350 Ray Tennant ENG Rick Thackray Widnes 12 Summary The game was an altogether lopsided affair, reflecting the loss of stature of French rugby league during the 1970s and 1980s. Widnes' first 22 points were scored by only two players, Rick Thackray and prized union recruit Jonathan Davies. Brimah Kebbie and Paul Moriarty, less successful union defectors who had struggled to establish themselves with the team, also seized their chance. Kebbie, who had not played since 14 December, made the most of the opportunity, and earned kudos from coach Laughton, despite not playing on his favorite wing. 1 June 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/933497863 Kings of Europe! But it's too easy for wonderful Widnes Widnes Weekly News 30–31 Moriarty scored his first try with the team. Youngster David Marsh also got in on the action at the 25th minute, chasing a long kick from Tony Myler for a try of his own. As St. Estève was already lagging by 54 points, the French team got a consolation try, with Jean-Philippe Pougeau capping a long counterattack following a scrum with seven minutes to go. It was converted by Australian Brian Coles. Post match The championship trophy was handed to Widnes captain Kurt Sorensen by French rugby league federation president Jean-Paul Verdaguer.Mitchell, Colin (producer); Macklin, Keith (English play-by-play) The Champions' Cup: Saint-Estève v Widnes sports broadcast en June 1989 Screensport; The European Sports Network1:20:25 Two busses of Widnes fans who had gotten lost arrived as the trophy presentation was in progress, while a further 200 missed their ferry back in England.1 June 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/933497685 130 fans miss game after 27-hour trip Widnes News 1, 32 The game's impromptu relocation led to an embarrassing attendance, with a handful of locals and the few English fans that made it combining for a crowd as small as 350.Fletcher Raymond Howes David 1989 https://archive.org/details/rothmansrugbylea0000unse/page/180/mode/2up Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1989–90 London Queen Anne Press 181 0356178501 The Manchester Evening News summed up the experience as a "French fiasco".Burke David 10 June 1989 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936048235 Fans miss that French fiasco Manchester Evening News 9 St. Estève coach Jacques Jorda was gracious in defeat, saying after the game that Widnes was better than Team Great Britain. Widnes' veteran prop Mike O'Neill struggled to find anything positive to say about the opposition, assessing that Saint-Estève was "only a little better than you see in amateur rugby league at home." Following the lopsided display, it was accepted that the French league had fallen too far behind professional standards, and that no representative of the country was likely to receive consideration for future World Club Challenges. Laughton assessed: "Unless the French get their act together, this competition has no chance of surviving." References Category:World Club Challenge Category:Widnes Vikings matches Category:1989 in English rugby league Category:1989 rugby league matches European Club Challenge