Newport were forced to make 9 changes from the team that played the All Blacks with 7 players dropping
out through illness or injury . Robin Williams (knee), Gareth Talbot (thigh), David Rogers (shoulder),
Gerwyn Williams (ankle), Jeff Watkins (knee), John Jeffrey (gastric flu) and Paul Watts (hand. On top of
this Newport?s jerseys went astray and they were forced to wait for the ?United?s? jerseys to be sent from
their game played locally. One the delayed game got underway Newports cup hopes were soon dashed
by a powerful and resilient Swansea side. Although Swansea were reduced to 14 men in the 2nd half,
they piled on the pressure. Without detracting from Swansea's 2nd half performance, it was expecting
too much for a Newport victory but they did take the game to Swansea in 1st half and led at the interval
by a Clive Jenkins drop goal.
In the 2nd half Newport?s effort began to weaken, and Swansea despite being without centre Arwel Rees
who went off with a leg injury took command. Geoff Wheel and Mervyn Davies were powerful figures in
the Swansea pack and Darryl Cole was an incisive runner. Swansea ran away with the game and won
comfortably 24 - 3.