"Editorial . . ."
"To reach the third round of the Welsh Challenge Cup against Newport this afternoon Swansea had to dispose of Taffs Well. This they did by 13 points to 6, but what a courageous display the village team gave under the inspired leadership of Elwyn Williams. It was a day Taffs Well will remember for many a year, when they captured the glory but not victory. Newport on the other hand had no great difficulty in beating Burry Port at Rodney Parade."
"Newport opened the Season in disastrous fashion and were struggling to find their form for many weeks. They are now firmly back on the road to recovery due to some powerful displays by their pack. They had a run of five successive wins including Harlequins, Ebbw Vale, Watsonians and a resounding 39 points to 9 victory over Moseiey."
"The Newport captain is back row forward Geoff Evans and with him in a strong pack are two expert line out jumpers in Lyn Jones, and Jeff Watkins who was a reserve in last Saturdays Welsh Trial. A newcomer to the Newport pack this season is prop forward Rhys Williams who has turned out to be a more than useful goal kicker. The back division has also been strengthened by the inclusion of college students Clive Jenkins and David Burcher, but the most valuable acquisition is at full back where Ritchie Pugh is a prolific points scorer."
"Swansea were well represented at the first Welsh Trial by Phil Llewellyn, Geoff Wheel and Mervyn Davies in the Probables, and Roger Blyth and Barry Clegg in the Possibles with Roger having the personal satisfaction of scoring eleven of his sides twenty two points."
"The Australian Secondary Schools are making their first international tour of Great Britain. They played Wales at the National Stadium on December 19 and were winners by 18 points to 12. In the Welsh side was Swansea boy John Schropfer of Penlan School who played at left centre and was responsible for scoring the only try the Welsh boys were able to gain."
"GLAN LEWIS"
The match itself:-
Although beaten 6 v 0 at St Helens, Newport were the better side. The forwards rose to the occasion magnificently and but for an indifferent display by the backs and the complete failure of place kickers Richie Pugh and Rhys Morgan, Newport would surely have won quite comfortably. The Newport front row of Colin Smart, David Ford and Rhys Morgan had the edge on their vastly more experienced Swansea counterparts and the Newport back row hustled the Swansea halfbacks relentlessly. Only in the line-out, where Wheel and Clegg excelled, were Swansea able to gain more possession than Newport. One reason for the low score, was the high standard of tackling. Terry O'Gorman wasted two glorious chances and Richie Pugh dropped the ball over the line - opportunities Newport would live to regret.