'The County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser' of 24th September 1881 reported this game:-
"NEWPORT v. WORCESTER ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS.- On Thursday the first match of the season was played on the Newport ground between the above-named teams. The volunteers were from the batteries connected with Newport and the neighbourhood. About 300 persons were present. It was a good game. Newport won, having obtained four goals and four tries to the volunteers' one goal."