The firt defeat of the season by 1 goal and 2 tries to a solitary goal.
6th December 1881 saw the Western Mail report:-
"NEWPORT v. GLOUCESTER.- The success which has attended the playing of the Newport team this season received its first check on Saturday, when a defeat was administered to it at the hands of a Gloucester team, in a match played at the Spa Grounds in that city. At the call of "time" the result stood as follows:- Gloucester, one goal, two tries; Newport, one goal. The goal for the visitors was secured from a try made by G. F. Harding, who also kicked the goal. An unfortunate occurrence in the game was that Bridie, one of the Newport three-quarter backs, met with a slight accident, having had his ankle sprained, which necessitated his being carried off the field. Players for Newport:- W. Phillips (back), T. E. Jones and J. Bridie (three-quarter backs), G. F. Harding, F. Caple, and H. E. Jones (half-backs), Lloyd Jones, H. S. Lyne, F. C. Jones, R. Gould, L. Williams, W. Young, R. Banks, H. McDaniell, and C. Jordan (forwards). Mr. G. Trew, umpire. Gloucester: J. F. Brown (captain), P. C. Adams, W. F. Evans (half-backs), R. L. Grist, H. J. Broughton, H. E. Taylor (three-quarter backs), Berry (back), Bayley, Cook, Martin, W. Brown, Dewey, Williams, Smith, and Seymour (forwards)."