From the Western Mail of 14th November 1882:-
"FOOTBALL"
"NEWPORT V. HALIFAX."
"This match , the most important one played this season as far as Newport is concerned, came off on the Newport Club's ground on Monday. The Weather was beautifully clear and fine, but very cold, yet this did not prevent a large concourse assembling. The attendance was the largest this season, and the match was looked forward to with great expectation, the reputation of this Northern team being very good. A very good contest was expected. The match throughout was fast , exciting, and exceedingly interesting to the onlookers. The game was a disputed one from beginning to end, hitches and discussions arising very frequently. Halifax won the toss, and Newport kicked off, facing the grand stand. The ball was well returned, and Harding made a short run, which was followed by a scrimmage and a couple of line-ups. This brought the ball into the visitors' 25 flag, and the home team, working well together, dribbled the ball over the line, where it was touched down by a Newport man, thus obtaining the first try for Newport. Harding however, failed to make it a goal, and the visitors touched down. This piece of play seemed to surprise the Halifax men, for they started the leather afresh as if they meant to reverse matters, and their movements continued so determined-looking that the home team had as much as they could do to keep the visitors from invading their territory. This times out of number they failed to do, Halifax getting dangerously near their goal line, and, despite the desperate rushes made by the home team, the Northeners fairly worked them into a "corner," and this ended in one of their team touching down the ball behind their goal line. The place kick, partly owing to the high wind, was a failure, and Newport lost no time in starting the leather again; but slowly and surely the visitors kept them in their own ground; notwithstanding their futile efforts to get away the result was nearly always the same. The visitors splendid kicking and running would make up for all Newport had gained by scrimmaging, lining up, and general hard work. They got at last into neutral ground, when half-time was called. The leather being started afresh, affairs seemed to be looking worse than ever for the home team. The visitors having well warmed to their work brought the play well into the home quarters, and they soon obtained a second try. The ball was being brought out by a Halifax man, when he accidently "tipped" it. The visitors could not allow this chance to pass, so F. O. Dodd seized the ball and made another try. There was some dispute over this and it was left to the referee, whose verdict was in favour of the visitors. They failed to kick the goal, however, and play was resumed with much the same advantage to either side as before. A lot of time was taken in useless scrimmages which Halifax always remedied by the splendid kicking of their backs. These rendered them efficient service throughout the game, and after some close play no side was called. The result was - Halifax, three tries, four touches down; Newport, one try, five touches down. The following are the names of the teams:- Halifax: Webster, back; F. Dodd and Fox. three-quarter backs; W. Wood and J. Barker, half backs; Crossland, J. Wood, Emmott, Smithson, Aspinall, Lister, Duckworth, Marshall, and Thackeray, forwards. Newport: F. Dowdell, back; G. F. Harding and Norton, three-quarter backs; Jones, T. Clapp, and B. Newman, half backs; T. Harding, H. C. Phillips, Jones, H. S. Lyne, F. C. Jones, H. McDaniell, T. Purdon, W. Young and R. Gould, forwards. Umpires: Newport, MR. R. Mullock. Halifax, Mr. Brown. Referee, Mr. T. Williams, Cardiff."