"CLIFTON v. NEWPORT."
"A very large number of people assembled on the Newport ground on Saturday afternoon to witness the match between the above teams. The weather was fine but cold, and the ground was in fair condition. The following were the teams:- Newport: Thomas, back; Gould, Dowdall, and H. M. Jordan, three-quarter backs; Harding and C. H. Newman, half backs; Clapp, R. Gould, L. Jones, McDaniel, C. Jordan, L. Williams, Lyne, J. C. Jones, and Lewis, forwards. Clifton: E. D. Evans, back; H. J. Evans, Pocock, and Moore, three-quarter backs; Whitehead, half back; Leonard, Adams, H. J. Pocock, Spencer, Fry, Williams, Gillmore, Hurst, and Fisher, forwards. Clifton won the toss, and Newport kicked off, the wind being slightly in favour of the visitors, who were playing one man short. Clifton soon got to work, and early in the game put in some good passing, and, the forwards working well together, the home fifteen were quickly compelled to touch down. A. Gould then put in some good work, and by an excellent run the leather was taken into neutral ground, and soon afterwards by a good kick the ball was sent into the opposition twenty-five, and rapidly taken over the line. The try was not turned into a goal. The ball had not long been kicked out before Clifton had to touch down. The visitors next treated the spectators to a splendid piece of dribbling, carrying the ball from their own goal to within a few yards of the coveted line. The oval was not, however, allowed to remain very long in such dangerous quarters, but was quickly taken back. The game until half-time was most stubbornly contested, and neither side scored anything else."
"When the leather was re-started Newport worked their way into the opposite 25 and kept the ball there nearly the remainder of the game. Clifton had all they could do to take the defensive part, and this they did well. Neither side scored, and the game ended in a victory for Newport by one try to nothing."
Across the Bristol Channel, also on 29th December 1884, The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post reported:-
"NEWPORT v. CLIFTON"
"A match between these teams, which had been looked forward to with considerable interest, was played on the grounds of the Newport Cricket Athletic Club on Saturday, in the presence of between 3,000 and 4,000 spectators. Both clubs had picked teams, Newport being materially strengthened by the appearance of Mr. C. H. Newman and H. S. Lyne. Precisely at three o'clock, Clapp, the Newport captain, kicked off the ball, and from the first the game was watched with the deepest interest. The visitors played one man short. After the kick off, the ball remained in the visitors' ground for some time, Newport doing well in the scrimmage, although far lesser men than their opponents. The leather, however, was eventually worked out by Clifton, and a capital kick on the part of one of their men compelled Thomas, the Newport back, to touch-down in self-defence. After this reverse for the home team, the Newport team showed up splendidly by Newman and Gould being conspicuous, and, after a good dribble on the part of the Newport forwards, enabled them to obtain the only try that was scored during the afternoon. The try being from a difficult angle, no goal resulted. During the second half, the Newport men had the best of the fight, compelling the visitors to touch-down several times before the call of time. Eventually, Newport won by a try and five touch-downs to two touch-downs."
The same edition of the 'Mercury reported also the teams to play in the England v Wales international the following Saturday, listing A. J. Gould, C. H. Newman (as Cambridge University), R. Gould, T. J. S. Clapp, H. S. Lyne, and P. B. Jones as Newport players in the Wales team. The match was played at Swansea with England winning by 1Goal 4Tries to 1Goal 1Try.
N. B. The Clifton squad depicted in the photograph above consists of Back Row (left to right): A.Spencer, J.C.Gilmore, H.C.M.Hirst, H.C.Baker, H.I.Pocock, H.Budget, A.M.Fry, R.I.Pocock. Middle Row: T.Myles, E.D.Evans, E.Leonard (Captain), J.Smith, H.Williams, F.Devis. Front Row: T.Adams, F.R.Fry.