"NEWPORT V OLDHAM"
"There was a fairly good attendance on the Newport ground on Tuesday afternoon to witness a contest between these two teams, which was played in fine cold weather, and on somewhat soft and sticky soil. Harding, the Newport skipper, started the fray shortly after three o'clock towards the ballast end. After a short invasion into the Oldham half, the visiting forwards took on a god dribble, but Charlie Thomas being tackled off side a "free" was allowed and centre play determined. McCutcheon then put in a good punt in touch at the home 25. The line was bigly beseiged, the Newport forwards being unusually slow in taking it out. At length Harding, Hannen, Griffiths and Day came off with a fine dribble into the Oldham half, and Webb soon improved by taking the oval up with his feet close to the visitors' line where scrimmaging ensued. Wolstencroft and Lees brought off a capital dribbling rush, upsetting George Thomas as he attempted to return. The Newport three-quarters, however, would not be denied, and with some passing by Webb and Jordan a rush to the Oldham 25 came off. The visitors gamely took it back, and fast open play in neutral ground resulted. Harding and J. Williams rushed down on the Oldham position. Downe kicked over, and the first minor to Newport was brought off. The visiting pack knew how to screw the scrimmage, but there were few points of exciting interest brought off, until Johnson baffled a pass intended for Dauncey, went up to the Newport line with a surprisingly fast dribble, and planted a try, from which a grand kick by McCutcheon landed a goal. Warmed up by the reverse, the home forwards rattled up to the Oldham line, but again Johnson came off with another very swift dribble, and was only stopped by England, the back, at the home 25. A hard, determined game ensued, Newport going up with a fine dribble, well headed by Graham. George Thomas made a rush for the line, but was pushed in touch. Immediately after, however, Jordan was given possession, and skipped over with a try, but no goal came off. Half-time was then called. Mills restarted for Oldham, Newport soon worked up, and exacted a minor, a second following quickly after from a kick over by George Thomas. The home forwards by this time had thoroughly aroused themselves, and closely invaded the Oldham line. A wild pass from Charlie Thomas intended for Jordan, however, was taken by Johnson, who ran to the half, where he was brought to earth by Dauncey. Again the visitors' line was attacked with vigour, Charlie Thomas making repeated rushes for the position, Mills dribbled out to the open. Harding at length struggled over with a good try, but again no goal came off. The home forwards again bore down grandly on the visitors' line, and Harding got another try, but Webb failed at goal. Oldham was now fairly penned in their own quarters, but the home passing was of a duffing sort, or they might have come off with another try or two. "No-side" was whistled before anything else was scored, leaving Newport the winners by three tries and three minors (equal to six points) to one goal (four points). Players: - Oldham: Back, Cox; three-quarter backs, Johnson, Grey, McCutcheon, Greaves; half-backs, Mills (captain) and Holden; forwards, Armstrong, Malatue, Court, Lees, Wolstencroft, Nuttall, Giles, and Chapman; umpire, Mr. Hulme. Newport: Back, T. England; thre-quarter backs, J. E. Webb, B. Dauncey, George Thomas, and H. M. Jordan; half-backs, C. J. Thomas and T. Downe; forwards, T. Harding (captain), T. C. Graham, T. H. Griffiths, J. Williams, T. Edwards, H. T. Day, J. Hannen, and E. Jones; umpire, Mr. J. H. Young. Referee, Mr. Simpson, Cardiff."