This report, and detailed analysis, appeared in the Western Mail of 23rd December 1889
"NEWPORT V. OXFORD UNIVERSITY."
"Notwithstanding the miserably bad weather, an enormous crowd turned out on the Newport Grounds to witness the last contest in the South Wales tour of the Oxford ‘Varsity team against the Usksiders. Rain had continued nearly all day, and rendered the ground very wet and slimy. The home captain, having won the toss, gave Fleming the opportunity of starting the leather at three o'clock towards the nursery end, and from Webb's return a hard centre game ensued, mostly amongst the forwards. The 'Varsity had a narrow escape from a fine dribble by the Newport pack, who took the ball up to the line close to the posts, but the visitors saved by touching down, a movement which they had to repeat immediately after from another fierce rush. A lot of give and take play followed. From a line near the home 25 Percy Phillips started a fine dribble, which was followed up by Arthur Gould, who kicked it over the line and got the first try. Webb's place struck the bar, and failed. Another fine dribble from near the half again gave Newport the upper hand, and between Edwards and Newcombe another try was obtained near the touch line, from which no goal resulted. One visit was made to the home 25 position, and thence Newport again drove to the Oxford line, where, however, only a minor was exacted. Charlie Thomas next got away from the centre with a clinking rush, and planted his try at a long angle. Tom England put up a splendid place, which only resulted, however, in a poster. Half time was then called, the score standing - Newport, three tries and three minors; Oxford, nil. the opening portion of the second half was fought out in the Oxford ground, the forwards being hard set. Newport at length drove over, but the 'Varsity touched down. Griffiths and Graham at length took away a fine dribble from the centre, and got a try between them, England's place again failed. Two minutes afterwards, George Thomas, taking a pass, ran in and planted another try behind the posts, but for the fifth time the goal failed. George Thomas again ran over and planted a try behind the posts, from which Hannen this time did the proper thing and converted. Oxford next ran up strong and got a try by the aid of Percival, but, no goal came off. No side was whistled before anything else was scored. Newport thus won by one goal, five tries, and four minors to one try. Teams:- Newport: Back, T. England; three-quarter backs, A. J. Gould, C. J. Thomas, G. Thomas, and J. E. Webb; half-backs, T. Downe and H. P. Phillips; forward, T. C. Graham (captain), J. Hannen, T. Edwards, T. H. Griffiths, H. T. Day, A. W. Boucher, T. Newcombe, and W. Watts. Oxford: Back, P. C. Cochran; three-quarter backs, C. J. N. Fleming (captain), J. S. Longdon, W. E. Wilkinson, and W. S. Sweet-Escott; half-backs, R. F. de Winton and R. G. Coventry; forwards, E. H. North, D. W. Evans, W. E. Bromet, L. J. Percival, A. R. Kaye, A. M. Patterson, H. Carey, and H. le Fanu. Referee, J. H. Simpson (Cardiff). The Newport team were photographed by Messrs. Dando after the match."
In the column entitled "FOOTBALL [NOTES BY "GOAL POST"]" the game was analysed thus-
"Oxford University had a fair old trouncing at the hands of Newport, and no mistake. What the score would have been if the ground had been dry and fit for accurate play I will not venture to speculate, but I believe it must inevitably have been higher than it actually was. Still, one goal, five tries, and four minors to one try is enough to satisfy the love of the Usksiders for victory, keen as they are on rubbing it into visiting teams"
"The 'Varsity team which did service on the "mustard and blacking" dunghill was considerably different from that Which faced Cardiff and Swansea, but whether it was stronger or weaker I will not attempt to say. One thing of two, however, is certain - either the Oxonians played a much more dufling game or Newport is a long chalk ahead of the two other South Wales teams, judging from the fact that the score at the Monmouthshire capital was so much bigger than at Cardiff or Swansea."
"I don't want to play the part of a partisan too strongly - or at all, for the matter of that - and unduly exalt the representation of one town over another, as some of my contemporaries are too prone to do, but will let facts and results speak for themselves, with just a little judicious comment. It may be that the concomitants of a tour in hospitable Wales did not improve the "form" of our learned visitors, and that they had gone off a point or two by the time they reached Newport; but a blind man could discern that Graham's lads were as fit as a trivet for their work."
"That's just where Newport has been looking up so much of late. The team is kept by judicious training in the peak of condition for pace, wind, and staying power, For this very proper precaution the skipper is to be congratulated; and I fancy, from what I know, that with this spirit kept up, the Usksiders are going to give a splendid account of themselves henceforth to the end of the season."
"Newport were far and away the better team at all points. Forward, although they lacked in beef, they more than made up the difference in smartness and speed. Tight scrums on so wet a ground would have been fearfully dull, and the "mustard and blacking" lads did the right thing in wheeling, a dodge which they bring off now with the greatest advantage, and one which fearfully bothered the Oxonians on Saturday. It would be very invidious to attempt to single out any of the pack for special mention where all did so well, and I don't think it would be proper in me to do so. I'd simply say this - if there was any difference they were as alike."
"At half, though the visiting pair were nimble enough and went in for some "winging", Percy Phillips and Tommy Downe held them well in check, and a trifle more, Percy is getting his name up. The crowd is spotting him as a smart 'un, and no mistake. That famous dribble which he started, giving Arthur Gould the lead for the first try, was a beauty. I don't want it to be implied that Tommy Downe is going off at all. He played a first-rate game, but the people naturally watch the novice a bit more."
"Now, as to three-quarters. Newport had terrific scoring power there, and had the ground been dry I think they must have sat on the 'Varsity for most unmercifully. The only man who did anything worth mentioning for Oxford in the third line was Fleming, the skipper. The three others were fairly out of it. George Thomas, on the wing with his tremendous pace, was the hero of the day. Arthur Gould, after getting the first try with a fine run and dribble, was a bit disappointing. He "bossed" a good deal, and there he must have thought his work ended, judging by his style of play, which consisted for the most part in returning the ball with a drop kick when it came to him. Charlie Thomas, who always goes it well and strong, again came off in the right key. Jem Webb played unselfishly and usefully."
"Too much cannot be said in praise of England, the Newport back. The Usksiders have never had a safer custodian, and I think he must be a dead snip for the international cap this season. The Oxford back, Cochran, could not hold a candle to him."
"The try which the 'Varsity forwards got was a tricky kind of thing. They sort'f stole a march on the home players, but when Graham's lads had a goal and five tries to their credit they could well afford to be generous. I was glad, however, to see that it fell to the lot of Percival, who, with Le Fanu, was about the pick of the Oxonian pack"