The Penny Illustrated Paper & Illustrated Times of 27th January 1894 reported on the match with an illustration (see above) and comment as follows:-
"Football"
"If the match between Cardiff and Blackheath,which took place previous to the encounter between England and Wales - in which England so signally avenged her defeat of the 1892-93 season - occasioned great interest in the metropolitan district, it was only to be expected that last Saturday's game at Blackheath between"
"Blackheath and Newport"
"should be productive of even greater excitement. Since Cardiff came to Blackheath, whence they returned handsomely beaten, Newport gave them a good drubbing, thus winning two out of the three matches played by them this football season, and so came to London as the crack Welsh team. Blackheath, for their part, had proved themselves to be the best London club, and on this occasion were fortunate enough to command the services of W. B. Thomson, who came all the way from Glasgow to play. He did not take his usual place at full back, but played at three-quarters instead of G. C. Hubbard, who is on the injured list."
"The home club had their two fine half-backs, Maturin and De Winton, and, in addition, instructed two of their outside forwards to keep an eye on the opposing half-backs. The forward play of Blackheath has this season been remarkable: but they found that Newport were even superior to them in this department. In consequence, to the ill-concealed chagrin of the very large crowd assembled (always excepting that portion which had travelled all the way from Wales to be present), Newport gained an advantage of a try to nothing in the first half. During the second half, two more tries were added. Then Blackheath raised hopes, gaining a try through the aid of Thomson, which Fegan converted into a goal: but this was all that was done on either side, and Newport won a fine match, in which the forwards had most to say, by three tries (9 points) to a goal (5 points). The Newport tries were gained respectively by a forward, a half-back, and a three-quarter back."
"If one had to name any one department in the game in which the Welshmen were markedly superior, it was in"
"Heeling Out Tactics"
"It stands to reason that the side which is able to heel out to its backs with the greatest frequency must do the bulk of the attacking: consequently, dexterity in heeling out is an accomplishment that is being more and more cultivated by Rugby Union players."
"Newport's Victory"
"certainly entitles them to rank as the champion Rugby club. Lustily were they cheered on their return to Charing Cross Station."