This game was reported in the Liverpool Mercury of 16th December 1895 as follows:-
"LIVERPOOL v. NEWPORT"
"The visit of the famous South Wales team was the attraction at Aigburth, but only a meagre crowd witnessed the game. Liverpool kicked off, but Pearson returned to the centre, and after a spell of midfield play a free kick to Newport was taken by Boucher, who made a good attempt at goal from the halfway line. A spell of passing by the Newport threequarters led to Pearson dashing along touch, but Todd checked the movement, and the home forwards taking up the attack raced away to the centre. Gould, Pearson, and Dauncey were then conspicuous with a clever passing bout, and the Newport forwards supplemented this with a clever dribble, but Melly replied with a beautiful kick to touch, following which Boucher and Pearson again got away, and Allen in replying was held near the home lines. A clearance was effected by Kynaston-Jones, Pearson retaliating with a long kick, to which Jones again replied with interest. Another free kick to the visitors was again taken up by Boucher, this leading to the first minor for Newport. After the drop out, Pierce, who was playing a splendid game, got away finely from a line out, but Hannen obtained the oval, and transferring to Gould the famous centre kicked up the field, Allen returning to touch. A rush by the Newport forwards ended in another minor to them, and immediately after Lloyd ouwitted Allen and got clear away to Melly, who collared him before he could pass. A beautiful bit of passing by Gould and Dauncey, the two passing and repassing with remarkable precision, was unfortunately spoiled by a knock on, and Liverpool replied with a similar bit of play, Allen passing to Jones and the latter to Graham, who kicked well into the visitors' quarters. Todd followed this up with a clever dribble, which Pearson turned into touch, and then one of the best bits of play on the home side followed. Allen got well away and passed to Stone, who immediately threw to Graham, and the latter giving it to Kynaston-Jones at the right moment the speedy three-quarter was just prevented from scoring by knocking down the corner flag. This fine bit of play was loudly applauded, but the scene was changed in a twinkling. From the line out the Newport forwards rushed to the quarter flag, and Hannen passed to Gould, who threw to Boucher, the skipper taking the ball cleverly, and running to Melly transferred to Pearson, who had a clear course behind the posts. Boucher added the extra two points, and needless to add this fine work met with due appreciation. Stoddart restarted, but Pearson replied with a huge punt, and further passing by Boucher and Gould looked like ending in further disaster, but Melly tackled Gould in fine style, and the home forwards recovered the ground with a dashing rush. Kynaston-Jones followed with a smart kick to touch, and a breakaway by Stoddart was overrun, whilst loose kicking lost the advantage. Newport then pressed, but half-time arrived with the visitors leading by 5 points to nil. The restart was returned by Stone, Allen also contributing a clever kick, and play waged at centre. Kynaston-Jones was noticeable with smart kicking, and Melly saved twice in quick succession, finding touch on each occasion. The Newport forwards were now going great guns, but the homesters kept pegging away. The Newport three-quarters were fairly checkmated by the smart work of the homesters, and a fine dash by the forwards, Kinnear leading the way, gained considerable ground. Stone tackled Lloyd, who had got well away, but a moment later, when taking a pass from Allen, got a nasty knock from Gould, who tackled him. Passing by Allen and Graham recovered ground, but the opposing forwards dribbled back again, and a moment later W. Jones almost brought disaster with an ill-judged kick. Keeping up the attack, the Newport van registered another minor, but this proved of little service, as Stone collared Thomas before the custodian was expecting it, but Dauncey returned to the quarter flag. Another beautiful sequence of passing between Lloyd, Boucher, Gould, and Pearson almost ended in a score, the latter being bored into touch near the corner. Todd relieved with a clever dribble, and Kynaston-Jones and Allen added some clever kicks, which were well replied to by Thomas. Pierce and Kinnear dashed away, Thomas getting the ball away at the second attempt, but Melly drove it back into touch. The home forwards again burst away, and Pearson kicked to Melly, who followed up and got the ball, to the astonishment of Thomas, but indecision prevented Melly from having a clear run in. This fine piece of play evoked much cheering, but Pearson soon changed the venue, and kicked the ball over the line, but in the race for possession Melly just got the ball dead in time. Another burst of passing amongst the visitors' three-quarters proved futile, and time arrived with the score - Newport, 1 goal (5 points); Liverpool, nil. Teams:- Liverpool: A. Melly, back; H. W. Jones, J. Graham, T. Stone, and J. Kynaston-Jones, three-quarter backs; G. G. Allen and G. H. Todd, half-backs; W. B. Stoddart, R. Pierce, S. Bingham, C. M. Kinnear,, W. S. Creighton, M. H. Langlands, C. K. Wilson, and S. W. B. Ainsworth, forwards. Newport: B. L. Thomas, back; T. W. Pearson, A. J. Gould, A. W. Boucher, and F. H. Dauncey, three-quarter backs; Mat Hannen and G. L. Lloyd, half-backs; H. Packer, G. Boots, W. Parsons, W. Groves, T. Newcombe, T. Saunders, A. Sawtell, and T. Jones, forwards."