The Liverpool Mercury of 10th February 1896 reported:-
"RUGBY"
"Liverpool had a stiff task on hand in journeying to Newport to meet the famous Welsh fifteen on their own enclosure. In the first game at Aigburth, the visitors gave a splendid display, but they met an equal defence, and could only win by one goal to nil. The most sanguine of the visitors' supporters could only hope for a reasonable defeat, but they were scarcely prepared for the heavy slaughter which the Usksiders dealt out to them. A score of 39 points to 8 shows the one-sided nature of the game, and, as a matter of fact, the home backs were continually on the move, and their efforts were always of a dangerous character. It was in the back division that the superiority of the winners was most marked, and their passing and running were of a most brilliant and bewildering description. With the Newport backs in capital form, an opposing defence need be very resolute, but it is questionable whether Liverpool ever had such a severe trouncing. In spite of this, the forwards played up manfully, and both Pearce and Kinnear secured tries, whilst at various stages they offered a stubborn resistance to their adversaries. Eight of the nine tries were obtained by the home backs, the veteran Gould being responsible for three, which is in itself a flattering testimony to their skill and persistence. Possibly the long railway journey had much to do with the heaviness of the defeat, which certainly proves what combination is capable of performing."
"LIVERPOOL v. NEWPORT."
"The return game between these clubs was played at Newport, before 4,000 spectators. Boucher started for the homesters, and play settled down at the centre, but after a short time the home forwards rushed away to the Liverpool half, and Graham, intercepting the passing of the Newport backs, raced away to the centre. After an unsuccessful attempt to score, Pearson obtained, and punting over the Liverpool custodian's head, scored a try, which Boucher converted. The homesters were quickly attacking again after the restart, and Pearson missed two easy chances, following which Liverpool put in some grand forward work, and reached the Newport quarter. Here play remained for some time, but eventually the home backs got to work again, and, after some capital passing, Pearson kicked across the field, and Gould scored, Boucher again converting, but the goal was disallowed. Newport again attacked, and from a scrimmage on the line Hannan scored, but no goal resulted. On resuming, the home forwards again got away, and, after a rush by Watts and Boucher, Gould received and scored his second try, which Boucher converted. Liverpool, nettled by these reverses, played up pluckily, and carried play into the home quarter, where after pressure, they obtained the first minor. Newport again attacked, and another sequence by the backs ended in Dauncey scoring. Boucher again converting. From the restart, Gould again got away, but dropped the ball, and the Liverpudlian forwards rushed to the Newport line, where, after severe scrimmaging, Pearce dashed over, Stoddart hitting the posts in his attempt to convert. Half-time arrived with Newport leading by 3 goals and 2 tries to 1 try. On restarting, the homesters were quickly busy again, and in quick succession Lloyd, Jenkins, Pearson, and Gould scored for them, three of the tries being converted by Boucher. Towards the close Kinnear scored for Liverpool, and Stoddart converted, and when the whistle blew for the call of no side, Newport were left easy winners, as the following score shows:- Newport, 6 goals and 3 tries; Liverpool, 1 goal and 1 try."