The Penny Illustrated Paper & Illustrated Times of 10th October 1896 commented that in looking at Blackheath and Harlequins results:-

"..... one looked for"

"Newport's success"

"over the old boys of Merchant Taylor's School,and looked not in vain, the Usksiders, though without A. J. Gould and five others of last season's team, winning by three goals and a try to nothing."

The column included sketches of F. Dauncey and A. W. Boucher "The Noted Newport Rugby Footballers."