From the match programme:-
"NOTES"
"We ring down the curtain on our home programme today in happy and traditional style. To write about the Barbarians is superfluous. Most famous and brilliant of all touring sides, memories of their fine displays, and no less of Newport's ever worthy opposition, are truly rich. For five seasons in succession, up to 1935, the Barbarians won all their games in Wales, and although Newport beat them in '37 and '38, final pre-war honours are with the Barbarians who were victorious in 1939."
"Newport can look back on a season of very worthy achievement. The detailed record, which had to go to print prior to the Easter games, shows that the team has an excellent chance of attaining the best record since Jack Wetter's Invincible Season. The nearest approach is season 1927-28, in V. M. Griffiths's year of captaincy, when seven matches were lost. Up to last Saturday's game with Nuneaton the side had suffered only five defeats, so that interest in the outcome of these last matches is fully maintained."
"Jim Hawkins, the Newport captain, has served the Club with loyalty and distinction since 1933, but never has his service been of such great value as in the present season when he has guided the team through this difficult post-war period with real skill and judicious wisdom. A great hearted player, besides showing consistently good form himself, his experience and influence over the many young members who have formed this very fine Newport team have certainly proved a rocklike foundation on which the structure of the side has been built. The players have responded with equal enthusiasm and deserve the highest praise for worthy achievements and many bright displays."
"Public interest this season has increased tremendously - certain evidence that Rugby football in Newport is once again recapturing its place in public life. We feel that the efforts of this past season will reflect a happy future, on which note - ring down the curtain!"
"NEWPORT ATHLETIC CLUB MEMORIAL FUND"
"Report by Mr. R. S. Snelling, Chairman, Appeal Fund Committee."
"Rather over 12 months ago the Newport Athletic Club General Committee resolved to raise a fund for the purpose of providing a War Memorial for those who had fallen in the second World War. Arising out of a great need it was decided that the Memorial should take the form of a Social Centre. If evidence were needed of the place which the Newport Club holds in the hearts of its old members and in the esteem of the general public it was forthcoming immediately."
"A large number of people in all walks of life (but all members of the Club) were invited to join the Committee responsible for furthering the Appeal. That Committee was further aided by a strong Ladies' Committee. Both Committees worked with enthusiasm and efficiency with the result that the target of ?5,000 was in the hands of the Hon. Treasurer (Mr. W. S. J. Williams, of the National Provincial Bank, Newport) in a comparatively short time. Although the target has been reached, and there will probably be no further appeals to the public, the fund remains open for the support of any who still wish to be associated with the objects we have in mind."
"The next step was the formation of a Committee to undertake the even more responsible and difficult task of planning the Social Centre. Representatives of the General Committee of the Club and of the Appeals Committee were elected in equal numbers, and, of great importance, there has also been added four young members who have recently returned from the Forces."
"I have referred to the successful part. The one direction in which the Club's activities hitherto have not been entirely successful has been on the social side. By general consent facilities were lacking which would enable the many who have the Club's interest to foregather and enjoy that interest - hence the decision to form the Social Centre."
"We are confident of success and of the support of our members. Much remains to be done, but those who have followed the early post-war efforts of the Football Section and are aware of the intentions of all the other sections cannot but feel that the Club is about to enter upon a further period of useful service to the youth of Newport, out of satisfaction to those early founders of the Club who were responsible for making that service possible."
"C. T. Stephens and W. C. Capel are the joint secretaries of the Appeal Fund Committee, and I must acknowledge gratefully the good work they have done."
"SEASON 1946/47 AND ONWARDS"
"Nothing succeeds like success - the successful first post-war season of the Rugby Team - the successful result of "The Appeal" - both efforts achieved after much hard work - have resulted in the great revival of interest in the Club."
"The above factors and the decision to allow ladies full membership has brought forward a shoal of new members, and one can envisage in the not too distant future a waiting list for playing membership."
"The Bowls Section are thinking in terms of an additional rink - the Cricket Section want to run anything up to six teams - the Tennis Section are pressing for additional facilities - the Ladies' Hockey Teams will be playing next season, while the Club is full of Committees and Sub-Committees endeavouring to cope with all these requirements."
"The ground staff has been increased and the Club Office at Rodney Road has been re-opened."
"The difficulty of carrying out all the work required will be appreciated, but everything possible is being done to give members comfortable and adequate facilities."
"It will be noticed that although subscriptions have increased for playing members, there has been no change in the subscriptions for those under 21 years of age, and thus persons under this age still only pay ?1 1s. 0d. (or if under 16 years of age, 10s. 6d.)."
"There cannot be a club in this country which offers such facilities to youth - to play (and attend) such a variety of games, for so modest a subscription, and it is hoped that advantage will be taken of this gesture on the part of the club to encourage youth to enjoy the recreation, offered to them."
"C T. STEPHENS, General Secretary."
o - o - o - o - O - O - O - o - o - o - o
The Times of 24th April 1946 carried the following report:-
"BARBARIANS BEATEN AT NEWPORT"
"FROM OUR RUGBY FOORBALL CORRESPONDENT"
"The Barbarians met with the only defeat of their Easter tour when Newport beat them yesterday by one goal, one penalty goal and one try (11points) to two tries (6points). Allen, who captained the Barbarians, was largely responsible for each of his side's two tries."
"The first score came after 10 minutes' play, when Allen broke through cleverly and found Munro up for the scoring pass in the right-hand corner. Jackson's available services were not required. Price failed with the kick at goal. Allen, it should be added, invariably took the pass from Lumsden and so remained more or less at five-eight. This try was quickly followed by an exciting breakaway by the Barbarians' two biggest forwards, Coutts, the leader, and Doherty, but the Newport marking and tackling was not easily beaten, and 10 minutes later the Welsh club were level through a penalty goal well kicked by Morgan, the full-back."
"Longland continued to have the better of the hooking, but ragged heeling did not make things easy for Black. Lumsden had to do a good deal of well-judged kicking, and the passing seldom looked really dangerous. The Newport attacks were clever occasionally, but lacked pace. Newport went nearer to scoring when the forwards broke loose. Happily for the Barbarians, Murphy was as neat and safe as ever. L. Williams, from the twenty-five line, tried a drop at goal, but there was no further scoring before half-time."
"A terrific spurt by the whole Newport team, however, carried them eight points ahead inside 10 minutes after the interval. First, a quick heel offered the backs their chance at short range, and a strong run by Rowland carried him over the goal line only a dozen yards from the post. The Newport forwards themselves forced the next try in one of a series of formidable rushes. Chatwin got the touch down, and this time Morgan made no mistake with the kick. With no more than 12 minutes to go, a brilliant breakaway by Allen so beat the defence that Meats on the left wing had a clear run in. But Murphy could not add some badly needed goal points and, with the Newport forwards now the superior force, it was touch and go whether the Barbarians could save the game. Three times their backs tried to force a score, and it was in the last minute of all that Allen and Munro gave Jackson a clear run from inside his own half. But he kicked ahead after covering 30 yards, and Newport did not fail to cover that situation."
"The teams were :-"
"NEWPORT. - D. R. Morgan; D. Jones, L. Williams, A. H. Rowland, W. H. M. Baker; J. C. Hawkins, G. Jones; T. Tamplin, R. Blakemore, M. Chatwin, J. Coleman, D. Kelly, E. Coleman, W. G. Jones, A. R. Taylor."
"BARBARIANS. - C. J. Murphy; W. A Meates, F. R. Allen, W. H. Munro, J. G. H. Jackson; A. W. Black, T. J. M. Lumsden; I. C. Henderson, R. J. Longland, T. W. Price, J. B. Doherty, H. R. Peel, W. J. D. Elliot, F. Coutts, J. W. Thornton."
"REFEREE. _ V. Parfitt."