"NEWPORT v. CARDIFF"

"The very anticipation of a game between Newport and Cardiff fills one with a thrill and if to-day's event is up to the expected standard, it will provide us with the tit-bit of the rugby season as far as the East is concerned. The intense rivalry between the clubs leads one to expect a clash which will be a case of "When Greek meets Greek" rather than "When meek greets meek"! The record of the meetings of the two clubs to date provides remarkable reading. Up to and including the match at Newport five weeks ago, they had met on 223 occasions, each having won 93 times with 37 drawn games. These few figures might not convey much to the present day reader, but to those with long memories they recall many historic battles between some of the finest rugby celebrities in any land, and what a volume could be written of the neck and neck race for supremacy between the two clubs. Space presents us referring to the great giants of the past so we must confine ourselves to a few brief remarks regarding the Newport team of to-day. They have only lost one match this season and that to Cardiff by 8 pts. to 6. As usual, the Usksiders have a great pack of forwards, led by their captain, J. H. Bale, with a penchant for fast cohesive movements in the open even if their heeling capabilities have not always been too pleasing. Of late their back row trio has included Selby Davies the old Cardiff forward, now in business at Newport. At half back the visitors may be tested mostly, especially in the absence of J. C. Hawkins always a great asset to his side and a stumbling block to his opponents. T. Whitfield is the son of J. Whitfield, the old Newport International forward."

"It will be a great fight at threequarter where Ken Jones and A. H. Rowland constitute a formidable right wing for Newport with very serious pretensions to Welsh "caps." Whoever makes up the quartette, we can count on a line that will give the Blue and Blacks an anxious time, given equal chances."

"D. R. Morgan, Newport's full back, is making a big name for himself, as indeed are the whole side judging by the fact that they had six players in last Saturday's Welsh Trial as compared with Cardiff's three. Our patrons will recollect the first of the four fixtures last season on the Park when Cardiff won in a sensational scoring game by 28 points to 17. We hardly expect a repetition of that freakish result but we do expect rugby of the highest standard possible, and surely no two clubs are so capable of such an attainment as the "Black and Amber" (today all Amber) and the "Blue and Blacks". "

"Cardiff's victories the last two Saturdays were very pleasing. Rosslyn Park in their first game at Cardiff disappointed and were beaten by 26 points to 8. Last Saturday Cardiff travelled to London to engage the Wasps, minus their captain and Cleaver, Bleddyn and Manfield engaged in the Welsh Trial. The side played grandly, with chief honours perhaps to Darch; and they had more sting about them than the Wasps whom they defeated by 21 points to 6. Strangely that, to date, only English clubs have been met on the Park this season so Newport to-day provides the first Welsh opposition."

"For to-day's game Cardiff have chosen their strongest team. It is hoped that "Captain" Matthews will have sufficiently recovered from a foot injury to lead the side. An interesting choice is that of Gwyn Davies at full back. Davies is a former pupil of Cathays Secondary School and has played for the Army. Another newcomer as winging forward is Gwyn Evans, a member of the Cardiff Police Force. Both Davies and Evans have been in excellent form for the Athletic side and get their chance. Another change in the pack is the removal of Roy Roberts from the back row to the second row vice Glover, while the hooking will be done by Don Rees who takes the place of that sterling forward Maldwyn James who, all will regret to learn, has now retired. With Hale back in form, the side looks the most formidable fielded this season; capable of extending their opponents to the uttermost."

"The London Welsh provide the opposition in the next home match on 23rd November and there will doubtless be a big crowd to welcome the "Exiles" who are always popular visitors to the Park and who are once more captained by the veteran Claude Davey."

"CARDIFF IN FRANCE"

"To-morrow morning, all being well, the Cardiff team will take to the air and fly to France for their match on Monday with Stade Nantais Universite Club at Nantes, the rugby "capital" of Brittany and at whose invitation the trip is being made. Last season the Cardiff team made a great impression in France and revived rugby interest in Nantes."