"NOTES."

"If we say that of all the fixtures on the Newport list there is nothing comparable or anything that quite captures the popular imagination as much as the annual Easter game with the Barbarians, it does not imply any disparagement of the other great clubs on Newport's list. But the fact remains that once a year the rare opportunity is given to see welded together a galaxy of talent representing great personalities of the four countries, which must make the Barbarians the most formidable opponents on any club's fixture list, and an attraction in the eyes of all Rugby followers."

"To write about the Barbarians is really superfluous. Their fame has been oft heralded, and there is little new one can say about them. Although at the time of going to press the actual composition of their team is unknown, it is certain that it will comprise as brilliant a combination as ever, studded with star players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales."

"Possibly it is not generally known that the Barbarians have been coming down to Wales for over 50 years, and that their first match at Newport dates back to 1893. Since that date fixtures between the two clubs have been almost unbroken, except for the two war periods, although it was not until 1922 that the match became a regular Easter Tuesday feature. Prior to that their visits to Wales were usually arranged at Christmas."

"Between 1931 and 1936 was the outstanding period of greatness enjoyed by the Barbarians. Five years running - from 1931 to 1935 - they swept all before them, each year winning their four matches against Penarth, Swansea, Cardiff and Newport. Cardiff arrested the run of success in 1936, and that same season Newport forced them to a draw. Newport have lost only nine of the 39 matches played in all, having won 29, with the one game already referred to, drawn, and it is noteworthy here again that six of these nine defeats have been sustained since 1931."

"As the fixture list originally stood, Newport's game with Bath next Saturday would have been the last home match, but with the extension of the season the postponed home game against Neath will be played on Saturday, May 3rd, while the fixture against Cross Keys at Newport has been arranged for Saturday, May 10th."

"Another old Newport captain and Welsh International, Mr. Harold Davies, contributes to to-day's "A Peep in My Diary." In next Saturday's programme the series will be completed, and on page 3 of to-day's publication we have endeavoured to express to our twenty contributors our appreciation of the extracts from their diaries."

"SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENTS"

"In next Saturday's programme we shall be publishing No. 20 of the series "A Peep in My Diary," which will, for this season at any rate, be the last, and we do not want to let the opportunity pass without record of our most grateful thanks to those twenty contributors - Harry Uzzell, Jack Wetter, T. H. Vile, W. J. T. Collins ("Dromio"), T. E. C. Partridge, R. C. S. Plummer, E. D. G. Hammett, "Bob" Dibble, Arthur Holland, Tom England, Neil McPherson, T. W. Pearson, H. T. Wreford, G. Llewellyn Lloyd, Wilfred Wooller, A. W. Boucher, Fred Baker, Geoffrey Crawshay, and Harold Davies."

"To Mr. Harry Uzzell we should perhaps express special thanks, as this gentleman not only undertook the task of making the first contribution at, we may say, very short notice, but also suggested the title for the series, which was adopted. And the co-operation of all who have written has been most heartening indeed. One and all showed the greatest readiness to give their services when the request was made of them, spontaneously and in the interests of the club, and we do believe they have provided matter and memories of the widest interest, covering as they have some fifty years of Rugby football in Newport. In the belief that old vintage is the more palatable, we have not, with only one exception, approached "Diarists" beyond the early twenties. (The Diaries of the more modern generation of players will have their place with future recorders.)"

"Anyway, it has been the greatest pleasure to publish the memories of such a rich band of great personalities in the game, and if there has been one noteworthy feature common to most writers it has been the stress laid on the great influence for good of the Newport Athletic Club, and they have been mindful indeed of the source and inspiration of the opportunities that were theirs."

"And while paying acknowledgments we should also like to record our sincere appreciation to the "South Wales Argus" for their very ready assistance in putting at our disposal playing records, etc., of Newport's matches through the years. They have been of immense value in the compilation of the programmes week by week."

NB The Harold Davies article can be found under his entry in the 'Players' section on this site.