The attendance at this game represented a World record for a match between two club sides that would stand until the modern era of rugby from the 1980's with leagues, cups and then professional rugby. Gate receipts were £2,587.
From the match programme:-
"TO-DAY'S BIG CLASH!"
"By THE EDITOR."
"The great day has arrived! Newport, our great and friendly rivals, visit the Arms Park unbeaten. The glove is down and we do battle with them for the honour of being the leading club side in Wales! It should be a great game - it will be a great occasion!"
"We expect a record club gate, in fact, a world record for any club match. This will be an honour in itself for Welsh Rugby and for the two clubs."
"There is a great history around the rivalry of Cardiff and Newport, and it first started in April, 1875. The two clubs fought a draw in their first meeting and since that day have met on 240 occasions. Cardiff have won 106 games to Newport's 95, with 39 games drawn. The last three games have been won by Newport."
"The Newport club this season have won 23 matches in a row and have fulfilled the promise they showed at the end of last season when they won their last ten matches. They are a magnificent team,sound in every department, with every member of the side playing not for himself but for the club."
"It has made no difference whether Ken Jones, Bob Evans or Roy Burnett has led the side, the spirit has been the same. Everyone all out for Newport from the first to last whistle."
"To-day they meet a side blessed with the same team spirit. Bill Tamplin and his merry men will play rugger as it should be played to combat the match-winning brilliance of Newport. The result might be stalemate or a magnificent game of open rugby. Win or lose, we are sure that Newport will give of their best."
"The referee to-day will be Mr. Ivor David, of Neath, who substitutes at the last moment for Mr. Harold Phillips, also of Neath. Mr. Phillips had the great misfortune to lose his wife this week, and the club wish to extend their deepest sympathy to him and his family."
"The club welcome the Newport committee, players and supporters to the Arms Park to-day. In particular, they wish Mr. W. A. Everson, the Newport honorary secretary, a happy retirement. He has just left the Newport Police Force retiring as a Chief Inspector. All his leisure time has been devoted to the game, and we are sure he will continue to help the club and the game he loves."
"It is anticipated that several of the Welsh Selectors will be present to-day, for the match will serve as an extra trial. Many of the players on both sides are under review and we wish them well. On with the game !"
"SUPPORTERS' NOTES."
"February 17. - To-night we shall be entertaining the Newport Supporters' Club at the Bristol and South Wales Hotel at 7 p.m., and members of both Supporters' Clubs are warmly welcomed to come along and join us. Win or lose, we want as many members to be present to-night to pay tribute to a Great Team."
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The Times of 19th February 1951 reported the game briefly as follows:-
"NEWPORT WIN AGAIN"
"Newport go on from strength to strength. On Saturday they gained their third victory of the season over Cardiff, scoring a goal and a try (8points) to a penalty goal (3points), this being their thirty-fourth win in successive matches - including nine at the end of last season. Their visit resulted in a new record being established, for the crowd of nearly 45,000 at Cardiff Arms Park was the greatest ever to watch a club fixture in Great Britain, exceeding the 36,000 at the Cardiff v. Swansea match on the same ground in 1949."
"The all-round strength of the Newport side was never more exemplified than in this game. With the wind and sun at their backs in the first half Cardiff gained an interval lead of thre points with a penalty goal by W. E. Tamplin, but the powerful Newport forwards gradually gained the mastery. They paved the way for clever play by their backs, and in the second half T. Sterry and J. Lane obtained tries, the second of which B. Edwards converted. Sound defence checked all efforts by Cardiff to wipe out the deficit."