From the match programme:-
"Welcome to NEWPORT!"
"To-day we give a warm welcome to NEWPORT. The Usksiders bring with them the reputation of being the finest side in Britain. Although having lost to their nearest and greatest rivals, Cardiff, they still possess a wonderful record. Their football have been of the top grade and our own boys will have to be on their toes to hold this powerful side."
"At the time of going to press we do not know what the Newport team will compose of, but we can be sure that they will be on their best behaviour in view of the forthcoming trial which will be held on this Park, next Saturday, Nov. 10th."
"We would like to take this opportunity of wishing all candidates for a trial the best of luck."
"The game with Newbridge last Saturday ended in disappointment. The game seemed to be well in hand, but after turning over with a three-point lead at halftime, Abertillery simply seemed to fall to pieces."
"Newbridge fought back and got on top with their forwards playing well. J. Herbert dropped a goal near the end to finish the game in a draw."
"Abertillery will have to do better to-day."
"In conclusion, we would like to wish both teams the best of luck and may we all enjoy a good, open game of football."
"Don't forget the WELSH TRIAL next week."
"We wonder how many supporters noticed the mistake on last Saturday's programme. By an oversight the wrong date was put on the programmes and, strange as it may seem, we received only one complaint. On behalf of the printers we would like to apologise."
o - o - o - o - O - O - O - o - o - o - o
The Football Argus reported the game as follows:-
"Abertillery Set Problems for Newport"
"By Jack Davis"
"Abertillery put up a splendid fight against Newport this afternoon."
"Newport scored a try half-way through the first half, but there was never much in it, and the Newport attack was thoroughly subdued by some magnificent Abertillery tackling."
"This was Newport's first visit to the Monmouthshire Valleys this season. Abertillery had not beaten Newport since the war, the eleven games having resulted in ten Newport victories and one draw (in 1946). In all, there have been 57 meetings. Newport have won 38 times, and Abertillery 13 times, with six games left drawn."
"Bob Hughes, who has been playing for the Police team in France, was not back in time to play for Newport, and Peter Davies was not available. Their places were taken by Malcolm Lewis and E. Nash."
"Ben Edwards started the game for Newport by kicking to the open side, but the ball went dead and Abertillery dropped out. The ball was slippery and Newport's first attempt at passing quickly broke down."
"Abertillery were very quick on man and ball in the early play, and one very fine tackle of Malcolm Thomas by Southway preceded a foot rush which Newport had difficulty in stopping."
"Ben Fdwards kicked poorly when he tried for a penalty goal within his own half but Newport went close to scoring when very fast passing left the ball with Ken. Jones. The wing ran twenty yards before kicking across, but Carey made a very fine save when hard pressed."
"Malcolm Thomas picked up on the run and raced through, but his pass inwards to L E. T. Jones, who crossed the line, was forward. Edwards had another penalty kick from quite a reasonable distance but again failed. After Malcolm Thomas had had a drop for goal charged, Burnett sent just wide with a similar effort."
"Abertillery's outside-half, Cecil, distinguished himself with a couple of very good runs and some good kicking. The Abertillery forwards, among whom Lewis and Carey were always prominent, used their feet well in fast foot rushes, but the Newport defence survived and eventually it was by this method that Newport opened the score."
"Newport Score"
"A couple of forwards broke away with the ball at their feet at halfway, and Bowen let the ball run.between his legs. BOB EVANS raced up at great speed, dribbled on and won the race for the try in quite a good position but Edwards, who was in strangely poor kicking form, missed a fairly easy goal. Newport went very near to scoring again when Burnett put a short kick on and fielded on the run but Newport forwards lost control of the ball when he handed over the initiative to them. In this attack, Burnett and Bob Evans were slightly injured. When Cecil kicked out weakly, the ball went direct to John Lane, who opened out quickly and passing left the ball with Bryn Williams who was brilliantly tackled by Southway when going all out."
"In following play, the Abertillery forwards continued to use their feet splendidly and the tackling of their backs was first-rate. In addition, Reg Williams was beating Lyn Davies consistently in the set scrums. Once, when Newport got the ball out very quickly to Ken Jones, he was brilliantly tackled and could not get in a proper pass to Malcolm Thomas. Morley charged a kick by Burnett and though the Newport outside-half recovered Malcolm Lewis saved only with great difficulty."
"Newport opened out with very fast passing from their 25, and Ken Jones again sent inward. This time there was a knock-on."
"Minor injuries were frequent. Next to suffer were Clarke (Abertillery) and Ackerman (Newport)."
"The first half closed with a vigorous rush by Abertillery which Malcolm Thomas did well to stop and a counter-rush by Newport headed by Nash, Lane and Bob Evans, which won threequarters the length of the field but a minor was conceded by Cecil. In this move. Bob Evans injured a knee and left the field. Half-time :
NEWPORT ..... 0 1 3
ABERTILLERY .. 0 0 0 "
"Early in the second half. Malcolm Lewis fielded an Abertillery cross-kick shook off a couple of tacklers and made a touchline run before going ahead to win a place for Newport on the Abertillery 25. Newport tried passing from here, and once more the Abertillery tackling, particularly that of Southway, was too much for them. Jenkins had hard luck when he charged down a kick by Lewis. The ball did not run kindly for him and Burnett once more got in a short kick on. He was up in time to drive the ball further and Bryn Williams followed up fast but was not in time to prevent a minor."
"Crozier missed with a penalty kick for Abertillery: later, Newport brought off a very good move. Billy Williams worked the blind side with Bryn Williams who sent Ken Jones racing away. After making ground the wing passed inwards to Bryn Williams but the ball went forward."
"A splendid kick by Trevor Bowen relieved strong Newport pressure: at the other end Malcolm Lewis made two very good saves when hard pressed. once, however, he was put in a tangle by a wild pass back by Malcolm Thomas.
"Abertillery had bad luck when quick passing left the ball with Daniels who appeared to have a clear opening. However, he ran into the arms of Malcolm Lewis and the ball was thrown forward close in. there was more bad luck for Abertillery when Malcolm Lewis failed to field a high kick and left-wing Hollyfield only just prevented Malcolm Thomas from clearing with a fly kick to touch."
"Newport's attack was completely held by the first-time tackling of the Abertillery threequarters."
"It was Abertillery's turn to enjoy a slice of luck in the next Newport attack, for Ken Jones was right on Bowen after a Newport kick on when the Abertillery full-back just managed to turn the ball to touch very near his own line."
"Strangely enough though still short of Bob Evans, the Newport forwards were now more than holding their own and a series of Newport attacks gave Abertillery a lot of trouble."
"The last ten minutes provided little more than a succession of forward rushes by both sides, with neither side getting anywhere near scoring."
"Final:
NEWPORT ............ 0 1 3
ABERTILLERY ...... 0 0 0
Try by R. T. Evans"
"COMMENTS"
"This was Newport's hardest game for many a long day. Their three-quarters were held completely in check by Abertillery tackling, which was brilliant in the extreme. Southway, above everybody, can really be said to have been the man of the match because of the succession of magnificent tackles he executed whenever Newport's attack seemed likely to get moving"
"But the other Abertillery three-quarters also tackled superbly, and rarely indeed were Newport able to get into anything like their normal stride."
"Still suffering from lumbago - he was a doubtful starter - Burnett generally contented himself with kicking on, and whenever he tried to make a special effort he was very promptly tackled."
"All the same, it can be said for Newport that they tried to keep play on the move, and while giving Abertillery full credit for their wonderful defence, it must be said that their ideas in attack were very limited. Tony Rees opened up very cleverly from the scrum, but Cecil, after a good start, faded out and was rarely able to get his centres properly on the move."
"The Abertillery forwards, though giving away weight, put up a grand fight, and one liked particularly the the enthusiasm of Morley, who was always up with the ball and always doing something useful. Carey and Lewis were two other splendid forwards."
"Curiously, the Newport pack did better in the second half, during the whole of which they were without their captain : but they could never be said to have got really on top. Malcolm Lewis, who cut out the frills, was the soundest man behind the Newport pack, though Blily Williams did his utmost to get the attack moving."
"To sum up, it was a somewhat lucky win for Newport. A draw would have done justice to both sides."