TheTimes of 8th February 1957 reported the game against the Dark Blues:-
“NEWPORT THE HAPPIER IN HEAVY GOING”
“OXFORD UNDER PRESSURE”
“Newport 9 pts., Oxford University 3”
“After 12 hours of heavy rain, which continued throughout the match, the ground at Newport yesterday was like a lake before the start, and the wonder was that the sides managed to play such good Rugby, Newport having the better of it by three tries to one. Without Robbins, Currie, and Lombard, Oxford were outplayed forward. They were out-hooked in the tight and generally had the worst of it in the loose and lines-out.”
“With these disadvantages they were held inside their own half of the field for the greater part of the match. The peed of the Oxford outsides, which might have restored the balance, was negative as they were more or less bogged down in the mud. But the University defence, for all the Newport pressure, held out well because the Newport three-quarters were making inevitable mistakes with their passes.”
“Newport scored only one try in the first half, when, from a line-out, Ackerman shot the ball out to Lane, who beat two men and passed out to Greenslade for a score in the corner. Oxford should have equalized when Watts, running from half-way, kicked ahead and was clear, but knocked-on five yards from the line when trying to gather the ball.”
“In the second half Newport still did all the pressing and on one of the few occasions when every man held his pass the ball went across the three-quarter line for Thomas to score in the corner. Next, from a scrummage on the Oxford line, Scrivens, who had always been a thorn in the side of Oxford, darted round the blind side to score Newport’s third try. Oxford had stuck stoutly to their job and they got their reward when Phillips scored. A forward, undistinguishable under his coat of mud, fly-kicked straight down the field and Phillips, following up fast, dribbled the last 25 yards to touch down.”
“NEWPORT._ N. Morgan; M.C. Thomas, H. Morgan, J. Roblin, J. Lane; R. Burnett, B. Scrivens; D. Greenslade, J. Phillips, M. Hinhem, I. Ford, G. Davidge, B. Cresswell, L. H. Jenkins, D. A. G. Ackerman.”
“OXFORD UNIVERSITY.- *R. W. Wilson (Warwick and Brasenose); *J. L. Booth (Nottingham H. S. and St. John’s), L. D. Watts (Bristol G. S. and Wadham), *M. S. Phillips (Arnold and Trinity), J. R. C. Young (Bishop Vesey’s and St. Edmund Hall); R. Ford (Trowbridge and St. Peter’s Hall), P. A. Crofts (Haberdasher’s and Corpus Christi); D. Brock (Diocesan, S.A., and University), J. H. Stallworthy (Rugby and Magdalen), P. J. Smith (Merchiston and Exeter), *R. H. Davies (K.C.S. Wimbledon and New College), B. R. Montgomery (Michaelhouse, S.A., and Lincoln), J. R. H. Edmund (Swansea and Jesus), H. Kirsop (Fettes and Lincoln), R. E. Birley (Clifton and Brasenose).”
“ * A Blue.”