"NOTES"
"EBBW VALE ON THE WAY BACK TO THE TOP"
"by JACK DAVIS"
"Few victories in recent years can have given Ebbw Vale more satisfaction than their recent win over Cardiff, who were beaten 11-0. Not only because it compensated for a forty-odd point whacking Ebbw Vale sustained at Cardiff's hands last season, but more because it emphasised that the Western Valley club's recovery from the sad recessions of last season is complete."
"It was not a good thing for Welsh rugby that Ebbw Vale should have been so much in the doldrums last season, for ever since their admission to first-class circles, the Monmouthshire club have shown a splendid example to many others with their enterprising style of football and their excellent administration."
"Ebbw Vale had an invincible season in the early years of the last war, and when hostilities ceased first-class status was inevitable. How well they responded to the challenge of sterner opposition is shown by the fact they have been Welsh unofficial champions five times since the war, and only Cardiff, with five successes, can beat that."
"Today, of course, Ebbw Vale pay their second visit to Rodney Parade this season. In Newport's opening match the valley club were beaten 8-3, but since then they have beaten, among other clubs, Abertillery, Cross Keys (twice), Bridgend (25-14 on the current champions' own ground) and Gloucester."
"Generally speaking, Ebbw Vale have not been very successful in past matches with Newport. In 21 matches, victory has gone to Newport 16 times and to Ebbw Vale four times. The first time the teams met was in 1921."
"Ebbw Vale's only win at Newport was in 1953, but what a win - 16 points against Newport's five! But Newport have had narrow escapes, notably in 1954, when Roy Burnett dropped a late goal to give Newport a 9-8 win."
"Newport's last defeat by Ebbw Vale was in the steel town in 1963, and the margin 6-0."
"Another notable point is that in only ten of the matches between the teams have Newport failed to run up double figures."
"Now today we welcome a rejuvenated Ebbw Vale team, with two famous British Lions behind them - David Nash, their skilful trainer, and Denzil Williams, who was a big success on the last Lions tour."