From the match programme:
NOTES
NO RECORDS AT STAKE THIS TIME
by JACK DAVIS
This season we are, of course, back to the traditional four matches per season with Cardiff. And, as usual, the third and fourth matches will be in February and March. Often in the past, these clashes have had records at stake with the consequence that big gates have been attracted. But Cardiff have already lost three matches this season and Newport two, and, as one of those two was to Neath at home, there is not even a ground record to attack.
However, Cardiff-Newport clashes have a unique flavour of their own and we dont know what to expect this afternoon. The fact that on the first day of October Newport had a near-record drubbing by 27-0 at the Arms Park might suggest to those who do not know their rugby history that Cardiff start today as hot favourites. The wiser ones will wait and see!
It hardly seems 15 years ago that for an historic match at the Arms Park there were 48,500 spectators, the biggest crowd for a purely club contest ever known in amateur rugby. It was the climax of a golden period,for Cardiff, dominated by Bleddyn Williams and Jack Matthews, and their eclipse by Roy Burnett and his happy band of team-mates. Who knows but that soon another vintage year of great personalities will come to entertain us.
There were, indeed, hints of a new age of stars in Cardiffs early performances this season. Within the first month they had amassed over 200 points. Maurice Richards was scoring tries galore, Gerald Davies was playing like a certain choice for the next Welsh team, and Billy Hullin was working the scrum like a master. But since that notable win over Newport, the Cardiff machine had begun to creak and after just scraping home at Northampton and Cambridge, they came down to earth with a crash at Ebbw Vale just over a week ago.
In the meantime, Newport, after a very uncertain start, have recovered well.
So it is anybodys guess what will happen today.
From the Western Mail of Tuesday, 15th November 1966:
Will-o-wisp Watkins paves Newport win
By J. B. G. THOMAS
NEWPORT *2-0-8, CARDIFF 0-0-0
*One dropped
BRITISH Lion acting-captain David Watkins was the hero of an exciting evening at Rodney Parade last night when he guided Newport to victory beneath the floodlights with a superb personal display of controlled tactical rugby.
He was everywhere, a darting will-o-the-wisp, and as a result of his outstanding display, Newport, thoroughly deserved their victory by a goal and a dropped goal to nil, in a tense and exciting struggle that held attention from first whistle to last.
For Watkins as captain it was sweet revenge for the recent heavy defeat of 27-0 suffered by Newport at Cardiff Arms Park. It restored the balance for the season between the clubs and made certain that Cardiff would not win all four matches this winter.
Dismal dreariness
Following the dismal dreariness of Saturdays trial match, this was a game that warmed the heart of all present and the Newport supporters, unashamedly partisan as they have every right to be in the tradition of domestic Welsh rugbv loved every moment of it.
Cardiff had their chances, particularly during the first 20 minutes and for a 15-minute spell in the second half, but tactically they preferred the boot to the hand at half back, and this was their undoing throughout.
The fact that B. J. Jones at full back was desperately unhappy in dealing with high kicks, persuaded Cardiff to kick rather than pass, but they had reckoned without the superb covering ability of the diminutive Watkins who gave as good an exhibition of this phase of the game as Cliff Morgan used to do during his career against Newport.
Play was particularly hard at forward and the mauls were fiercely contested The set scrums were even but Newport held a slight advantage at the lineout where B. Price emulated his captain in producing a Lions performance.
Worked desperately
The Perrins brothers, Webber and Poole, gave Price excellent support, and the whole pack drove through readily. However, K. A. Rowlands, the Cardiff captain, worked desperately hard as did O'Shea, Baxter and Pender, but as an eight they could not break out of the stern forward stalemate produced by the intensity of effort on the part of both packs.
Behind the scrum, Watkins dominated the scene, and on this form must still be first choice for Wales at outside half. Ndominated the scene, and on this form must still be first choice for Wales at outside half.
Neither threequarter line enjoyed much action in attack but did notable work in defence, and all four wings were busily engaged in this department.
B. J. Jones had a nightmare match at full back but his many failures to gather the ball did not result in a Cardiff score because of the skill of Watkine. On the other hand, Cheney, the Cardiff full back, who played particularly well, conceded a try through his only error.
Such is the glorious un-certalntv of the game, but to?day I am sure Cardiff, and W. Hullin in particular, will regret the fact that he did not get his backs running with the ball.
For Newport, it was the sweet honey of deserved success, and Welsh selector Glyn Morgan must have noted many players in his selection book.
David Watkins had put Newport ahead at the interval with a drop goal. The exchanges were hard and exciting, if unspectacular.
In the second half Newport, after surviving desperate pressure, returned once more to the attack through the punting of David Watkins. After failing, narrowly, with a high drop at goal, he engineered the decisive score.
He put up a high punt to Cheney, who just failed to gather, 15 yards from his line, and when the ball bounced forward S. J. Watkins fly-kicked through over the Cardiff line to get the touchdown for a try, unopposed at the posts, for B. J. Jones to convert easily.