"CLUB NOTES"
"Today sees the start of our Centenary Season and I am certain that everyone connected with the club, i.e. Committee, Players and Supporters alike, share the hope that it is going to be a season of success, and one which all the people connected with Newport Rugby Club for the last ninety-nine years would be justly proud of. For during our celebrations throughout this season we must not forget the many thousands of people who have made Newport 'Great'. We will always be indebted to them for giving us such a heritage."
"Following the great revival during the last three months of last season, the committee in their wisdom have re-elected Geoff Evans as captain (for the third year in succession) and John Ryan as coach, and anyone who has seen them putting the players through their paces in pre-season training can rest assured that our destiny could not be in better hands. For these two, plus 1st team Match Secretary Nye Williams form this season's Selection Committee. They are the closest officials to the players, and the Committee being prepared to move with the times have placed the responsibility of obtaining a winning team in their hands. We wish them luck, and are confident that they will provide a record in keeping with the occasion."
"The team have already had two run-outs versus Usk (to celebrate their Centenary, and we offer our heartiest congratulations) and the Newport Junior Union. They are well aware of the importance of a good start to the season and with the same support as they received during last Easter are confident that we will start in the correct manner."
"Mr. Cyril Saunders has joined the Football Committee and can be relied upon, with all the other members of the committee, to give the players every encouragement."
"Everyone at Rodney Parade is delighted that Gerry Lewis is making such a good recovery from his recent illness. Gerry, like his father Ray, will always be held in great affection by Newport Rugby Club and we extend our Best Wishes for a speedy return to full health."
"WELCOME TO RODNEY PARADE"
"Once again Penarth provide the opposition in our opening game of the season and it is certain that they will feel honoured to do so in our Centenary Year."
"Although still battling to recapture former glories, 'Donkey Island' are looking to the inspiration of their newest recruit from our opponents at the other end of the Newport Road (Sch . . . You Know Who) Lyn Baxter, to improve their playing record. Having elected him captain, the club are hoping that his experience and enthusiasm for the game will inspire the young players at his command to greater things. If this transpires everyone in Welsh rugby will be delighted, for the hard working committee of this club deserve some success."
"Lyn and team coach 'Mog' Thomas (who, incidentally, spent a period of time at Rodney Parade a few years ago) have been putting the players through their paces in training and along with Malcolm Thomas form the three-man selection committee for like ourselves, Penarth have cut their selection committee for this season."
"The hard-working committee are well aware of the great responsibility that rests on their heads and are determined that the club will lose the 'Cinderella' tag that it has carried for so many years. Penarth are known throughout rugby as regular opponents for the Barbarians and did us a great favour last season when they were defeated by a greater margin by this illustrious club than we had been the previous April."
"The challenge to Penarth is not a new one, but one that they are certain to attack with lungs full of sea air, we wish them well, and long may they grace the rugby fields of the country."
"Welcome Penarth!"
"REFLECTIONS OF NEWPORT" By Kevin Bush, Penarth R.F.C."
"It is a great honour for Penarth to open Newport's official programme today, especially as it is your Centenary Year. Traditionally, we start the season at Newport, and usually, lose to give the home team an enthusiastic start to the new campaign!! However, this has not always been the case, as fixtures between our club commenced in 1889, and the first two games were won by Penarth!!"
"My initial experience of Rodney Parade was not with Penarth but as a young, enthusiastic full-back, with Devonport Services, a team which contained two players, Malcolm Thomas and Bryn Meredith, who were later to give sterling service to both Newport and Wales. Even in this first game at Newport I learned a lesson - it happened this way. A burly, Newport prop forward, Ernie Coleman, came "tearing" down the field toward the Clubhouse end, supported on either side and with only myself to beat. He feinted to pass to his left and he, being a prop, accepted the "dummy" willingly. As he touched down behind the posts, I wished the ground would open up and swallow me."
"Playing my first game for Penarth at Newport in September 1950, which we lost 24-0, I learned my second lesson, which was that "lightning" can strike in the same spot more than once. The lightning in this instance was that mercurial fly-half, Roy Burnett, who scored four tries from almost identical attacking positions. From then on, we usually lost the opening match at Rodney Parade, except for a "purple patch" in the mid-1950's when within two years we drew 10-10 and then won, thanks to three drop goals by the inimitable Bernard "Slogger" Templeman. In the last minute of the latter match, I tackled the Newport scrum-half Colin Evans who later went north, close to the corner flag, unsure whether he had scored to save the game for Newport. Touch-judge, your present Secretary, Nick Carter, adjudged that Colin had hit the corner flag before touching down. This is an example of the fair treatment you can expect at Newport, and gave us our first victory there since 1929!"
"Other memories of Newport recall the initiation of the Welsh Sevens, later to be known as the Snelling Sevens, in 1953 - the brainchild of the late Bill Everson, the Secretary of Newport and the first Secretary of the tournament. The close liaison between our clubs was shown when the late Lot Thorn, the Penarth Secretary, was appointed Chairman of the tournament committee to work with Bill on establishing it as the premier tournament in Wales. The very first tournament was held in Newport in April 1954, and we were involved in a 33-minute Second Round clash with Pontypool - this put the timetable out, and is probably the longest match in Sevens. After surviving that, we, due to Lot's glucose powder, only lost 9-6 to the eventual winners, Newport, in the semi-final. After losing again to Newport in the final at Swansea several years later, we gained our revenge by beating you in the semi-final at Cardiff, only for us to lose to Llanelli in the final."
"My personal thanks to Rodney Parade for giving me the opportunity of playing against and with, and seeing such great players as Ken Jones, Malcolm Thomas, John Lane, Roy Burnett, Billy Williams, Brian Jones (who scored in his first match against Penarth), Bunner Travers, Bryn Meredith, Len Jones, R. T. Evans, Doug Ackerman, Geoff Whitson, Glyn Davidge, Ian Ford, David Watkins, Keith Jarrett (who broke the existing club points record in a match against Penarth); Terry Smith and Harold Powell (an infamous second row pair for Penarth}, John Cavanna, Graham Jones, Elwyn Jones (who had his first game for the Barbarians against Newport), Doug Vizard and, of course, "Slogger" - the best scrum-half I have either played with or against."
"We have always been received graciously in the past by such people as Tommy Vile, Vince Griffiths and Bill Everson; and in the present era by Nick Carter, Ron Tovey, Bryn Williams, Nye Williams, Bob Evans and the remainder of your committee."
"Finally, sincere congratulations on behalf of Penarth Rugby Club to Newport on reaching their Centenary, and may the close ties between our clubs continue for the next hundred years, and many thanks for the welcome accorded our club by your supporters whenever we visit Rodney Parade."