"CLUB NOTES"
"Last Saturday was a 'Red Letter Day' for Newport Rugby Club, as it saw a 'Black and Amber' player wearing the Scarlet jersey of Wales once again. Our heartiest congratulations are extended to skipper David Burcher and No. 8 Jeff Squire on their selection to play against Ireland and on the way they helped Wales achieve victory. This is certainly proving a memorable season for David, captain of the Combined Clubs XV, captain of Wales 'B', Barbarians and now Wales. Let's hope it continues with him leading 'the Black and Ambers' to a major trophy and gaining a place on the British Lions tour to New Zealand. Jeff has not had the best of luck this season with illness and injuries, but it is certain that the experience he gained last Saturday will all be to his advantage and pay off in the next game. Congratulations must also go to Gareth Evans on his selection as replacement. He must have been disappointed on not getting on to the field, but this could be rectified before the end of the season."
"All those supporters and members who made the journey to Tumble must be congratulated for all blowing in harmony to ensure that the final penalty kick went wide of the posts. It certainly was a narrow escape and although we are pleased to be through to the quarter finals, we must spare a thought for the village team who gave us such an enormous scare. Congratulations Tumble, luck was certainly on our side, and as 'Nick' Carter said after he had been revived with brandy 'with that kind of luck, we are bound to win the cup' Let's hope he is right."
"The draw for the quarter finals takes place on Sunday 30th January. With four Gwent clubs through perhaps 'Lady Luck' will be kind and keep us apart as well as giving us a home draw!!"
"Members and supporters are reminded to make a note in their diaries of the re-arranged matches versus Swansea and Bridgend. The 'All Whites' will visit Rodney Parade on Tuesday 15th February, while we travel to the Brewery Field Bridgend on Saturday 23rd April."
"Our congratulations are extended to our former captain and Welsh International Leighton Jenkins on receiving the O.B.E. in the New Years Honours List."
"WELCOME TO RODNEY PARADE"
"This afternoon we are delighted to welcome Llanelli, one of the founder clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union, to Rodney Parade. Fixtures between our two clubs commenced in 1877, and it is interesting to note that the present record reads. Played 141, Newport winning 74, Llanelli winning 44 and 23 being drawn. But pure statistics fail to tell the friendships that have been made over the years during the heat of battle and are still being made today, or of the tremendous respect both clubs have for each other."
"During recent years, the Scarlets, have been the outstanding side in World Club Rugby, producing a brand of rugby that has not only achieved results, but thrilled all those thousands of spectators who have been fortunate enough to see them play. Their ability to lift themselves on the big occasion has been outstanding and is reflected in their W.R.U. Challenge Cup successes. It has been rumoured that they lost to 'that club down the other end of the Newport Road' in this seasons competition on the instructions of George Morgan, who wanted to see a new name inscribed on the trophy."
"If an air of depression had settled over Stradey on Saturday 8th January, it quickly disappeared last Saturday when their own captain, Phil Bennett, led Wales to victory over Ireland. Phil is one of the games gentlemen, and has been an outstanding leader at Llanelli. His contribution has been immense, but being the person he is, he would quickly name team mates J.J. Williams, Roy Bergiers, Ray Gravell, Barry Llewellyn, Derick Quinnell, Andy Hill, Selwyn Williams, Ray Thomas, Hefin Jenkins and Gareth Jenkins as the men responsible for the success and not forgetting the coaching staff under Norman Gale and Tom Hudson."
"We realise at Rodney Parade that now you are out of the cup, you will be concentrating all your energies to winning the Club Championship and the respective Merit Tables. As the leaders of all three, we accept your challenge and can assure you that we have no ideas of vacating our position at the top."
"Welcome Llanelli, the scene is set for a game containing all that is good in rugby football. May the best team win and your visits to Rodney Parade continue."
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The match programme for Newport v Newbridge on 11th January 1992 included the following article:-
"REMEMBER THIS GAME?"
"NEWPORT MASTERED LLANELLI. . ."
"Back in 1976-7 Llanelli rugby team carried off the Welsh club championship with a record of thirty victories and only seven defeats in their 37 club match programme. Yet two of those defeats were inflicted on them by Newport, who won 13-9 at Stradey Park in October and 7-3 at Rodney Parade in January. In fact, Newport lost only six of their games, but they were twice held to a draw, the latter results enabling Llanelli to just pip them for the title!"
"The January 22 match was certainly a grim but exciting spectacle which kept the big crowd on tenterhooks. Llanelli had such players as Phil Bennett, the Welsh captain, J.J. Williams, Roy Bergiers, Chris Griffiths and Phil May, who is still going strong for them. Newport were captained by David Burcher, and in their team were Jeff Watkins, Gareth Evans, Colin Smart, Rhys Morgan and Jeff Squire."
"Incidentally, five of those players were afterwards selected to tour New Zealand with the British Lions, and one of them, Phil Bennett, had the honour of leading the Lions, who won one of the four Tests and lost the final one by the narrow margin of 10-9. With him were David Burcher, Gareth Evans and Jeff Squire, and J.J. Williams."
"Newport full back Leighton Davies put the Newport supporters in high glee when he landed a superb penalty goal to bring his points total for the season to 172. Then the thrustful Burcher outwitted the Llanelli defence to burst through for an unconverted try."
"The Llanelli forwards strove desperately to master the Newport pack, but Colin Smart, who was later capped by England, and his colleagues stood firm and resisted all attempts to make them retreat. The Newport backs, too, tackled tenaciously to prevent the speedy Llanelli wings, J.J. Williams and David Nicholas, breaking through. In the end Llanelli had to be content with the inevitable penalty goal by Phil Bennett, who went on to steer Wales to the Triple Crown. As for Newport, their crowning glory came a few months later when they defeated Cardiff to win the Welsh Rugby Cup."