From the match programme:-
"Cardiff v. Newport"
"WEDNESDAY, 5th APRIL, 1978 KICK OFF 7.15p.m."
"As inevitable as the tides coming and going, so draws near the end of the 1977-78 campaign. Indeed this evening sees the last home appearance of a season in which we have seen some marvellous Rugby played by our side on the Arms Park. The bitter disappointment of last Saturday's Cup exit, however, has served to cloud our memories of this fact. We were desperately hoping that the climax of the season would have come in the shape of our second consecutive appearance at the National Stadium on 29th April in the final. Swansea, however, had different thoughts on this matter and chose last Saturday to end a sequence of 13 matches without a victory over Cardiff. At 15-3 the game appeared to be over and the Swansea supporters were beginning to make their victory celebrations. Suddenly though the game was blown open by those two explosive tries to put us within two points of Swansea's score. The missed conversion of the second try was of little consequence. Had it gone over to tie the scores, Swansea would have still won by virtue of the fact that they had scored three tries to our two so we just had to have another score. We had several near misses, but another score was not to be ours but Swansea's. What a finish though. If only we could have done this or if only we could have done that. If is a little word with a big meaning and, as was once said by ex-player and committee man, Harry Rees, "If pigs could fly we would be shooting them down for bacon". So to Swansea, congratulations on a fine victory."
"To this evening's visitors Newport we extend a hearty welcome and also congratulations on their achievement in beating Aberavon and reaching their second consecutive final. I am sure it must be paramount in their minds now to hang on to that Cup which they won last year."
"Tonight's game will be the 337th in the series between us and is by far more than any other club we play. As a matter of interest the nearest approach by any other club to this massive total is guess who: Swansea. Last Saturday's game was the 232nd in that series so Newport are over 100 games ahead. Strangely enough, our opponents next Saturday are Swansea so perhaps we can salve our wounds slightly if we can manage a double over both the finalists. I'm sure both our opponents will not be too worried about the outcome of their games other than on final day and both will hope they can field full sides on the big day."
"As previously stated we have witnessed some marvellous Rugby from the lads this season and some of the tries scored have been a joy to watch. On reflection one remembers the great games of September when 170 points were scored in seven games. Then a slight fall from grace with defeats from Newport and Pontypridd but then a great run of wins with only the Moseley defeat up until Christmas. During this period we had some fine wins, such as Llanelli away, the drawn game with Pontypool (what a match), the spectacular London Welsh game and a good win at Bridgend. January and February brought their quota of excitement highlighted by the great Cup win at Pontypool with Gerald's four fantastic tries. These were closely followed by splendid efforts against Aberavon away, London Welsh away, Llanelli home and then another great win at Ebbw Vale in the Cup. This very good run was brought to an end by our home bogy team Bridgend who beat us 7-6. This perhaps could be attributed to a J.P.R. straight left. All in all then we have no cause to complain but that Cup would certainly have amounted to icing on the cake."
"Now I suppose you all spotted the mistake in the Baa Baa's programme notes. If you didn't, I mentioned that Rex Willis had played against Australia in 1948. This should have been Bill Tamplin of course. I rest my case on the evidence that I copied it from Danny's book however. The maestro himself is mystified as to how it got there, but I think we can forgive the odd mistake in a statistical record of such monumental proportions."
"Finally it only remains to hope you all enjoy what's left of the season and we will be open for business again on September 1st, 1978."