"FOREWORD"
"Ten years ago this week the All Whites fielded the following team: R. Blyth, M. Wyatt, C. Jenkins. M. Dacey, A. Swift, D. Richards, D. B. Williams, C. Williams, J. Herdman, C. John, B. Clegg, G. Wheel, G. Roberts, R. D. Moriarty, R. Lewis."
"Reserves: A. Donovan, A. Meredith, B. Mugford."
"Injured: H. Davies, M. Keyworth, T. Cheesman & H. Hopkins."
"As every scribe, in every media, seems to be bathing in nostalgic tears of home brewed ale, now that we are in the 90's, it is perhaps appropriate that we spare a thought for our all too quickly passing seasons."
"On reflection we had possibly the best front five combination at the time. Two fine kickers of the ball, plus the magic of David Richards, the young Richard Moriarty, and a collection of top quality players, most having been recognised by their country - we saw some good rugby and surely not enough of Mike Ruddock, Gareth John and due to the passage of time Maurice Colclough."
"Back to the future - the new decade brings a new young team with everything to play for - the prospect of league rugby next year, changes in sponsorship deals and the projection of playing personalities to the general public."
"Let us hope that the magic ingredient possessed by the game of rugby is not lost, and that the present confusion over the setting up of a league system is settled soon without too much acrimony."
"At present Swansea are just sixth in the Merit Table and it seems likely that this position will be maintained, ensuring a place in the Premier Division, if leagues come into being next season."
"Todays visitors are Newport - old friends and adversaries; who have recently improved their performances, after a poor start to the season. The experience of Messrs. Stuart Watkins, Gareth Evans, Brian Price and David Watkins, who have been assisting the club recently, will surely help regain the prestige position previously enjoyed by the Black and Ambers."
"We look forward to an interesting afternoons entertainment."
"P.H.R."
"The Joys and Tribulations of being a Sports Reporter"
"by Edward Bevan"
"Sports Broadcaster and Journalist"
"Having agreed to contribute an article to the match programme, I was then specifically requested to relate my experiences as a broadcaster/journalist and how the work differs during summer and winter. It might even dispel the notion so often said to me that "I must have the best job in the world". "
"The grass is always greener on the other side but I would be the first to admit that there is not another job I would rather do - although it has it's hair-raising moments. It is not always a case of relaxing with a cool lager on summer days and merely jotting a few lines to please radio producers or sympathetic sports editors. Neither is it the case of occupying the best seats at Murrayfield or Twickenham on International days and revelling in the social atmosphere which accompanies such occasions."
"As someone who covers everyday of Glamorgans cricket season there are times when I get totally fed up with motorways, service stations, hotels and certain uncooperative gate-men. Their total objective, it seems, is to interrogate you thoroughly before allowing entry into a ground although you are armed with a T.C.C.B. pass, an N.U.J. identity card and a B.B.C. sticker prominently displayed on the windscreen. Last summer I drove 13,000 miles between April and September including a memorable 10 day tour of Lancashire, Birmingham and Yorkshire. Due to the uncooperative computer which arranges fixtures I first had to journey north, return to the Midlands before setting off to Yorkshire on a Friday night."
"Old Trafford is one of my favourite cricket grounds and it would have been pleasant to have dropped anchor in Manchester for four days. However the Sunday League game was played in Blackpool which meant abandoning a restful Sunday morning and leaving early to join the masses en-route to the most popular resort in the North of England. Four days later it was back down the M6 to Birmingham for 3 days, before an about turn on Friday evening to the dreaded M1 and back North to Leeds. A Sunday match at Headingley - not on your life - it was off to Hull on Humberside, another 60 miles each way trip in scorching weather. On Tuesday the long haul back home, introducing myself briefly to the family before leaving early next morning for Cardiff and a 10.30 am start in the Nat. West competiton - just an indication of how hectic life can get."
"Attempting to commentate on certain grounds which lack the facilities of the Test Match arenas is also liable to raise the blood pressure. At Blackpool I was situated on the club balcony, continually jostled by people who kept on asking questions even though I was on the air. A roof on a Sunday at Heanor in Derbyshire is not the ideal location, but I survived while at Easbourne 2 years ago a young man who had consumed much of the local brew attempted to wrestle the microphone from my grasp and talk to his Aunt in Tonypandy."
"Broadcasting and writing on the same game can also get hectic with Sports Editors requiring their copy as soon as possible for editing purposes. Various reports have been sent from peculiar locations due to the unavailability of telephones at press boxes. There was the kind lady at Luton who gave me a cup of tea when I requested the use of her telephone as public boxes nearby had been vandalised. There was the not so kind individual at Newport following the All Blacks game in October who kept banging the door of the booth because he thought I had been in there far too long, while I have also been forced to send some copy on a portable 'phone from a train on the London Underground."
"There is also the technical side of the job - I refer to setting up the apparatus which requires plugging in at various points so that contact can be made with the B.B.C. in Cardiff. As one who has to rely on my wife to change a plug, there has often been panic at 2.55 at St. Helens or Stradey Park when with 5 minutes to go before kick off there is a button I've forgotten to press!"
"Nevertheless I am quite satisfied to put up with the travelling, the pressures and cold November evenings at Ebbw Vale and Tredegar. My only wish is that the Welsh rugby team and Glamorgan would show some improvement so that my reports can be a little more cheerful."