History of Newport RFC :: 1874

"The first five weeks of 1993 were full of contrasting fortunes for Newport rugby team. January was certainly a triumphant month for them, for following their victory over Neath they travelled to the Eastern Valley in successive weeks and returned celebrating two excellent victories. Their first one - against Pontypool United - put them in the sixth round of the Welsh Cup where they will be at home to Cardiff Harlequins on February 27."

"The second victory was achieved against their keen rivals, Pontypool, who they had previously beaten at Rodney Parade. Unfortunately, this match resulted in two players being sent off. One was the popular and dynamic Chris Scott, whose dismissal was a very rare experience for him. Another unlucky player was Newport prop forward Mark Davis, who sustained a broken wrist in another match."

"To offset these mishaps, Roger Bidgood was chosen for the Welsh five-nations championship squad and was selected for the Wales B team who went to Holland. He should be back in the senior team before the season is much older! Newport also welcome back their captain, Glenn George, who had been out of action through injury for some weeks."

"But then came a dark patch. In the first week in February they were beaten by their neighbours, Cross Keys, at Pandy Park, and for the second successive season they suffered another humiliating defeat against Gloucester at Kingsholm. The latter, particularly, did not enhance Newport's reputation on the other side of the Severn Bridge!"

"Still, cause for satisfaction is that Keith Westwood, a very experienced coach and ex-player, has agreed to continue coaching Newport's backs, and more bright news is that Welsh international Kevin Moseley should soon be struck off the casualty list."

"Newport can also reflect that they are now in the happy position of having two young players who are fairly accurate marksmen. The pair are Jonathan Westwood, who besides scoring six tries has already kicked more than a century of points, and Jason Williams, who is living up to his reputation as a goal kicker, as Pontypool ruefully discovered!"

"As a climax to their under-21 team's activities, Newport have decided to stage an under-21 seven-a-side tournament on Saturday, May 15. Mr. Keith Evans, the under-21 team manager, is hoping that a large number of teams will be interested, and at the moment it is planned to invite 16 teams. They will be divided into four divisions of four teams each, with the divisional winners going through to the semi-finals."

"WELCOME AGAIN, BRIDGEND . . ."

"Bridgend have arrived at Rodney Parade this afternoon determined to turn the tables on Newport, who inflicted a heavy 24-5 defeat on them at the Brewery Field back in October. Their form during the past two months certainly suggests that Newport will not find it easy to prevent them achieving that objective, for since the end of November Bridgend have defeated such teams as Llanelli, Pontypool and Newbridge."

"Like Newport, they have reached the sixth round of the Welsh Cup, and like Newport they have been drawn at home against a team who operate at a lower level ? Llandovery of the third division of the Heineken League. Last season Bridgend were knocked out of the competition by Newport at Rodney Parade in the seventh round, though only after a hard-fought contest."

"Bridgend, however, have a distinguished cup record. In four successive seasons - from 1979 to 1982 - they were finalists, and twice they carried off the trophy by defeating Pontypridd and Swansea. In the other two finals they were foiled by Cardiff, though in the 1982 final Cardiff retained the cup by virtue of the more tries rule with the score standing at 12-12. Three years ago Bridgend were again finalists, but they were beaten by Neath."

"Again, like Newport, the Glamorgan club did not have a player in the Welsh team who opposed England, but their 22-year-old scrum half, Robert Howley, was selected for the Welsh B team's match against Holland at S'hertogenbosch, a Dutch town well known to Welsh soldiers during the Second World War."

"Howley is one of the outstanding Welsh prospects. He distinguished himself in the East Wales v West Wales match, and he was in the Welsh squad who went to Lanzarote. He also played for the Wales under-21 team against Ireland under-21 team at Newport last year, and a short time ago it was reported that Bath, the English champions, were looking hard in his direction!"

"Another 22-year-old, Matthew Lewis, has formed an effective partnership with Howley, and Richard Shaw, a versatile forward, continues to impress. So much so that he was chosen as one of the Welsh B team's replacements for the trip to Holland."

"Bridgend are in the fortunate position of having an inspiring and quickwitted captain and flanker in David Bryant, and among their recent newcomers are Welsh under-21 cap Phil Thomas from Cardiff, and Tim Michael, the former Swansea centre who made his league debut for Bridgend against Pontyppol. Bridgend are also looking forward to the return of their exciting wing, Welsh international Glen Webbe, who has been out of action for some time following a groin operation."