"WELCOME TO PONTYPOOL PARK"
"For our first Saturday home game of the season, we extend a warm welcome to the Newport team, officials and supporters to Pontypool Park."
"Newport are captained this season by centre Roger Bidgood, and they also have several other players in their squad who are familiar with Pontypool Park. Our congratulations to Roger on his selection for the Barbarians on Tuesday."
"Today's game is a vital one for both clubs. Newport will be looking to add to their solitary league success over Cross Keys, while Pontypool will be seeking their first league win of the season."
"The first few weeks of the season have been desperately disapointing for Pontypool. After putting up such a gallant performance against Llanelli at Stradey Park they have fallen away somewhat. There is no doubt that there is considerable talent in the back division. What they need, obviously, is a better and more regular supply of the ball to be effective. In fact, they have scored some cracking tries this season, so it just leaves one wondering what could happen."
"There is no wish to criticise the forwards or hold them in comparison with previous packs. The simple truth is they are largely inexperienced at this type of pressure rugby, the exceptions to this inexperience being vice-captain Vince Davies, fellow back-row man Denzil Earland and tight-head prop Andrew Hunter."
"The match committee and coaches are only too aware of the present situation. They have declared their intentions by launching a major recruitment drive to sign some experienced forwards to bolster the pack."
"For their next Heineken League game, Pontypool travel to play Swansea at St. Helens on Saturday, 2nd October, kick-off 2.30pm. The next home league game is against Aberavon on Saturday, 23rd October, when the kick-off will be the usual 2.30pm. Prior to that league game, the next home game is Saturday,9th October, when Weston are the visitors."
"Finally, one last thought about today's game ... we sincerely hope that it is not marred by any of the things that has resulted in four players being sent off in as many games."
"GRAHAM HOWDEN"
"A DISAPPOINTING START"
"Last week's match at Bridgend was a painful experience for everyone involved with the Club, supporters, officials AND ALSO the players. To be fair to the players who represented the Club at the Brewery Field, an awful lot has been expected of a very young and inexperienced pack, and it has become an absolute priority that we recruit some bulk and experience to compliment (and NOT replace) the youngsters up front that bear a great burden of responsibility for providing enough ball to enable our backs to spend more time attacking, and less time defending. These young forwards have not had the luxury that was afforded to forwards like myself, Bobby Windsor, Graham Price and Chris Huish - that of serving an "apprenticeship" alongside older, experienced "heads", and we must bear this in mind when taking into account the performances this season. We must continue to work on, and encourage, these youngsters, while striving to recruit a number of experienced forwards to supplement them. We ARE trying to recruit this level of experience, and members may be assured that we, as a Club, will spare no efforts in our determination to attract the forwards that we need to supplement the youngsters, and lend impetus to our League Campaign."
"Today's match, against the "Old Enemy" will be another tough test for our youngsters, although we are hopeful that, with a bit more ball, our backs, who have looked impressive every time that they have had the ball this season, will be able to enable us to pursue our first League points of the season. The fact that both Pontypool AND Newport regard a win against each other as being of probably more importance than a win against Llanelli or Swansea, is indicative of the intense rivalry that exists between teams in Gwent (or Monmouthshire as I prefer to think of it), and perhaps that Robin Davey was more than a little correct when in a recent editorial he cited this intense rivalry as one of the causes of the demise in Rugby in the county. Certainly, Rugby in Gwent HAS declined over the past eight or ten years, and I would agree that the REAL enemy to Pontypool and Newport is not EACH OTHER, but the domination of the West Wales Clubs in Welsh Rugby. I would like to see a greater level of communication between the Heineken League Clubs within Gwent, maybe in the form of a periodic meeting/forum, so that we could present united arguments, to the benefit of Gwent Rugby, at both District "A" Meetings (where non-league Clubs do not even want to discuss matters that affect league Clubs only), and Heineken League Meetings."
"It would be nice to think that in the not too distant future Pontypool fans would be willing Newport to win down at Stradey, whilst Black & Amber fans hope for a Pooler success at St. Helens. We would all do well to remember that every time Newport come a cropper against Dunvant, or Pontypool crash by seventy-odd points to Bridgend, then another nail is hammered into the coffin of GWENT Rugby and that it is increasingly likely that potential talent from within the county will seek to develop their Rugby careers OUTSIDE the county."
"I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Players, Officials and Supporters of Newport R.F.C. to Pontypool Park this afternoon. You are most welcome, and I hope that we see a match worthy of these two great Clubs. I further hope that certain sections of the media report on the match and refrain from trying to suggest that any isolated incidents on the pitch are a manifestation of past differences that have existed between the Clubs."
"I would also like to welcome, as my guest this afternoon, Mr. David Lewis of David Lewis Civil Engineering Ltd. It is an ongoing policy of the Club to try to foster relations between the Club and local business, and we hope that Mr. Lewis enjoys his visit to Pontypool Park this afternoon."
"S.J.P."