"ABERTILLERY v NEWPORT"

"This evening it is a pleasure to welcome old friends and rivals Newport to the Park. They like us have yet to win a Heineken League game and will be anxious to start their season rolling this evening by recording a moral boosting win. The close season has seen an exodus of players from the famous Rodney Parade Club. Players who have served the Club over recent seasons have decided to try their luck in other parts of the Principality. Chris Wyatt, David Llewellyn and Johnathon Westwood opting for Neath, whilst Duncan Hughes has joined Llanelli, Mike Voyle Cardiff, James Alvis Swansea, Roger Bidgood and Simon McCracken Rumney, Andrew Lewis and Andrew Dibble Treorchy."

"In the opening encounters of the season the 'Black and Ambers' have lost 16 - 6 pts at Dunvant and on Saturday to Newbridge by 15 - 6 pts. Their points in both games have come from the boot of Byron Hayward who of course was a leading scorer for the !Green and Whites' last season. Newport team manager David Watkins denies that any crisis exists at the Newport Club and that better days are ahead. This evening no doubt Richard Goody will be rallying his 'troops' in an effort to stem the decline in the fortunes of the famous Newport Club."

"So this evenings encounter provides an opportunity for both sides to gain some impetus, with Newport facing forthcoming fixtures against Bridgend, Pontypridd and Neath during the next few weeks and the 'Green and Whites' facing the prospect of away fixtures at Treorchy and Pontypool, whilst entertaining Bridgend during the same period."

"We welcome Newport to the Park. We hope that this evenings fixture will be entertaining for supporters and that following the game the Abertillery Club house affords hospitality for our most welcome guests, the players, officials and supporters of Newport Rugby Club."