"EDITORIAL .... by Roger Panting"
"Will a turn in the year see a change in Newport's fortunes? Certainly the gods weren't with the club for the best part of 1997. Bridgend, Ebbw Vale and Cardiff were all games carelessly tossed away, and the final experience of 1997 saw a 22-10 lead at The Gnoll turned into a 1-point defeat. In the first half the Neath supporters were as quiet as mice as for once Newport took all their chances to build up a healthy lead. When Newport's former outside half Chris John gift-wrapped a belated Christmas present to his former colleagues by kicking the ball straight to wing Matthew Robinson, who took his chance splendidly, the game looked over, but from that moment on Newport gave the impression of a side not being accustomed to being ahead and hence stood back to allow Neath into the game. Lack of discipline saw yellow cards for Gareth Taylor, Rod Snow and Sven Cronk, and a red one for Ian Gough from referee Peter Bolland, a former Newport player. Gough's indiscretion was the last throw of the dice for it allowed Chris John the last laugh on his former team mates by kicking a match-winning 30-yard goal. Shaun Connor had difficult chances to win the game for Newport but he was unsuccessful and was somewhat surprisingly made the scapegoat for Newport's morale-sapping defeat by being omitted from the selected side for the subsequently postponed encounter at Bridgend. True, he has not been at his best of late but it is only a month ago since he was nearly the hero of the hour by scoring 20 points against Cardiff and, furthermore, he did run 80 yards to score at Neath to set Newport's wheels in motion. His replacement, Alex Lawson, had a splendid game at Neath at full back, courageously fielding the high ball and making Martyn Llewellyn's try, but Premier League matches and casual jaunts against the likes of Pwllheli are a vastly different proposition. Connor is only young and promising, and one can hope that his confidence will be restored to enable him to regain his rightful place in the side."
"Newport's performance at Neath can be put in perspective in that the following week Neath demolished Llanelli 31-6. What a turn around from the first Saturday of the season when a dismal Neath were defeated 52-23 at Stradey Park. However, the four points Neath collected from last Saturday's win ensures that Bridgend and Newport are now the only contenders for the sole relegation spot. Newport must win the rearranged game at The Brewery Field to stand any chance, but were they to do so then the relegation tussle between the clubs is not likely to be resolved until the last game of the season on 16th May when Newport entertain Neath and Ebbw Vale are at home to Bridgend. In the short term it does not get any easier for Newport because their next scheduled league fixtures are against leaders Swansea and then reigning champions Pontypridd at Sardis Road."
"Mention has been made in certain sources that relegation would not be the end of the world for Newport and a spell in the First Division would give them a chance to regroup. This is complete nonsense, for the repercussions of relegation would be endless ... no European competition next season, no fixtures against the leading sides unless favourable cup draws, less money from the W.R.U. Players would leave if their contracts could be bought up, for a season in the First Division would serve no purpose for the likes of Machacek, Gough and Matthew Watkins. Crowds would dwindle, sponsors would be reluctant to invest their money and for the diehard supporters visits to the likes of Bonymaen and Merthyr are not for the faint-hearted when one can travel fourteen miles and watch Cardiff v Brive. Newport are quite likely to gain promotion in their first season but by then the damage may have already been done because once you are down among the deadmen past experience has shown that it is a terribly difficult task to regain one's footing and not become a yo-yo club (i.e. up one minute down the next). Aberavon are the best example, whilst Newbridge and Pontypool are perfect illustrations of once proud clubs struggling for victories and fans. Caerphilly are likely to be promoted this season, but who would bet against them being relegated next season. Newport are not, however, without hope for with a fair rub of the green victory over Bridgend should be achieved and points could be collected against Ebbw Vale and Neath at Rodney Parade. There is still one final option ... the W.R.U. could review its decision to have only eight clubs in the Premier League. This season has proved that clubs are not interested in meaningless competitions like today's Challenge Trophy and as the English Clubs are unlikely to assist the Welsh the only option would seem to be to increase the league. A Celtic Cup has been mooted with the likes of Munster and Glasgow joining the Welsh sides in a new competition, but that is unlikely to find favour with the leading Welsh clubs, as once again it would be no crowd puller."
"Finally, in case any of you are wondering whatever happened to our former star centre John Colderley, who last season was moving up the Welsh rankings, the answer is that having joined Moseley in July he suffered a serious neck injury two weeks after he arrived at The Reddings. He was only recently given the all-clear to resume playing and was selected to make his debut against Sale in last week's Tetley Bitter Cup-tie but, unfortunately, failed to do so due to it being postponed."