"NEWPORT CAPS v. THE REST.- The Newport Cricket, Athletic, and Football Club opened their football season on Saturday with a club match, entitled Caps versus Rest, with Mr. J. M. Wood as captain. The leather was started at 3.30, in the presence of a large concourse of people, and was kept on the move for one hour and a half, and when time was called the game stood thus:- The Caps had obtained two goals, one try, and had compelled the Rest to touch down once in self-defence. The Rest only forced their opponents to touch down twice. On behalf of the Caps, Newman, Spittle, Jenkins, and W. Phillips (captain) played in splendid form, and the remainder were quite up to last year. Amongst the Rest, Lyne, Gulien, Thompson, and the captain (J. M. Wood) were well to the front, and promise to make first team men for the coming season. We append a list of the teams:- Caps: W. Phillips (captain), C. Phillips, A. C. Phillips, R. Loane, G. Harding, A. Goss, T. Ponsford, T. Spittle, W. Mitchell, C. H. Newman, J. Bothomley, Rest: J. M. Wood (captain), W. Wood, C. Thompson, - Gulien, H. Lyne, H. Gould, E. Goss, C. Chambers, H. Graham, T. Railton, H. Railton, H. Handy, G. Winn, Ll. Evans, E. D. Edwards, - Green, E. Evans, C. Jordan, H. Badderley."
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The Rest, 05 October 1878 
The Western Mail of 7th October 1878 reported the first game of the season:-
* There was no points system in place prior to 1890-91. Instead, a game was determined by the number of goals scored (conversions, dropped goals, and later, penalties). If a try was scored, an opportunity to convert the try into a goal was given. If the goal was kicked successfully, the try no longer counted.
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