"Throughout the afternoon of 8 March 1879, the Newport telegraph offices of the "Monmouthshire Merlin" were besieged by urgent enquirers seeking news of the game in Cardiff. At Sophia Gardens, 'the sister ports', as contemporaries called them, were engaged in the final tie of the South Wales Challenge Cup. The game had aroused great interest in both towns, and a thousand Newport supporters had travelled to Cardiff on one of the first footbal excursions to be run in South Wales.

'On its becoming known that Newport had won', reported the Merlin later, Cardiff having gone down by one goal and two tries to nil, 'the news was circulated through the town and received by many with almost frantic excitement'. Boys and youths were running wildly through the streets shouting "Newport has won!" By the time the teams were due at Newport station by the 9.30 mail, 'a dense crowd had assembled and a band of music engaged to play the conquering heroes through the main streets'. A pair-horse brake was ready to receive the team, and as the train pulled in 'a deafening cheer was given. This was taken up by the crowd outside the station until the town was ringing with the cheers of the multitude, intermingled with the occasional strains of the brass band which for a time was literally overpowered.' One of the brake-horses began prancing excitedly in the milling crowd until one of the players, Teddy Jenkins, jumped on its back and rode it western-style. At Cardiff Road a halt was made, 'followed by renewed cheering, shaking of hands with the members of the team, a general waving of hats and tremendous confusion'. The team was led to the Kings' Head Hotel, 'where a speech was demanded from the captain and cheer after cheer greeted him as he arose to address the multitude'.

The era of football enthusiasm had arrived..."

(taken from Page 1 of 'Fields of Praise: The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union' 1980 by David Smith and Gareth Williams and published by the University of Wales Press)

This was the first time that Cardiff had charged for admission to a game - thus causing some resentment with letters of protest being written to the press - and gate receipts totalled £72.

The game attracted much attention from further afield. The following report on 10th March 1879 is from the Bristol Mercury & Daily Post:-

"FOOTBALL MATCH."

"THE SOUTH WALES CHALLENGE CUP."

"The final tie between the Cardiff and Newport Football Clubs for the possession of the South Wales Challenge Cup was played on Saturday in the Sophia-gardens field, Cardiff. The Cup, which is a massive silver one of considerable value, has to be won three years in succession by the same club, when it comes into their possession absolutely. All the clubs in South Wales play; then the winning clubs together, until they are reduced to two, when the final tie is played. Last year it was the Bridgend and Newport; this year the Cardiff and Newport. The Newport club were therefore the holders of the cup for the year. The Newport team consisted of fifteen of the best men of the club, and who last year carried off the cup at Bridgend, with their captain (Mr. W. Phillips). The Cardiff team was the match team, with their captain  (Mr. R. H. Faoe). The umpire on the Newport side was Mr. R. Mullock, and on the Cardiff side MR. F. Selby, the referee being Mr. Herberts, Land and Water. A special train from Newport brought in the Newport team and about a thousand visitors. The day was remarkably fine, and several thousand persons assembled in the field to witness the match. The space for the players was roped off, and large stakes driven into the ground, but the excitement was so great that posts and ropes were hurled to the ground from the pressure of people outside. The Newport team kicked at a quarter to four by Newman, and in a few minutes the Cardiff team were obliged to touch down in self-defence. After some scrimmages the ball was brought out, placed by Newman, and Moggridge kicked a splendid goal for Newport. The play continued for some time, but the betting, which at the beginning was 5 to 4 on Newport, rose to 10 to 1. From first to last Newport made all the points, and though Cardiff played well they were no match for Newport, many of whom were stronger men than those in the Cardiff team. In the end Newport made one goal, two tries, and four touchdowns. The Newport team were loudly applauded on leaving the ground. In the evening a dinner was given at the Assembly-rooms of the Cardiff Arms hotel, Mr. D. Watson in the chair. There was a large attendance, and after dinner the healths of both teams were drunk amid loud applause. The Cardiff captain admitted that they had been fairly beaten, but expressed their intention of again competing for the cup next year. The Newport team also admitted that the Cardiff team had played well. The healths of the chairman, referee, and umpires were given during the evening."