On 6th September 1952 the South Wales Argus reported the game as follows:-
"JACK DAVIS SAYS –"
"Newport's New Young Men Made Good in First Game"
"NEWPORT'S win by 5g. (3p.g. 1d.g.) 4t., to 1p.g. 1t., 6pts. Over Abertillery may be regarded as a complete vindication of the club's decision to begin a period of rebuilding on the basis of youth. Though half the pack were new to the side, each new man thoroughly justified his promotion, and, more important still, each seemed to fit into the established pattern of Newport's play."
"This was especially so in the case of the two back-row forwards, Dick Sheppard on the open side and Malcolm Quarterly on the blind side, for the ex-Newport High School boy and the ex-Newbridge man not only fitted in perfectly, but also made very substantial personal contribution to Newport's attack."
"Sheppard's intelligent touches and frequent brilliant individualism (a hint of which was given earlier in the week in the Abercarn seven-a-sides) was indeed, one of the main features of the game, and this ex-Welsh secondary schools international centre seems certain to earn fame as a winging-forward."
"Ron Bridle (Pontypool), in the second row, and Ernest Pryor (Newbridge), in the front row, also blended well, and D. Price (Machen), the new full-back, was quite sound."
"Hesitant Start"
"Naturally enough, Newport's start was hesitant, but once the team got into their stride, and the attack achieved its old rhythm, Abertillery did not stand a chance. There was much strong running (and not a little poor finishing) by the centres, Malcolm Thomas and Bryn Williams, and John Lane ran with all his old strength and determination."
"At first handicapped by sluggish heeling and the close marking of K. Morse and D. Hartley, the Newport half-backs, Roy Burnett and Billy Williams, did not find their form till the second half, but they were improving all the time."
"Abertillery's opening was deceptively flattering. Morse scoring a well-earned try within a couple of minutes. This very fast and intelligent loose forward, as well as his companion in the back row, D. Hartley, continued to play notably effective football, and the Abertillery forward generally did well when it came to loose footwork."
"Behind the scrum, however, there was all the evidence of lack of training. W. Jones, a very lively and resourceful scrum-half, gave his backs plenty of chances, but was quite inadequately backed up by threequarters whose ideas of giving and taking passes were elementary."
"Bad Tackling"
"A most extraordinary feature of Abertillery's play, too, was that so many of their backs indulged in so much shadow tackling. More than one of Newport's scores should have been prevented. All this certainly does not apply to Trevor Bowen, whose full-back play was without blemish."
"Abertillery can do much better than this by getting down to serious training and perhaps it would be well for Newport not to be over-confident as the result of what was their biggest victory over the Western Valley club since the war."
"Newport's tries were scored by John Lane (2), Sheppard, Sargeant and Bryn Williams. Peter Davies converted one and kicked three penalty goals, and Burnett dropped a goal. For Abertillery, Morse's early try was supplemented by a penalty goal by Sheen."
"The second test of this new Newport team – when the combined team of Abercarn, Crumlin and Llanhilleth are met at Rodney Parade on Wednesday (kick-off 6.15p.m.) should be very interesting."