A cup winning match and triumphal return to Newport as reported in the Monmouthshire Merlin of 24th March 1882:-

"FOOTBALL.- The Challenge Cup Won Again by Newport.- The Newport and Llanelly clubs met at Swansea on Saturday, the second time this season, for the purpose of testing their strength in the final tie for the South Wales Challenge Cup. The last match having resulted in a draw, the event produced unusual interest and excitement among the votaries of the Rugby game, and the excursion trains which ran from Newport and Llanelly, and the intermediate stations, had each its full freight of passengers. The number of persons who assembled on the field was between four and five thousand. Newport appeared to be still the favourites, but the western team were not without their sanguine admirers. Llanelly won the toss, and elected to play with their backs to the sun; consequently the Newport team were placed at a disadvantage during the first half of the game. Owing to this circumstance, probably, the men from the west had things pretty much their own way for a while, and at half-time they had scored five points to nothing. After the interval sides were changed, and Llanelly kicking off, sent the ball in touch to the Newport 25. From the throw out the ball was dribbled out of the 25 by Newport, but after a scrimmage Roderick, by a smart run, regained the lost ground, and a scrimmage was formed opposite the Newport goal posts. The ball was then kicked in touch at the 25 flag, and when thrown out it was carried into neutral ground. Powell punted in touch, and after some tight play, varied by plucky attempts to run by Harding and Newman, Tanner kicked well into Llanelly quarters. This player followed up the ball, and came into violent collision with Evans, over whose head he was literally made to turn a somersault. Evans fell to the ground, apparently seriously injured, and had to be carried off the field, so that Llanelly played for the remainder of the time one man short. Tanner, uninjured by the collision, followed up the ball and kicked it in touch just outside. The ball remained in about this position for some time, being alternately in and out of touch; but at length Bridie, after trying to run in, kicked in touch well within the b25. From a throw out the ball was passed to Tanner, who got across the line and endeavoured to get well behind the posts. He was chased by the Llanelly backs, and just touched the ball in time to prevent a touch in goal. Harding took the place, but the angle was a difficult one, and the ball fell short. The Newport forwards immediately rushed on the ball, and kept it near the goal line, where a scrimmage was formed. From the scrimmage the ball was punted out by Llanelly, but it was kicked back over their goal line, and Bowen touched down in self-defence. The ball having been kicked out, was well returned by Bridie, and kept in the Llanelly 25. From a scrimmage the ball was kicked out of the 25, and Tanner in attempting a run was pushed in touch just below the flag. From the throw out Watkeys made a bold effort to escape, but he was cleverly tackled by Bridie, and a scrimmage followed, from which B. Newman got the leather, but was speedily thrown. From the next scrimmage the Newport captain passed to Harding, who kicked across the Llanelli line. Bowen returned, and the ball was landed in touch at the 25 flag. Soon afterwards, from a kick out by Bowen, Phillips, the Newport back, made a fair catch. Harding took the place and kicked into the Llanelly 25, when it was several times in and out of touch in about the same position. From a long throw out by Newport, Bridie got the ball, and kicking it forward, followed it up smartly and compelled Bowen to touch down in self-defence, amidst ringing cheers from the spectators. The score now stood five points to five, and the opinion became almost general that Newport would win. The ball on being kicked out was well returned by Harding, and sent in touch in the Llanelly 25. In some open play it was carried across the field, and again landed in touch. From the throw out the Newport forwards made a rush into the Llanelly goal, and the ball was touched by the Llanelly backs just in time to avert a try. From this point the issue was never in doubt. The result was a win for Newport by one try and four touches-down in self-defence, or seven points, to one try and two touches-down, or five points. Newport, therefore, takes the cup, which, it will be remembered, they held before in two successive years. The following were the teams: - Newport: F. Phillips, back; G. F. Harding and J. Bridie, three-quarter backs; B. Newman and E. Tanner, quarter backs; W. Phillips (captain), J. Lewis, L. Williams, H. M'Daniel, R. Gould, T. Harding, H. S. Lyne, Lloyd Jones, T. B. Jones, and T. J. S. Clapp, forwards.  Llanelly: D. Evans, back; H. Bowen and F. Powell, three-quarter backs; W. Watkeys and W. Roderick, half-backs; F. L. Margrave (captain) and J. Lewis, quarter backs; J. Brown, W. Mitchell, H. Mitchell, A. Cattell, W. Wilkins, D. Thomas, J. Francis, and T. H. Tobias, forwards. Umpires:- Newport: J. Copas (Swansea); Llanelly: E.C. Fry (Cardiff). Referee: E. Morris (Swansea). At the close of the match the Newport captain was carried off the field shoulder high, and all the members of the team were cheered as they entered the pavilion. On their arrival home the victors had a grand reception. They were escorted to the King's Head Hotel by hundreds of admiring friends who met them at the railway station, and several members of the team addressed the crowd from the hotel balcony."