The Times preview on the morning of the match was as follows:-

"Top dogs start underdogs in Welsh Cup Final"

"By Peter Walker"

"An air of unreality will envelop the National Stadium this afternoon where Cardiff and Newport meet in the sixth WRU challenge cup final. Unreal because for the first time since the competition began in 1971-72, Llanelli have failed to make the final. Indeed so strong has been their hold that until they were put out by Cardiff in the third round of this years' competition, Llanelli had lost only one cup match in five years and that the final against Neath in the first year!"

"It needed a monumental effort from this present Cardiff team to put them out and the subsequent hurdles of Pontypool and Aberavon in the semi-finals have fully extended Wales' most famous club in a way highly appropriate in their centenary year. In just 44 games they have passed the 1,000 point mark, one of the most impressive club scoring records in postwar British rugby, yet Cardiff go into this afternoon's match as slight underdogs."

"Second only to individual flair do the Welsh worship team discipline and Newport who have had their best season for nearly a decade have method in abundance. Based around a solid scrummaging pack who win most of set piece ball, even without the individual brilliance of their two British Lion centres, Burcher and Evans, they have a sufficient number of hard, direct running three-quarters to make them the most consistent side in the land. Already they have won the Welsh Merit Table and if Moseley fail to defeat Bristol this afternoon then Newport will also finish top of the Anglo-Welsh competition."

"Yet looking back at their progress through to the final of the WRU Cup, Newport were lucky to survive the third round where they were held to a 12 - 12 draw by the minor West Wales club, Tumble, and went through to the quarter finals by virtueof having scored the only try of the game."

"A breadth of experience and skilful blending of new talent has brought Newport to the brink of their most important game of the season. The wing forward, Keith Poole, who first played for the club in 1963 will be making his 458th appearance for Newport while, in a surprise move following a three-hour selection meeting, the club selectors have picked 21-year-old student Christopher Webber in the centre. Webber, usually a full back, is rated one of the most exciting prospects in Wales."

"Against them will be the formidable but erratic Cardiff pack behind whom those two explosive match winners, Gerald Davies and Gareth Edwards will be desperately anxious to win the only honour which has so far eluded them."

"Although the game has gripped local imagination with the same intensity as a full international, due to the rebuilding work on the west terrace of the National Stadium, the attendance of 48,500, which is still a world record for a game set when Cardiff met Newport in 1951, will not be beaten. Nevertheless over 30,000 are expected for this final duel of the season."

From the match programme:-

"NEWPORT RFC"

"If Cardiff believe they can win the Cup, then their opponents wilt not hear of the suggestion as Newport believe they will move first to the committee box at the end of the match to receive the trophy. "We did it in last Century and we can do it again. We have nothing to lose and so much glory to win!" "

"Newport have a long and proud record of success in competitive football. Their black and amber jerseys are recognised throughout the world and as they are a little older than Cardiff, they can claim to have supplied as many great players and tactical innovations during their lifetime as their rivals."

"They may not be as spectacular or as flamboyant as Cardiff, and smart a little when reference is made to the "Greatest", for they have battled long at the Arms Park and Rodney Parade with the men in black and blue. Their approach may have been more sober in the technical sense since only essayist Hayward D.J. would be able to write in detail of the rival capacities of players both ancient and modern when matches have ended, in the liquid sense!"

"Newport take the game seriously and put much thought and effort into it on the field. Off the field they remain traditionalists, and like Cardiff, highly ethical in the true sense of amateurism, putting the cause before the game. Yet today, they want to win and hope that their greatest player, Arthur Gould, will be looking down from Rugby's Valhalla, and passing suitable tactical instructions, as he did when he led Wales to their first Triple Crown Victory in 1893."

"Cardiff will call on the wisdom and initiative of an Englishman, the late F. E. Hancock, who is at Valhalla with Gould, since he launched at club level what Gould perfected at international level; the four threequarter system. Since those far off and exciting days much has happened in the game and the role of threequarters has ebbed and flowed as regularly as the Rivers Taff and Usk. Yet today, it would be pleasant to see both sets running with the ball. Ancient cup rugby, if the happenings of less than 100 years ago can be classed as ancient, through the first Cup competition provided a series of rough and intensely competitive rugby; so much so, that it had to be discontinued following regular disputes; referee baiting, and crowd scenes. This second competition, now in its sixth year, has provided some fine play and only the occasional dispute and rough match."

"Today's finalists can do much for the game, however hard they seek victory, and one would like to hear the roar of the crowd in appreciation rather than condemnation, and one has faith enough in the two captains and their committees, not to mention the coaches and players, that they will appeal to the participants that the game must come first."

"Newport like Cardiff, experienced one narrow margin, against Tumble, and won it on tries scored at 12-12, when Tumble just failed with a last minute penalty attempt that would have created the upset of the tournament. Resolven were beaten 80-0 in the first round at Rodney Parade but the vanquished had no complaint. They enjoyed playing against a big club with a great history of service."

"Neyland were beaten 44-4 before the example of Tumble gave body to the competition and hope to all those who enter seeking new fame and glory. Newbridge made it hard for Newport at 13-10 before the rather unhappy semi-final against Ebbw Vale at Cardiff. This is now best forgotten but one expects the lessons of its impetuosity have been learned."

"For today's match Newport will be without their two centres, one of them the club captain, as David Burcher and Gareth Evans are newly elected British Lions, and no pressure was brought to bear upon them, so near to the date of departure of their adventure down under. Many Newport players have worn the Lions jersey with pride and one expects these two modest young men, together with Brynmor Williams of Cardiff, to prove equally successful. They will have to watch from the stands today, an unenviable task for any young fit player, willing their respective sides to victory."

"May it be a day to remember for both clubs. A great day for the Game!"

"J.B.G. Thomas"

The match itself:-

Newport captain David Burcher and his co-centre international Gareth Evans were forced to stand down for this match as they had been picked for the British Lions tour to New Zealand. Another Newport player Jeff Squire played in the match and was later picked as a replacement for the British Lions.

Colin Smart, who went on to win 17 England caps, led Newport onto the field. In a thrilling match Newport won 16-15 through tries by wings Ken Davies and Jeff Cranton, a penalty goal by Leighton Davies and a penalty and conversion by Chris Webber who was a surprise selection at centre. Newport's pack completely outplayed the Cardiff forwards and second row Ian Barnard was given the "Man of the Match" Award. Cardiff started as favourites but even great players such as Gareth Edwards and captain Gerald Davies were unable to save them from defeat by a determined Newport side and Englishman Colin Smart proudly led his side up to collect the cup.

It would be another 24 years before South African Gary Teichmann would lead Newport to their next Cup Final win in 2001 against Neath at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

On Monday, 2nd May 1977 The Times carried the following report of the game:-

"Newport's front eight deny Cardiff the greatest prize"

"By Gareth Bowen"

"So steadfast and sure was the control exerted by Newport's front eight on this sunlit Welsh Cup final, that it would have needed some of Cardiff's traditional behind-the-scrum magic to round off their centenary year with the greatest prize of all. A younger, more combative Gareth Edwards might have done the trick - but here he was merely an efficient mortal as his side ran out worthier losers than the score suggests: a goal, two penalty goals and a try (16pts) to two goals and a penalty goal (15). In fact, a quick conclave of Welsh rugby writers voted Newport's Ian Barnard, an uncapped 34-year old lock forward, man of the match."

"Barnard and magnificent colleagues in lineout, ruck and maul like Poole, Squire and Waters more than compensated Newport for the enforced loss of their Lions' three-quarters, Burcher and Evans. What is more, there was a notable first appearance in the centre from Christopher Webber, a 21-year old reserve full back. By comparison, Cardiff's handling was below par and Gerald Davies, their captain and other non-travelling Lion, was squeezed out of the game."

"This was not a spectacular display to please the 35,000 capacity crowd, although the second half did burst into life after a tentative 40 minutes in which Newport played dour possession rugby. It was then that Cardiff tried to mount a running game from the meagre possession coming their way in broken play - and two meandering runs from ther full back, John Davies proved that the Gwent defence could be stretched and bothered."

"But Davies's failure with his boot from a 30 yard penalty when his side were 16 - 9 down, could be said to have been a turning point as Cardiff exerted dangerous late pressure. Place-kicking, of course, has been one of Cardiff's weaknesses all season and they must have envied the ease with which Webber holed out a crucial penalty and a touchline conversion for their opponents."

"Newport took the lead after eight minutes when Barnard, busy cutting down to size the Cardiff big men, Robinson and Smith, won a lineout and his neat if modestly propelled half backs, Billinghurst and Rogers, quickly fed Webber, who sent Ken Davies over in a corner. Cardiff reduced the deficit when John Davies kicked a straightforward penalty at the River End, via an upright, and he was then obliged to deal with some nasty Newport high kicks down the wind, which were baffling even the great Edwards as he tried to gain ground with his spectacular diagonal kicking."

"Ten minutes before half time Newport went further ahead when Barnard's dummy service from a maul brought an offside decision and three points for Newport's specialist kicker, Leighton Davies. But yet to come before the interval was a late Cardiff rally with Gerald Davies getting a disallowed touchdown and Newport's reserve hooker, Ford, winning a magnificent strike against the head under his own posts with Edwards looking menacing."

"The second half was played out in a much higher tempo. Leighton Davies missed a kickable penalty for Newport and Gareth Edwards produced a rare blitzkrieg to battle across the Newport line but could not keep hold of the ball. Then came Webber's penalty to make the score 10 - 3, and it was the cue for Gerald Davies to come inboard to harangue his tiring forwards. It was not all talk. They watched spellbound as Davies conjoured up one of his inimitable breaks which almost brought a try. Then they summoned up enough strength to set up a play for Paul Evans to dummy scissors his way near the posts for a try which John Davies improved."

"Then came Newport's killer try. Neil Brown brushed past the unhappy Finlayson flipped a suspiciously forward-looking pass for Cranton to muscle over by the flag. Webber's conversion made it 16 - 9 and signalled Cardiff's last-ditch rally which peaked too late for a Dudley-Jones try in injury time which was converted by John Davies."

"CARDIFF: J. Davies; T. G. R. Davies (captain), A. J. Finlayson, M. Murphy, C. Camilleri; P. Evans, G. O. Edwards; B. G. Nelmes, A. Phillips, F. M. Knill, I. Robinson, C. Smith, T. Worgan, R. Lane, R. Dudley-Jones."

"NEWPORT: L. Davies; K. Davies, N. Brown, C. Webber, J. Cranton; D. Rogers, A. Billinghurst; C. Smart (captain), D. Ford, R. Morgan, D. Waters, I. Barnard, R. Barrell, J. Squire, K. Poole."

"Referee: C. G. P. Thomas (Tonteg)."