The regular playing place was the Marshes, later Shaftesbury Park. The Western Mail had reported on 5th May 1875 on events the previous day, under a column headed "Newport Town Council":- "PUBLIC WORKS REPORT" "After the minutes of the local board of health had been read, the report of the Public Works Committee was read. Several plans had been examined, and some approved and others disapproved. The Newport Athletic Club had applied for the use of the marshes on 24th June." This was probably for an Athletics meeting. "The report was adopted." On 12th May 1875 the Western Mail reported further on the previous day's quarterly meeting of Newport Corporation. After much debate regarding possible new housing, brick making and recreational use about the future of the marshes "Permission was also given to Newport Athletic Club to use the Marshes". John Leonard was elected captain for 1875-76 and Newport played their next match on 18th December 1875. Once more it was Glamorgan RFC at Cardiff. Glamorgan scored 2 disputed tries while Newport scored an undoubted try - the match was called a 0 v 0 draw. Newport ended the season having played 11 matches with 8 wins and 1 draw with 12g, 15t to 2t. Newport players : J. H. Leonard (capt), Herbert Lyne, T. M. Phillips, A. J. T. Goss, A. A. Newman, C. H. Newman, A. H. Collins, Herbert Gething, William Phillips, T. Babbington Jones, V. A. Julius, H. Sims, Josiah Richards, T. Spittle, Clifford Phillips, H. Ellen, W. Mitchelll, T. Lloyd Evans, H. Railton, T. Railton, John 'Slingshot' Williams, J. Martin Wood and W. Wood. Also mentioned are G. B. Taylor, J. K. Stone, W. S. Davies, Harry Gould, G. H. Thomas, J. Scantlebury, J. D. Lewis, H. W. Peill and Dulin. Some of these players were drawn from outside Newport eg Arthur H. Collins (Pontypool), T. Babbington Jones and V. A. Julius were solicitors from Abergavenny, Josiah Richards (Pontypool), S. Davies, a solicitor from Crickhowell and brother of Edgar G. Davies while H. W. Peill was a master at Monmouth Grammar School. 400 spectators watched the last Cardiff match of the season which was played at Maindee on 11th March 1876 as the Marshes were flooded. The result was a one try each draw. |
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