The first match of season 1877-78 was played on 13th October 1877 on the new ground against Glamorgan Rifles and Newport won by 3g, 2t to 0. Newport played 16 matches and won 15 with 1 drawn at Cardiff 0 v 0. Newport only conceded 1 goal and this was in a South Wales Challenge Cup match by Carmarthen at Neath. The Cup did much to popularise the game in Wales and Newport were the first winners beating Pontypool, Llanelly, Carmarthen, Llandovery and Swansea. All matches, except the first were played on neutral grounds.

There were some interesting matches during the season, one being the match with Rockleaze on 22nd November 1877 played at Clifton Downs. In those days there was no dead ball line and the ball continued to roll, driven by the wind chased by Newport's C. B. Cross. After apparently 300 yards he managed to touch the ball down for a try. On 29th November 1877, Newport varied their formation to include 8 forwards and 7 backs - 2 backs, two half-backs and two quarters and used the same formation against Cardiff on 1st December. On 7th February 1878 against Birmingham they had 1 full back, 2 three-quarters, one half and two quarters with 9 forwards.

Among the new names to appear were H. Dennis, A. J. Moggridge, C. B. Cross, G. Rosser, C. Williams, W. Ponsford, J. H. Young, F. Harding, J. H. Bothomley, Brown, Gearing and Tait. Will Phillips who had played since the start was elected captain and the great player of the period was Charlie Henry Newman who was cool, strong and plucky. Moggridge was an ex-Tonbridge School boy from a Monmouthshire family and probably the best three-quarter of the day. T. Spittle was a clever and effective half.