FoNR TALK Newport History of Newport RFC
History of Newport RFC
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Previous:
1939-40
The 1944-45 Season
Next:
1945-46

Newport owed a great debt to Bill Everson, Harold "Nan" Saysell, Alf Panting and Jim Hawkins who kept Newport rugby ticking over at Rodney Parade with inter-service and charity games etc.

The first few years after the war were periods of experiment and often confusion. In 1944-45 - the first post-war season - only 27 games were played but no fewer than 53 players were used.

The fixture list wasn't normal either with teams like Cardiff Medicals, Brecon Infantry Training Corps, Filton (Bristol), and Rotol (Gloucester) appearing. Three games were played with Cardiff and Newport won all three - why wasn't there four games that season?!

W. C. Walbyoff, a wing from Abertillery, headed both the scoring and appearance lists with 20t and 4c in 27 appearances. Jim Hawkins, captain, scored 6 tries, dropped 4 goals, kicked 3 conversions and 1 penalty in 25 games.

Pre-war players Coleman, Price and Travers returned to assist the club but in general it was a new team. Notable newcomers were Gwili Jenkins, a centre from Swansea, who was to become an excellent full-back, Graham Ross, possibly one of the best ever uncapped wings and Hedley Rowland an inspirational centre . Established players such as full-back D. R. Morgan and hooker Reg Blakemore were outstanding.



  • Results
  • Squad
1
Wasps
8
- 6Newport
21 Oct
2
Newport
3
- 8Bristol Rugby
28 Oct
3
Newport
3
- 0Abertillery
04 Nov
4
Newport
6
- 5Newbridge
11 Nov
5
Newport
15
- 3Cardiff Medicals
18 Nov
6
Newport
29
- 3RAF St Athan
25 Nov
7
St Marys Hospital
14
- 4Newport
02 Dec
8
Newport
4
- 3Brecon Infantry TC
09 Dec
9
Abertillery
3
- 13Newport
16 Dec
10
Newport
14
- 3Newbridge
23 Dec
11
Cardiff
6
- 8Newport
26 Dec
12
Newport
15
- 3Cardiff
30 Dec
13
Newport
18
- 15New Zealand Services
13 Jan
14
Newport
32
- 0Bristol AC, Filton
10 Feb
15
Rotol, Gloucester
3
- 4Newport
17 Feb
16
Bristol Rugby
3
- 15Newport
24 Feb
17
Newport
16
- 5Wasps
03 Mar
18
Brecon Infantry TC
7
- 11Newport
10 Mar
19
Newbridge
10
- 3Newport
12 Mar
20
Bristol AC, Filton
15
- 19Newport
17 Mar
21
Cheltenham
10
- 3Newport
24 Mar
22
Newport
13
- 0RAF
31 Mar
23
Newport
25
- 13St Marys Hospital
02 Apr
24
Newport
14
- 5Cardiff
03 Apr
25
Newport
26
- 5Cheltenham
07 Apr
26
Newbridge
12
- 0Newport
14 Apr
27
Newport
41
- 15Rotol, Gloucester
21 Apr

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