Newport's first ever game as reported in the Cardiff Times (South Wales & Western Counties Advertiser) of Saturday, 10th April 1875:-
"FOOTBALL MATCH.- The Glamorgan Club and a team from Newport played a very lively match in the Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday afternoon. Indeed, it was one of the most interesting we have witnessed. This opinion was shared in by the spectators. The rules observed were those of the Rugby Union Club. The following were the players in the respective teams:- Glamorgan - S. C. Cory, captain and three-quarter back; W. Grave, half-back; A. P. Gaskell, half-back; E. W. Jones, back; E. Lukis, back; F. Thomas; W. Hood; A. Bedford, J. H. Thomas, W. Thomas, C. Vachell, C. W. Watson, F. Selby, E.C. Fry - forwards. Newport - C. Phillips, captain and back; C. H. Newman, half-back; T. Phillips, half-back; W. Phillips, back; A. Goss, A. A. Newman, Sims, F. Phillips, Williams, Meager, J. Hoskins, and two others. It will be seen from the above enumeration that the Newport team was one man short. From the commencement of the game at 3 o'clock, till nearly 5 o'clock, when it was drawn in favour of Glamorgan, there was little indication that victory would attend the exertions of the Newport team, though they struggled manfully, and often played very well to obtain a favourable result. The score stood as follows when the game was drawn:- Glamorgan, one try and one touch-down; Newport, nil."