The first game against the Barbarians at Rodney Parade was reported in the Western Mail on 17th April 1893 as follows:-
"SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL"
"BARBARIANS V. NEWPORT"
"As the Newport season was supposed to be concluded on Saturday, April 8, with the match against Leigh, there was, to judge by the comparatively small attendance, not much interest in the match against the Barbarians, postponed from December 27 on account of frost. The weather was gloriously fine - too bright and too warm for ideal football. There was plenty of room to move about amongst the spectators, who did not number more than about 8,000. The teams fielded at 3.25 as follows:-"
"Barbarians:- Back, E. H. Gunnery (Old Merchant Taylors); three-quarter backs, J. Conway Rees (Wales and Oxford University), Percy Lloyd (Llanelly), A. Latter (Oxford University), and C. A. Hooper (Gloucester); half-backs, R. J. Easterbrook (London Scottish) and R. S. Baiss (Blackheath); forwards, P. Maud (England), C. F. Lohden (England), W. P. Carpmael, captain (Blackheath), C. B. Nichol (Wales), W. H. Smith (Cambridge University), F. O. Poole (Oxford University), and G. M. Carey (Oxford University). Newport:- Back, T. England; three-quarter backs, A. J. Gould, G. H. Gould, F. W. Cooper, and A. W. Boucher; half-backs, H. P. Phillips and F. C. Parfitt; forwards, T. C. Graham (captain), J. Hannen, T. Pook, H. Packer, W. Groves, W. Parsons, J. Bowley, and T. Newcombe. Referee, Mr. W. M. Douglas."
"Carpmael kicked off against the wind, and a sharp forward fight ensued in mid-field, in which both sides occasionally made rushes. At length Conway Rees was given a pass, and, putting in a fine kick, the Newport end was attacked, but in a twinkling Boucher, who was playing wing three-quarter for Newport, sent up a very long punt, which sent the oval in touch at the Barbarians' 25. When it was brought out Cooper was given possession, and instead of running dropped a tricky goal. Give and take play from end to end followed, Percy Lloyd, on the right wing, being about the most dangerous of the visitors' rear division for a long time. A lot of distance kicking was relieved by fast forward bouts, the Barbarians' pack, which comprised nearly all big men, being very strong. They were a bit beaten, however, at footwork, and Gunnery, whose display at full back was not of the best, touched down after a good dribble by the Newport front contingent. Hooper soon after had to save in the same way from a kick over by Arthur Gould. The venue was eventually changed after a smart charge down by Conway Rees, and in a forward rush Carpmael got a try, but Gunnery's place kick went far wide. Things were a bit slow and of ding-dong fashion. After a good kick by Conway Rees, Boucher ran up along the touch-line, and only failed by a couple of yards to get a try. From the scrum Cooper was given possession, and dropped a second goal. After the re-start some nice passing was shown between Conway Rees, Latter, and Hooper, and the home line was for a time in danger, the running of Latter when fairly under way being very dangerous. Boucher put a different complexion on the play by rushing along to the touch line again, but he was heavily thrown in touch at the Barbarians' 25 flag. Half-time was thereupon whistled, with the score standing:- Newport, two dropped goals and two minors; Barbarians, one try. After the re-start a fast game from end to end was shown, making things a good deal more interesting than in the first half. After a lot of attacking on the part of Newport, Gunnery kicked dead when the ball had been dribbled to the line. Easterbrook put in a long shot and found touch near the Newport 25, and when the ball came out loose Latter, who was running strong, looked like scoring. The pressure was relieved by the home pack, but Conway Rees found touch again near the home 25; but Bert Gould on getting a pass put in a fine relieving kick in touch in the visitors' half. The Barbarians, however, got up again to the home position, and a hard tussle, with a great many line-outs, ensued. Cooper at length found touch at the centre. The Newport end, however, was still attacked, and Latter again became dangerous. The visitors' passing was not true enough for scoring, though Latter showed himself repeatedly one of the finest centres who had ever played against the Usksiders. Maud took on from the centre a grand dribble, but England picked it right off his toe, as he looked like scoring a try. A lot of fast rushing ensued, and England at length touched down after a kick over by Percy Lloyd, who just before the call of time was given a fine pass from Baiss, and going like a shot out of a gun looked all over a scorer, but was tackled a few yards from the line by England. Final score:-"
"Newport............... 2 dropped goals, 2 minors
Barbarians.............. 1 try, 1 minor."
The article was followed by:-
"NEWPORT'S RECORD"
"Newport's victory over the Barbarians now makes the record stand as follows:- Played, 29; won, 25; lost, 3; drawn,1. Score, 68 goals, 75 tries (540 points) against their opponents' 3 goals, thirteen tries (48 points)."