"CLUB NOTES"
"Last season we approached our home game versus Bristol with a great deal of trepidation following our dismal start to the season, the result of that game plus our revival after Christmas is now part of history. Bristol were again our visitors last Saturday when the team showed with their excellent performance that we have the basis of a true 'Black and Amber' team. It was a performance worthy of the greatest support and provided this form can be maintained the crowds should start returning in their thousands."
"The tremendous start has not gone unnoticed for it is pleasing to note that the National Selectors in the persons of John Dawes and Keith Rowlands were present at the Abertillery game, while England were represented at the Bristol game by Peter Ford. So further representative honours may not be far away. I wonder who the honour will fall to?"
"The United lost their encounter with Bristol United after a thrilling tussle at the Memorial Ground by 13 points to 10, they applied all the pressure in the closing stages but were unable to obtain the vital score. Our Youth team commenced their season with a good 12-6 victory over near neighbours Risca."
Our 'Three Wise Men' (John Ryan, Nye Williams and Geoff Evans) are determined that every player will get his chance in the first team provided his form warrants it, so supporters can expect a number of changes to be made this month with so much football to be played. The playing strength available at the moment reminds one of the 1968-69 season, and all 'Black and Amber' supporters remember with affection the results obtained by that side, let's hope lightning does strike in the same place twice."
"Congratulations must be extended to committee-man Robert Atkins on becoming a Justice of the Peace. It is a position well earned and Bob is certain to carry out his duties diligently as he does with all his other work."
"WELCOME TO RODNEY PARADE"
"This evening the "Men of Steel" visit us determined to maintain their unbeaten record, and also achieve a unique 'hat trick' as they have won on their last two visits, last year by a very convincing margin."
"Their new captain Graham Evans has made over 300 appearances for the 'Vale' and can be expected to lead by example from the flank forward position. Incidentally, Graham holds the club try scoring record for a forward, 19 tries, which he scored during the 1967-68 season, so Newport Beware! This season sees British Lion Arthur Lewis, taking over the coaching duties as well as playing in the centre and it remains to be seen if he can gain as many honours in this capacity as he did as a player. He has already started with his appointment to look after the East Wales XV who played Tonga last Saturday. A familiar face missing in the 'Vale' colours this season is the most capped Welsh forward Denzil Williams who has now retired from the game, everyone at Rodney Parade wishes him all best wishes for the future."
"Half-backs Mike Grindle and Glyn Turner are still the springboard for the team's attack, and Glyn added to his honours last Saturday by being a substitute at the National Stadium. These two together with Arthur can be expected to get the best out of promising newcomers Robert Fowler and Billy Arnold, while Ray Parry when clear of injury can still prove a real menace to the best defences. Up front 'veteran' Gareth Howls, Gerwyn Williams, Phil Gardner and Clive Burgess can be relied upon to provide the power."
"Ebbw Vale have close relations with American rugby and this season once again played host to a team from the 'New World' with their usual hospitality. For as well as being well organised on the field, the club have a very young and enthusiastic committee who are determined that the club will recapture their success of the 'Fifties'. We wish them well in their quest, except against the 'Black and Ambers' of course."
"Recollections of Newport"
"by David Nash Ebbw Vale-Wales-British Lions"
"As a player then later as coach to the Ebbw Vale team my ambition was to help beat the Black and Ambers. Local derby's with Abertillery and Pontypool were needle games in their own right, but the big game to win was the Newport match. Perhaps it was a case of trying to topple one of the 'giants' or alternatively the interchange of players between the two clubs was the reason. In my brief playing career Ebbw Vale failed to achieve a victory over Newport. However in season 1960-61 playing at the Welfare Ground I thought we were going to putl it off. With very little time to go Ebbw were winning by three points and playing towards the "beer" end of the ground - always our favourite. Then tragedy, fellow back row forward Graham Jones suffered a head injury and was forced to leave the field. The game restarted with a scrum and whilst Francis Matthews and myself were still working out how to cover Graham's absence, Billy Watkins fed the ball into the scrum and receiving a quick heel shot past us to engineer a try. The scores were now level and we would settle for a draw. Unfortunately this was not to be as Norman Morgan kicked the conversion and we were foiled again, and Newport still had the "Indian sign" on us."
"Since that match I have become very friendly with many of the Newport team who played that day. On many occasions Geoff Whitson and I have spent weekends all over the country on coaching sessions for the Welsh Rugby Union. During this time I have become aware of Geoff's great depth of knowledge of the game and his tactical appreciation which was evident in his playing days at Rodney Parade. To illustrate the big development in coaching to today's approach where on training nights the accent is on skills involving the ball, Geoff used to tell the story (with tongue in cheek) of how Mr. Cox the groundsman used to lock the balls away on training night so that on Saturday everyone would be longing to get to the ball! Coaching has come a long way since then."
"In recent years Newport have been fortunate to have had a succession of quality No. 8 forwards. Following the redoubtable and inimitable Glyn Davidge came John Mantle, who, in my opinion, would surely have been acclaimed as the world's finest No. 8 forward had he remained in the amateur game. Since then John Jeffrey has shown that he too is a player of great skill and is unlucky not to have gained more than one Welsh Cap."
"No reference to Newport can be complete without including mention of Bryn Meredith. It has been my privilege to play with "B.V." for both Wales and the British Lions. However I think my longest lasting memory of Bryn was to play with him in charity matches and to hear him discussing with Ray Prosser how many times they would allow the opposition to get the ball - if at all! In one game against a school XV their hooker was so badly beaten that Bryn decided to help him and even then the school team had a job to get the heel because he was getting in Bryn's way."
"Finally good luck to you Newport in your centenary year. May you win many more matches - but not today!"