"Cardiff v. Newport"
"Well here we are with only one month of the season behind us and not one of the so called first class Welsh Clubs can take pride in possessing a 100% record. Swansea are top of the shop at the moment with a draw at Bristol as the only slight blemish on their record. There have certainly been some eyebrow raising results and Maesteg who appeared to be getting their act well together came a cropper at Abertillery of all places. This has always been the way of Welsh Rugby though, and long may it continue to be so."
"Today however heralds a special day in our calendar, our first clash of the season with our oldest and most played opponents - The Black & Ambers of Newport. They qualify as our oldest inasmuch as they were our first ever opponents in our foundation year 1876-77 and our most played because this afternoon's encounter is the 351st game in the series since those far off days. The simple explanation of this is due to the fact that from season 1887-88 until 1976-77 we played each other on no less than four occasions each season. And thereby hangs a tail. It's a tail with a sting in it from Newport's point of view because although we have achieved a grand slam of four wins on four occasions, Newport to their eternal disappointment have never managed it on one solitary occasion. There have been many near misses and Cardiff captains of the past have sweated blood in order to achieve victory so as not to be labelled as the incumbent whose team succumbed to a Black & Amber grand slam."
"On several occasions however, the way Cardiff have escaped have been in a manner befitting Houdini at his very best. On three occasions during the series The Black & Ambers have arrived at the last encounter with three wins already up their sleeves only to be completely frustrated by only managing a draw at the last hurdle. This first happened in 1950-51 when the last game at Rodney Parade ended in a 3-3 stalemate. On reflection this was probably the best chance they ever had of achieving the grand slam because on the other occasion in 1958-59 and a decade later in 1968-69 the final drawn games were both staged at the Arms Park. Furthermore in that 1950-51 season Newport had won all previous 26 games played so it must have been more than a disappointment for their captain of that season, the great Ken Jones. Equally so however it was a tremendous relief to our captain of that year, Bill Tamplin. The unsuccessful captain of their next narrow miss was Bryn Meredith and ours was C. D. Williams. Ten years later in 1968-69 the despair and elation were the prerogative of Brian Price and Howard Norris respectively. So if you ever see Bill Tamp, C. D. or Howard close up you'll now know where those aging wrinkles on their foreheads came from."
"Today then sees what we in Cardiff say is the 351st game in the series. Of the 350 past games we have won 166 to Newport's 127 with 57 games being drawn. Over the duration of the series neither side has really put the Indian sign on the other for very long periods. We managed nine record strings of eight wins in a row way back between 1897 and 1899 (during which we recorded our first grand slam) and we also have two strings of seven achieved from 1946 to 1949 and 1978 to 1980. Newport's best achievement in terms of consecutive wins came in the early years during the 1880s and 90s when on three occasions they won five on the trot. Newport's best unbeaten sequence came between 1957 and 1960 when of eleven games played, they won seven and drew five. Points wise the highest score in the series is 38 in our 38-14 victory of November 1973, whilst Newport's highest is the 32 achieved in their 32-21 victory at Rodney Parade in October 1983. All these preceding facts and figures are the gospel according to the Cardiff Club. If this game was being played at Newport today I think their records would show that we have already played 362 games of which we have won 170 to their 133 with 59 drawn games. Now then, who is going to sort that one out - certainly not me."
"Coming back to today, Newport's visits have gone inadvertently from being biannual to a somewhat biennial situation because during the past six seasons they have made only three visits to the Arms Park. In each of the seasons 1981-82 1983-84 and 1985-86 we lost our home game due to either Cup rearrangements or inclement weather. They did make an appearance on our ground last year of course, but that was when they played against Aberavon in the semi-final of the Cup. Their victory on that day of course made them our opponents in that very memorable final. The 49 points scored that day in our 28-21 victory has only been bettered in our 38-14 victory of November 1973 and Newport's win of 32-21 of October 1983 which is the points aggregate record of all 350 games."
"At present Newport are slowly but surely extricating themselves from an horrendous injury situation. Most of their senior players should be available for today including skipper Mike Watkins. He will be eager to erase that haunting memory of last Saturday's record defeat at St. Helen's. We are also wondering how on earth we ever managed to lose at Aberavon last week after being 22 points to 9 in the lead. That was a bit sickening for us but I bet there was no bigger smile in the whole of Wales than that of Mrs. Mainwaring after her boyos had achieved such an incredible victory."
"To Newport then, you are most welcome, we hope you enjoy your visit. Also today we would like to extend a very warm welcome to the referee, Mr Clarke of Scotland, who is on an exchange visit."
"Finally today we would like to extend our very best wishes to Doug Ackerman for a speedy recovery from the nasty accident sustained at work. Doug was a great past player of Newport and is the present secretary of the Club."
The match programme also included the following short quiz which is still worthy head scratching material:-
"Rugby Quiz - No. 4"
"1.What was an unusual incident of the Cardiff-Newport game of 2nd February, 1951 at The Arms Park?"
"2. Cardiff won the game of 10th April, 1948 by 19-3. What was unique about our 19 points?"
"3. Ken Jones and Bryn Meredith are Newport's most capped back and forward with 44 and 34 appearances respectively. Who comes next in each capacity?"
"4. When was the first four point try scored in a Cardiff-Newport match?"
"5. Who made his Cardiff debut against Cardiff College of Education in October 1972 after joining us from Newport?"
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"Rugby Quiz No. 4 - Answers"
"1. The referee called a temporary halt to the game in order to allow a particularly ferocious hailstorm to abate.
"2. It contained two drop goats which were then worth four points. It was the last game in the series before it was reduced to three points."
"3. A. J. Gould (back) 27 and Brian Price (forward) 32."
"4. 1st October, 1971."
"5. Keith James."