"Cardiff v. Newport"
"Well, here we are more than six weeks into the year and for those of you who only see each other at Cardiff home games, it will be but only the second time your paths have crossed in 1988. Since our last home game against Bath on January 2nd we failed to get a home cup drawn but should have had, what could have been a very interesting encounter with Llanelli. The weather however put paid to that, pushing the fourth round away cup clash against Newport back by a week. Yes, once again the great old unpredictable British weather was the villain of the piece."
"Just think at the corresponding time last season, you could hardly get the sharpest of penknives to make an impression on the ground turned into concrete by the bitter cold. Characteristically this year there was a real fear that a player could have been asphyxiated in the inches thick mud which would have done the Eton Wall Game proud."
"Ironically enough too, it had to be Llanelli who were involved again. I say again because it now seems to be an annual event that disruption will prevail when we are due to play the Scarlets either here or at Stradey. Unbelievably the curse has already struck yet again for next year, but I'll tell you more about that in the programme for the rearranged visit of Llanelli."
"Today then let's hope we get a bit of the very amiable condition like those that prevailed at Twickenham last week. The sun shone in more ways than one for the Welsh side on the day and the very creditable victory has certainly put a new spring into the step of Welsh Rugby. It was great to see two such magnificent tries for Wales so dynamically finished by our own Adrian Hadley. This coupled with Bob Norster's massive contribution as pack leader reflects great credit on them both. Well done lads."
"Mind without detracting one iota from the great Twickers' win, Scotland certainly gave notice of their resolve in the way that they took France apart. By the end of the game the Frenchmen were reeling and it makes you wonder whether they can get that 29-9 beating by the All Blacks in The World Cup final out of their system. What it does mean is the forthcoming game at Cardiff next Saturday could be something of a humdinger."
"It will also be instrumental in putting tremendous pressure on players in the National side. Beside our own skirmish with Newport today, Llanelli entertain Pontypool and Swansea take on Neath. Saturday week then sees the next round of the Schweppes Cup to be followed the Saturday after by Wales' trip to Dublin on 5th March. Some more tough Welsh fixtures are featured on the 12th including Pontypool's visit to our ground. The 19th sees the visit of France to The National Stadium and the following Saturday heralds the cup semi finals. Now you couldn't ask for a more exacting schedule for players involved at the top level than that could you."
"On to today though and its a most warm welcome to our friends from Rodney Parade, Newport, the great Black and Ambers. This season, as yet has been something of a nightmare experience for Newport with every malaise possible befalling their way. Resignations, retirements, suspensions and injury, you name any adversity in the rugby vocabulary and poor old Newport have copped for it. This, obviously, has been hard to stomach for a club with such a magnificent history and who have walked with the tallest in the land. They have suffered the slings and arrows from all quarters however in a manner in keeping with the dignity of such a great club. There is a firm resolution with all those concerned at Rodney Parade however and they are all working with admirable industry and enthusiasm to get the club back where it belongs, with the best in the land. To that end we wish them all good fortune."
"This season's Cardiff/Newport encounter resurrects a bit of past history of the series in as much as we will have met on four occasions. This was the case for some 88 years between seasons 1887-88 and 1975-76. During that long period about the only honour that eluded Newport was to register four wins in a season against us. We managed it on four occasions but in spite of many a near miss the Black and Ambers never quite made it. The four games this season have come about due to the fact that besides the two normal fixtures we also met them in the cup a fortnight ago and we will be making another visit to Rodney Parade in March to compensate for a game that could not be played last season."
"Perhaps its just as well then that we won that cup match recently because it would have been the stuff that dreams are made of had Newport gone on to win the four games in this the probable worst season of their illustrious history."
"Today's game takes the series to a total of 355 since it all began on 2nd December 1876. Of the previous 354 we have won 169 to their 128 with 57 drawn. We have amassed 2927 points for to 2223 against On reflection these are quite amazing statistics and I wonder if there are any other two such sporting bodies who have met on so many occasions."
"The longevity of the series or the vast number of games played doesn't breed any sense of complacency however. Indeed its just the contrary. It appears that some mystique or aura enshrouds each and every game as if it was the very first time the sides had ever met. All in the past is forgotten and both sides play with a new born enthusiasm and a steely determination to win. This was the case on our first visit to Rodney Parade this season. Newport had had an even worse start than even ourselves and had suffered a string of seven consecutive defeats. Come the sight of the Blue and Black jersey however and, hey presto, its a 16-9 win for them."
"Fortunately (from our point of view of course) we reversed that result in our recent cup encounter when we came away winners 26-13. That will only serve to motivate 'The Port' today however and they will be hell bent on spoiling our winning sequence of six from six games in 1988."
"Its welcome again then to Newport and particularly so to their captain Rhys Morgan who achieved his record breaking number of appearanees for the Black and Ambers in our recent cup duel."
"At the time of going to press I had hoped to be able to announce that Llanelli would be coming to play on the eve of the Scotland game next weekend. They have declined however so moves are now afoot to provide alternative opposition. Another point to note is the forthcoming Bristol game will be played on 1st March but this is a Tuesday and not a Wednesday as shown on your fixture lists."
"Finally today its many thanks to Curran Oils for their generous sponsorship of today's game. We hope all concerned with them have a great day out This also goes for our Ball Sponsor F. W. Morgan."
"P.N."