"RODNEY COMMENTARY"
"INJURIES HIT NEWPORT . . ."
"Newport Rugby Club have certainly experienced an astonishing run of bad luck so far as injuries are concerned, and some of their casualties are either waiting to undergo operations or are still recuperating from them. Hopefully most of them should be back in action before the end of the month, but, unfortunately, a few will have to be content with a spectator role until after Christmas."
"So much for the gloom. On the brighter side is the return of that sturdy livewire flank forward Chris Scott, who sustained a serious knee injury towards the end of the 1989-90 season and was unable to play for Newport throughout last season. Towards the end of the latter season he displayed his usual brand of determination, and played himself into match fitness by turning out for Cheltenham for whom he had originally played."
"Scott, who previously played for Lydney and Gloucestershire, was such a dynamic marauder for Newport before his injury that he aroused the keen interest of a certain Welsh selector who was watching a Rodney Parade match. So much so, that the selector inquired about Scott's Welsh qualifications, only to be politely told that the Newport flanker was an Englishman!"
"Another player who travels across the Severn Bridge to play for Newport, solicitor Kevin Withey ,is confident that he should be available in about a fortnight's time. He explained that the operation on his leg was "not a major one". Withey was Newport pack's top try scorer with 16 touchdowns last season. So far this season he has scored three tries in four appearances. In his absence Glenn George is forging ahead in the try chart. He has five tries to his credit, which puts him well ahead of all his fellow forwards."
"Talking of tries, Alun Harries took the opportunity against Bridgend to register his eleventh try and bring his points total to 133. Newport, however, suffered a disappointing setback at the Brewery Field in their first match in the league's top division. Perhaps they will offset that failure against Pontypridd this afternoon!"
"Incidentally, one of the Barbarians' party pointed out that there is a suggestion that the Baa-Baas should play Newport later in a season rather than in November. Of course, it was a little unfortunate that this year's match between Newport and the Barbarians should follow so closely on the end of the World Cup. Obviously the outstanding British players needed relaxation after that competition!"
"Yet, as it happened, the Barbarians were able to field a talented combination, nine of whom were internationals. They proved too skilful for a disappointing Newport team and raced to a huge victory. The Barbarians included only one Welshman which, to some observers, might again highlight the big advancement achieved by English clubs, two of whom, Richmond and Bristol, have defeated Newport this season!"
"After today's match with Pontypridd, the Newport team will have only two more home matches this year. They will end November with a league match against Llanelli, and in December their sole home game will be against Cardiff, also in the league. Their five away matches will take them to Maesteg next Saturday, Neath, Pontypool, Newbridge and Nottingham, certainly an arduous programme!"
"W.H."
"TODAY'S VISITORS"
"PONTYPRIDD STRIVE FOR HONOURS"
"Pontypridd, today's visitors to Rodney Parade, finished fifth in the top division of the Heineken League last season and also reached the sixth round of the Schweppes Cup, where they were beaten by Llanelli, who went on to win the trophy by defeating Pontypool in the final."
"Newport can certainly expect to encounter stiff opposition, for Pontypridd, who are led by centre Steele Lewis, are determined to go closer to winning honours during the present campaign. They have already demonstrated that they are a resourceful outfit, as Aberavon, Nottingham and Cross Keys will readily confirm. All these clubs went down to Pontypridd, and Cross Keys had forty points piled against them. Pontypridd's pack is particularly strong, and behind it are fast moving and quick-witted backs."
"Formed in 1877, Pontypridd's battle honours include winning the unofficial Welsh club championships four times, and reaching the 1979 Schweppes Cup final where they were beaten 18-12 by Bridgend. They have, of course, produced some outstanding players who were capped by Wales. Prominent among them were Russell Robins, who collected 13 caps, and was a member of the 1955 British Lions team who went to South Africa where he played in four Tests."
"Among other Pontypridd players who played for Wales in the not far distant past were Glyn Davies who was capped ten times and also played in three Varsity matches, and the tearaway forward Tommy David. Last season Pontypridd provided Wales with two players. They were young Neil Jenkins, who was preferred to Cardiff's David Evans for the outside half berth in the five-nations championship matches, and prop Paul Knight, who played against England, Scotland and the Barbarians."