The first match of season 1877-78 was played on 13th October 1877 on the new ground against Glamorgan Rifles and Newport won by 3g, 2t to 0. Newport played 16 matches and won 15 with 1 drawn at Cardiff 0 v 0. Newport only conceded 1 goal and this was in a South Wales Challenge Cup match by Carmarthen at Neath. The Cup did much to popularise the game in Wales and Newport were the first winners beating Pontypool, Llanelly, Carmarthen, Llandovery and Swansea. All matches, except the first were played on neutral grounds.

There were some interesting matches during the season, one being the match with Rockleaze on 22nd November 1877 played at Clifton Downs. In those days there was no dead ball line and the ball continued to roll, driven by the wind chased by Newport's C. B. Cross. After apparently 300 yards he managed to touch the ball down for a try. On 29th November 1877, Newport varied their formation to include 8 forwards and 7 backs - 2 backs, two half-backs and two quarters and used the same formation against Cardiff on 1st December. On 7th February 1878 against Birmingham they had 1 full back, 2 three-quarters, one half and two quarters with 9 forwards.

Among the new names to appear were H. Dennis, A. J. Moggridge, C. B. Cross, G. Rosser, C. Williams, W. Ponsford, J. H. Young, F. Harding, J. H. Bothomley, Brown, Gearing and Tait. Will Phillips who had played since the start was elected captain and the great player of the period was Charlie Henry Newman who was cool, strong and plucky. Moggridge was an ex-Tonbridge School boy from a Monmouthshire family and probably the best three-quarter of the day. T. Spittle was a clever and effective half.

Representative sides were already being picked, the Western Mail of 10th December 1877 reporting:-

"FOOTBALL"

"SWINDON v. SOUTH WALES.- A match between the Swindon men and South Wales men was played on Saturday afternoon, on the Newport ground. The Swindon team was composed of a remarkably fine body of men, who were heavier than the South Wales, but the latter were the fastest. We were not able to get the names of the strangers, but those representing South Wales were Messrs. T. B. Jones, Abergavenny; Morgan and Davies, Brecon; Phillips, Jones and Herbert, Cardiff; W. Phillips, C. Phillips, J. Jenkins, C. H. Newman, T. Spittle, A. Cross, A. Goss, J. Ponsford, Newport, and F. Rocher, Talgarth. The match was a most exciting one, and each side played remarkably well. It lasted an hour. The last touch down was got by Spittle, within five minutes of time being called, and from it was kicked a splendid goal by Cliff Phillips, amidst the cheers of the spectators. The result of the match was one goal, one try, and two touchdowns for South Wales, against two touchdowns for Swindon. South Wales was the winner."

Again on 14th January 1878 the Western Mail reported on South Wales v Clifton on Newport's ground:-

"CLIFTON v. SOUTH WALES.- This match was played on Saturday, on the Newport ground. It was a fine day, and there was a very numerous attendance, Especially of ladies. The Clifton team consisted of Messrs. J.D.Miller ,captain; C.A.Badcock, back; H.L.Evans, three-quarter back; G.G.Prewin, H.W.Ward, N.Thursby, half-backs; W.Strachan, J.Bush, H.A.Wansborough, J.C.Gilmore, C.P.Warren, T.H.Warren, F.S.Peck, T.Jones, J.Curtis, forwards; J.H.Dunn umpire, The South Wales team cosisted of Messrs, T.B.Jones, back; Evans (Rumney), C.H.Newman (Newport), thgree-quarter-backs; J.Morgan, E.C.Fry, half-backs; V.A.Julius, J.Hood, W.Philips (Newport), C.P.Lewis, J.A.Bevan, T.Spittle, C.B.Cross, F.Roche, F.A.Goss, forwards; H.W.Davies umpire. Play lasted an hour and twenty mintes. The match was played vigorously all through. The Clifton men were the best in the scrimmages, being a united club. Each obtained one goal and a touch down, but there was a protest against the goal kicked by the Clifton team. On one side it was said the game was drawn, but on the other it is said the protest was of no use. Probably the best designation would be a tie. At the close of the match arrangements were made for the next tie in relation to the South Wales Challenge Cup, and it was decided that it should be between Swansea or Neath v Llandovery, Newport a bye. It will have to be played on or before the 16th of February."