Blackheath v Newport – the oldest Anglo-Welsh rugby fixture
Newport Rugby Football Club was formed in 1874 and within five years they had enjoyed four invincible seasons. It was, therefore, a confident Newport that invited the Club to play them in Newport on 20th November 1879. Blackheath F.C., founded in 1858 was conceived as being the leading English club having lost only five games during the last five seasons.
Lennard Stokes, Blackheath’s Captain in 1879 described that first game in the Yorkshire Post, in January 1902. “…. The match itself proved a hard contest for five minutes; what it was like afterwards you may judge from the score which worked out to the little matter of 4 goals, 8 tries, 11 touch-downs to nil”. Stokes ended, “…To the credit of the Newport Club, and South Wales football generally, it has to be admitted that they improved rapidly and wonderfully. Newport has ‘got their own back’ possibly with a little more in the way of interest.” This last statement is sadly for Blackheath, very true. Including our Sesquicentenary game (2008) there have been 153 encounters, Blackheath have won 22 Newport 122 and 9 have been drawn.
The second game was three seasons later, on Saturday 17th March 1883 at Newport resulting in a close win for the visitors, two tries to one. The third game was on 20th October 1888. This was the first at the Rectory Field and the start of regular defeats for the Club. On this occasion by one try to one goal. The fourth match took place on 23rd January 1893, in Newport the Club losing nil – nineteen. This marked the start of regular fixtures, home and away. A pattern was now emerging whereby a string of Newport wins was punctuated by an occasional win for the Club.
There were great celebrations in Newport on 12th October 1929 as it was the 50th anniversary of the first game between the clubs. Amazingly, four Newport veterans who had belonged to the old “Invincibles” of 1879, were in attendance. A close game ensued Blackheath winning 3-0 by a late try.
After World War 2, matches resumed resulting in a string of defeats for Blackheath. The 100th game was celebrated in Newport on Saturday 28th February 1953 when the Club was warmly welcomed to Rodney Parade. The press reports indicate a close and exciting match in which Blackheath were pipped at the post 9-6. The Blackheath v Newport match was always a crowd puller and to exploit this, an experiment was held on Friday 26th February 1965 to play the game under floodlights at nearby Crystal Palace. The game attracted around 4,000 spectators despite the pitch being rather remote from the fans and lacking the homely atmosphere of the Rectory Field.
The local Club, Old Askeans, had installed floodlights at their Broad Walk ground (now home of Charlton Park) so it was decided to play the Newport fixture there on Friday 23rd February 1973. The change proved lucky for the home side who scraped in 3-0, and on Friday 12th October 1973 won again 16-12. That was the last of the matches played on Friday evenings prior to Internationals on the Saturday.
The hundredth Anniversary of the first game between the clubs took place on 13th October 1979 at the Rectory Field. This was the 144th fixture and, for once, Blackheath took the prize, winning 21-19. This was a serious landmark as there were only three more regular fixtures left between the clubs, the last being at Newport on 9th October 1982. Rugby was changing and merit tables and then leagues were introduced. This marked the death knell for traditional fixtures and Blackheath was not the only club to say goodbye to old friends. Matches against Newport were re-established in 1990 as a pre-season friendly played at the Rectory Field. The home team won 30-3. By now Blackheath were in Courage League Division 2 and the games in 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998 had to be played as pre-season friendlies at Rodney Parade, as the Rectory Field was in use for cricket.
On 22nd November 2008 the Club was delighted to welcome the Newport team, Committee and Supporters to the Rectory Field to renew their old friendship and help the Club celebrate its Sesquicentenary season. It was a wonderful occasion and a win for the home side.
This year Newport RFC is celebrating its 150th season, starting in August. We are really delighted to have been invited to help them celebrate reviving the oldest Anglo-Welsh fixture. Blackheath will be making the trip to Wales on 10th August for the game kicking off at 3pm (15:00).
Mandy Allen and Peter Brown
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