No place like home

Pontypridd will seek to make the most of their home advantage as they entertain Glamorgan Wanderers at Sardis Road this coming Saturday 11^th October, the game kicking off at 2:30pm.

There’s no place like home for Ponty so far this season, with two fine victories over Neath and Cardiff on their own patch off-set by two disappointing defeats away to Ebbw Vale and Swansea. Even with the Sardis factor in their favour, Ponty can take nothing for granted against a strong Wanderers squad who have made a solid start to the new season.

Pontypridd go into the game with a depleted squad due to injuries and domestic leave, and will depend greatly on the flexibility of their players to see them through the challenge ahead.

Full back Lawrence Price has withdrawn with shoulder damage, and outside half Gareth McCarthy compounding a recent knee injury by straining his hamstring. Hooker Rhys Williams has failed to recover from a shoulder strain, adding to the long term injury list of props Ian Poley and Sam Hobbs, and scrum halves Gavin Morris and Rhys Downes.

Away on domestic leave this weekend are scrum half Andrew Jenkins and lock Ryan Savage, whilst Blues players Aled Brew and Dai Flanagan are unavailable during the region’s Euro campaign.

Versatility will be the key word for those players passed fit to play, with Adam Thomas covering at full back, Matt Hutchings at fly-half and Kristian Baller in at scrum half. Huw Dowden gets the nod at hooker whilst young flanker Kristian Dacey makes his first league start in Ponty colours. Ross Lucas is called up from Rhydyfelin to cover as replacement scrum half, with back rower Geraint Lewis returning from injury to share a place on the bench.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Glamorgan Wanderers is as follows:

15.Adam Thomas. 14.Lewis Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Mike Davies. 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Matt Hutchings. 9.Kristian Baller.

1.Stuart Williams. 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Grant Harrington. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Kristian Dacey. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Nathan Strong – cpt.

Subs: Owen Williams; Ross Lucas; Owen Cotton; Leighton Davies; Chris Martenko; Rhys Lloyd; Geraint Lewis.