Match Preview – Merthyr v Pontypridd
Pontypridd play Merthyr on Friday evening 24th February in the Indigo Group Welsh Premiership. The Valleys Derby match at The Wern kicks off at 7:30pm.
Last season the two clubs met three times during the season. It was one win apiece in the Welsh Premiership Cup during the early months of the campaign – both sides making home advantage count. On Saturday 2nd October Ponty won 21-14 at Sardis Road and just over a month later Merthyr got revenge winning 62 points to 31 at The Wern. On Saturday 5th March 2022 the two clubs met in the Welsh Premiership at Sardis Road and Dale Stuckey’s last-gasp conversion of a Cole Swannack try saw Ponty earn a dramatic 19-17 win.
This season, on Saturday 12th November Joseph Scrivens’ 18-point haul was in vain when Sam Jones crossed for a try with the last play of the match to seal a 24-18 win for the Ironmen at Sardis Road.
The Wern has become one of the toughest places to visit in the Welsh Premiership in recent years and despite Pontypridd suffering some narrow late defeats of late, they have also put in some impressive performances on the road this season and will need to replicate those on Friday.
TEAM NEWS:
Ponty have made six changes to the starting XV that ran out at Sardis Road against the Quins last Saturday – four in the backline and two in the pack.
In the backs Jamie Murphy returns after being on leave last weekend and wears the 15 shirt. Iestyn Griffiths, who made his debut from the bench at Llandovery a couple of weeks ago starts on the right wing and there are also returns to the team for Tommy Morgan at outside-centre and Rory Harries at scrum-half.
In the forwards Tom Devine is drafted in to start at loose-head prop and there’s a first start in Ponty colours for young hooker Gavin Parry.
There are four new faces on the bench – returning to the matchday squad are experienced hooker Nathan Huish, prop Morgan Bosanko, lock Mitch Barnard and centre Garyn Payne.
Fiji international Niko Matawalu has joined Chris Dicomidis, Lloyd Rowlands, Cally James and Lucus Welch on the injury list whilst Rob Jones is away on leave.
All the very best to the Valley Commandos on Friday!
The Pontypridd team selected to play Merthyr is as follows:
15. Jamie Murphy. 14. Iestyn Griffiths. 13. Tommy Morgan. 12. Jordan Howells. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Rory Harries
1. Tom Devine. 2. Gavin Parry. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Kris Parker (c). 5. James Little. 6. Cai James. 7. Sion Parry. 8. Joe Miles
Subs: 16. Nathan Huish. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. Aled Ward. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Garyn Payne. 23. Alex Lloyd
GROUND LOCATION:
The address for the ground is – The Wern, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 1AF.
Your support will be vital Friday evening Ponty Fans, we’ll see you at The Wern.
