Match Preview – Pontypridd v Carmarthen Quins
Pontypridd welcome Carmarthen Quins to Sardis Road on Thursday evening 23rd November. The Indigo Group Premiership match between the sides kicks off at 7:30pm and will be broadcast live on S4C Clic.
History dictates that it’s usually the home team that comes out on top when the two clubs meet, but last season went against tradition with the fixture yielding two away wins. Firstly, on Thursday evening 13th October 2022 Ponty edged a closely-fought contest by 21 points to 15 at Carmarthen Park before the Quins gained revenge by winning 20-17 at Sardis Road on Saturday 18th February earlier this year.
Back-to-back league wins over Swansea and Aberavon will have no doubt given Pontypridd increased levels of confidence, but the Valley Commandos will need to be wary of a Carmarthen side that will be smarting from their last-gasp loss at home against Merthyr on Saturday.
Clashes between Ponty and the Quins are normally close-fought affairs, so the Valley Commandos will need their 16th man – our amazing supporters – to get behind them on Thursday evening.
TEAM NEWS:
Continuity is the name of the game again for Pontypridd – for the second consecutive week Ponty have made just three changes to the starting XV from the team’s last outing, and have also selected the same backline for the third consecutive match.
As just mentioned the three personnel changes all come in the pack – there’s a recall to the matchday squad for Curtis Greenslade who starts at hooker, and there are also starts for Tom Devine and Chris Dicomidis having both appeared from the subs bench last week.
On the substitutes bench there are welcome returns to the team for Garyn Smith and Canadian international Sion Parry who’s recovery from a serious knee injury sustained on the opening day of the season has been nothing short of remarkable.
Pob lwc bois!
The Pontypridd team selected to play Carmarthen Quins is as follows:
15. Josh Phillips. 14. Liam Lloyd. 13. McCauley Rowley. 12. Ben Burnell. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Harvey Nash.
1. Tom Devine. 2. Curtis Greenslade. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Macauley Cook. 5. Chris Dicomidis. 6. Aled Ward. 7. Cai James. 8. Kristian Parker (c).
Subs: 16. Gavin Parry. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Joe Miles. 20. Sion Parry. 21. Cally James. 22. Joel Raikes. 23. Garyn Smith.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Tickets – Admission on Thursday will be £12 full, £10 concession access-all-areas and under 16’s free if accompanied by a paying adult. You can purchase tickets on the day or to save time can use our online e-Ticket system, link – Pontypridd v Carmarthen Quins 23/11/2023 – The club has increased the range of tickets now available to cover small groups (2 people) and large groups (4 people). We also have a family ticket for our Youth and Mini & Junior sections.
Club Shop – To purchase your Ponty RFC merchandise, the Club Shop will be open before and after Thursday’s match. Please also note that any supporters that have recently pre-ordered merchandise, your orders are in and will be ready for collection Thursday evening.
Stars in Their Eyes – The last few tickets are still available for the Club’s ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ event which will take place this Saturday 25th November (article – Ponty RFC presents Stars in Their Eyes). Paul Marshall will be in the Clubhouse on Thursday evening selling tickets for the event in person.
Supporters Club trip to RGC – The PRFC Supporters Club have organised a trip to North Wales over the weekend 12th – 14th April 2024 when the team play RGC on Saturday 13th April. Deposits of £50 per person are now required and Chris Kingsbury will be collecting the money at this Thursday’s match. There are still a few spaces left on the excursion, for more information or to book please contact Chris on 07863 160130.
