Match Preview – Cardiff v Pontypridd
On Saturday 23rd December Pontypridd make the short trip to Cardiff Arms Park to play Cardiff RFC. The match in the capital kicks off at 5:15pm and is being broadcast live on S4C.
Last season Cardiff won the Boxing Day contest between the two clubs 39-13 to seal a season’s league double over Ponty. This season the two teams met on the opening day at Sardis Road in what was the designated ‘derby weekend’ and the Valley Commandos and City Slickers played out a thrilling 19-all draw.
As things currently stand there’s just three points separating Cardiff in 5th and Ponty in 6th in the Premiership League table – it’s perfectly poised to be a Christmas cracker and the fanatical support of the Ponty faithful could make all the difference on the day!
THE TEAM NEWS…
Ponty have made no fewer than nine changes to the XV that started last Saturday’s win over RGC, three in the backs and six in the forwards.
In the backline Liam Lloyd returns to start on the right wing and Harvey Nash and Ben Burnell are brought into the starting line-up to form a new half-back pairing.
In the pack there’s an all-new backrow of Cai James, Cally James and Kristian Parker. Chris Dicomidis is recalled to start at lock and in the front row Tom Harper and Curtis Greenslade return to start at tighthead prop and hooker respectively.
On the substitutes bench Ben Stephens has recovered from illness and returns to the Matchday squad.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Cardiff is as follows:
15. Josh Phillips. 14. Liam Lloyd. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Ryan Wilkins. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Ben Burnell. 9. Harvey Nash.
1. Tom Devine. 2. Curtis Greenslade. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Macauley Cook. 5. Chris Dicomidis. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James. 8. Kristian Parker (c).
Subs: 16. Gavin Parry. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. Aled Ward. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Joseph Scrivens. 23. McCauley Rowley.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Important ticketing info – Tickets for Saturday’s match will only be on sale from the ticket office at the Angel Hotel entrance of the Arms Park ground – this will also be the only entrance available for supporters who need to buy a ticket on the day. Tickets can also be purchased online before Saturday, please follow this link to Cardiff’s eTicketing site – Cardiff v Pontypridd tickets – 23/12/2023
Sardis Road Clubhouse – For any supporters that are unable to attend the match in Cardiff, the Sardis Road Clubhouse will be open from 4:00pm onwards and we will be showing live coverage of the big festive derby match on the screens for your enjoyment.
