Bonymaen v Pontypridd – Match Preview

On Friday evening 14th March Pontypridd RFC play Bonymaen RFC at Parc Mawr, the Admiral Premiership match kicks off at 7:30pm.

Friday will be Ponty’s maiden visit to Parc Mawr with all three prior matches between the two clubs having taken place at Sardis Road. The Valley Commandos triumphed 47-7 against Bony in early November last year, and since that encounter the two clubs campaigns have taken different paths – Pontypridd are fighting for the Premiership title whilst Bonymaen are fighting hard for Premiership survival and therefore neither will be taking a backward step come Friday evening.

Another large travelling contingent of Pontypridd support is expected to head west into Swansea on Friday, make sure you bring your voices #PontyFans

TEAM NEWS –

This week’s match is Ponty’s first since the Welsh Cup semi-final a fortnight ago, and there’s no fewer than eight changes and three positional switches to the starting XV that took to the field against Newbridge at The Gnoll on St. David’s Day. As well as the starting line-up there’s also a new face on the bench as well.

There are four new faces in the forwards including an all-new front row – up front Kian Mattravers, Jeff Young and Morgan Bosanko all start. The other change in the pack sees Ponty Youth captain Aled Evans start at blindside flanker following his debut appearance off the bench in the cup semi-final.

In the backline there are starts in the XV for Oli Shepherd at fullback, Louis Rochefort-Shugar on the right wing, Jude Williams on the left wing and Joel Raikes at scrum-half. The three positional switches sees Stuart Floyd-Ellis switch from wing to outside-centre and Garyn Smith moving inside him to 12. The other tweak to the line-up is Ioan Evans lining up for a first start of the season at flyhalf, Ioan is familiar to this position having switched into it during matches throughout the current campaign.

On the bench there’s a recall to the matchday squad for prop Dan Cotterell. Unavailable for selection through injury are Cai James, Ieuan Davies and Garyn Daniel – the latter nursing a niggle. Joe Davies and Ben Drew are away on leave this week.

The Pontypridd team selected to play Bonymaen is as follows:

15. Oli Shepherd. 14. Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Garyn Smith. 11. Jude Williams. 10. Ioan Evans. 9. Joel Raikes.

1. Kian Mattravers. 2. Jeff Young. 3. Morgan Bosanko. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Kristian Parker. 6. Aled Evans. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Joe Miles.

Subs: 16. Rob Jones. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Dan Cotterell. 19. Oliver Lewis. 20. Lloyd Riley. 21. Lucus Welch. 22. Jaydan Pugh. 23. Dale Stuckey.

SUPPORTERS TRAVEL –

For those of you who have booked travel with the Ponty Supporters Club, the bus is leaving Sardis Road at 5:30pm. As always you can contact Phil Lycett on 01443 662561.

To any supporters making your own way to Parc Mawr, the postcode for Bonymaen’s ground is SA1 7JF.