Aberavon v Pontypridd – match preview

Pontypridd travel to face the Wizards of Aberavon on Saturday 14th April in a Premiership tie that kicks off at 2:30pm.

The first encounter of the season between the two clubs sees Ponty in fifth position in the league table, five places and fifteen points clear of Aberavon.

The Valley Commandos will seek to maintain momentum from an encouraging 25pts to 20 home win over RGC the previous weekend, whilst the Wizards also won their last encounter by 24pts to 19 against Bedwas back on the 30th of March.

In the corresponding fixture last season Aberavon claimed a 35pts to 20 win at the Talbot Athletic Ground, which cancelled out Ponty’s home win by 22pts to 11 earlier in the campaign.

On the injury front Ponty will be without winger Lewis Williams and lock Chris Dicomidis, both out with knee damage, whilst flanker Jake Thomas has this week undergone minor surgery to straighten a broken nose. Also absent due to family commitments are outside half Diggy Bird and flanker Morgan Sieniawski.

Making a comeback from injury are winger Alex Webber and flanker Ross Morgan, with centre Cameron Lewis from the Blues Academy also returning to the club fold. Prop Connor Lewis is drafted in on permit from USW.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Aberavon is as follows:

15.Lloyd Rowlands. 14.Alex Webber. 13.Cameron Lewis. 12.Gary Williams. 11.Dale Stuckey. 10.Jordan Rees. 9.Jamie Hill.

1.Ian George. 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Will Davies-King. 4.Sean Moore. 5.Shay Smallman. 6.Ross Morgan. 7.Rhys Shellard – cpt. 8.Alun Lawrence.

Subs: 16.Joel Raikes. 17.Ceri Sweeney. 18.Geraint Walsh. 19.Joe Page. 20.Sion Edwards. 21.Hemi Barnes. 22.Connor Lewis. 23.Joe Popple.