Bridgend v Pontypridd – Match Preview
On Saturday 20th January Pontypridd RFC play Bridgend Ravens at The Dunraven Brewery Field, the Indigo Group Premiership match kicks off at 2:30pm.
Earlier in the season on Saturday 14th October Ponty earned a bonus point win by 29 points to 13 when the two clubs met in the league at Sardis Road. The last time the two teams locked horns at the Brewery Field was just over a year ago on Saturday 14th January 2023 and it was the Ravens that won on that occasion by an 18-8 scoreline.
This Saturday will be a poignant afternoon at The Dunraven Brewery Field as Bridgend pay tribute to the late, great JPR Williams and Pontypridd will know that they’ll need to reproduce the same level of performance shown in last week’s emphatic 48-10 win over Neath if they are to overcome an emotionally-charged Bridgend side.
The Team News…
Ponty have made seven personnel changes and one positional switch to the XV that played Neath last Saturday.
In the backs Joel Raikes and Louis Rochefort-Shugar come into the starting line-up at scrum-half and left wing respectively having started last week’s match on the bench.
In the forwards there’s an all-new front row with Ben Stephens, Gavin Parry and Morgan Bosanko all starting up-front. Cai James replaces brother Cally at blinside flanker, Joe Miles is drafted back in to start at no.8 whilst skipper Kris Parker moves from the backrow to the second row.
On the substitutes bench there are returns to the matchday squad for Rob Jones, Mitch Barnard and Aled Ward.
Ryan Wilkins is still unavailable due to suspension. Joining Niko Matawalu and McCauley Rowley in the treatment room are Dale Stuckey and Curtis Greenslade – both sustained injuries in last week’s match.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Bridgend is as follows:
15. Josh Phillips. 14. Liam Lloyd. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Ben Burnell. 11. Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Joel Raikes.
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Gavin Parry. 3. Morgan Bosanko. 4. Kristian Parker (c) 5. Macauley Cook. 6. Cai James. 7. Sion Parry. 8. Joe Miles.
Subs: 16. Rob Jones. 17. Tom Devine. 18. Tom Harper. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. Aled Ward. 21. Cally James. 22. Harvey Nash. 23. Kyan Lewis.
Former Players Event – Prior to the match the Bridgend Former Players Association are hosting a pre-match reception to remember JPR Williams and the Bridgend FPA have cordially invited Pontypridd Former Players to join them at their event. If you are a former player and would like to attend, you’re required to be in the Rafters Bar located inside the main stand at the Brewery Field by 1:15pm.
Ground Address – If any travelling Ponty fans require an address for the Ravens’ ground, it’s – Brewery Field, Tondu Road, Bridgend CF31 4JE.
