Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd – match preview

Pontypridd travel to Ebbw Vale for a Principality Premiership tie on Friday evening 9th February, the match at Eugene Cross Park kicking off at 7:15pm.

This will be the third encounter of the campaign between the clubs, with Ponty already having achieved a double over their north Gwent opponents in the divisional east conference.

An away win at Ebbw by 6pts to 17 on the second weekend of the new season was followed by another victory by 45pts to 12 at Sardis Road in November.

Ponty currently occupy second position in the table only a point behind leaders Merthyr whilst Ebbw Vale lie back in ninth place. The two clubs enjoyed differing fortunes in their previous outings, Pontypridd romping to a 59pts to 14 home win over Llanelli whilst Ebbw Vale lost narrowly away to Newport by 18pts to 15.

The latest casualty in the Ponty ranks is centre Gary Williams who limped out of the Llanelli match with a hamstring strain. With fellow centre and club captain Daf Lockyer away on leave, a new midfield combination is introduced as Ceri Sweeney pairs up with Geraint Walsh. Blues props Corey Domachowski and Kieran Assiratti make a return to club duties to bolster the front row.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Ebbw Vale is as follows:

15.Dale Stuckey. 14.Lewis Williams. 13.Geraint Walsh. 12.Ceri Sweeney. 11.Alex Webber. 10.Diggy Bird. 9.Wayne Evans.

1.Corey Domachowski. 2.Joe Page. 3.Kieran Assiratti. 4.Sean Moore. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Morgan Sieniawski. 7.Rhys Shellard – cpt. 8.Hemi Barnes.

Subs: 16.Joel Raikes. 17.Rhys Morgan. 18.Matthew Billett. 19.Huw Dowden. 20.Alun Lawrence. 21.Josh Hawkins. 22.Ian George. 23.Joe Popple.