Match Preview – Pontypridd v Cardiff
Pontypridd get their 2023/24 Indigo Group Premiership campaign underway on Saturday 2nd September against Cardiff. The derby clash at Sardis Road kicks off at 2:30pm.
Saturday’s match is a repeat of last season when the two clubs again met on the opening weekend at Sardis Road – Ponty will be looking to avenge the 26-12 reverse that occurred 12 months ago against a Cardiff team that have been the stand-out side in the division over the last few seasons either side of the Covid-pandemic.
Pontypridd start the competitive season in good shape having come off the back of a productive pre-season that yielded three wins out of three in the XV-a-side game, whilst the High Motive Commandos won the Sardis 7s.
The Team News…
The Ponty coaching team have awarded Club debuts to no less than seven players potentially – four guaranteed in the starting XV, and a further three on the bench should they come on. The four starting debutants all come in the back-line and are Liam Lloyd at fullback, McCauley Rowley on the right wing, Ryan Wilkins in the centre and Josh Phillips at flyhalf.
Another two close-season signings also start with Garyn Smith selected at outside centre and Macauley Cook partnering captain Kris Parker in the second row.
On the bench the other three players that could make their Ponty debuts on Saturday are scrum-half Harvey Nash, centre Will Keep and hooker Curtis Greenslade. Curtis has featured for the Club during pre-season and is involved this week on permit from Treorchy. Also on the bench we welcome back recently capped Canadian international Sion Parry who is selected in the Matchday squad having had a first pre-season run out against Bargoed a week last Thursday.
Unavailable through injury are Cally James, James Murphy and Niko Matawalu – the latter sustaining a nasty leg injury during the Sardis 7s at the start of August.
Go well on Saturday lads!
The Pontypridd team selected to play Cardiff is as follows:
15. Liam Lloyd. 14. McCauley Rowley. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Ryan Wilkins. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Josh Phillips. 9. Joel Raikes
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. Macauley Cook. 6. Aled Ward. 7. Cai James. 8. Joe Miles
Subs: 16. Curtis Greenslade. 17. Tom Devine. 18. Garyn Daniel. 19. Chris Dicomidis. 20. Sion Parry. 21. Harvey Nash. 22. Joseph Scrivens. 23. Will Keep
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Tickets – Admission on the day will be £12 full, £10 concession access-all-areas and under 16’s free if accompanied by a paying adult. You can purchase tickets on the day or to save time can use our new online e-Ticket system, link – e-Tickets – Pontypridd-RFC – There are a range of tickets available to cover small groups (2 people) and large groups (4 people) as well as a family ticket for our Youth and Mini & Junior sections.
Season Tickets – For supporters that have ordered season tickets in our many varied packages, these can be collected from the Clubhouse before Saturday’s match from 12:30pm onwards – please arrive early to avoid delays.
Club Shop – To purchase your Ponty RFC merchandise, the Club Shop will be open for 1 before and 1 hour after the match. Alternatively you can read our recently published article regarding how supporters can order Club merchandise here – Ponty RFC Merchandise Order Form – Pontypridd-RFC
Live Sport – The Clubhouse will be open from midday and will be showing live Premier League football – Sheffield United v Everton which kicks off 12:30pm plus other selected live sport throughout the day.
What a mouth-watering way to start the new season!
