Match Preview – Pontypridd v RGC
Saturday 15th April Pontypridd welcome RGC to Sardis Road, the Indigo Group Premiership match kicks off at 2:30pm.
The two sides met last month on Saturday 11th March at Parc Eirias and it proved to be a tough afternoon for Ponty. The away side’s depleted team suffered a 42 points to 3 reverse against the Gogs. The last time RGC visited Sardis Road was on Saturday 16th October 2021 and it was a twelve-try points-fest which Ponty edged by a 40-38 score-line.
Last Easter Thursday evening Ponty were defeated 32-10 away at Ebbw Vale, and last Saturday RGC suffered a narrow 32-31 loss away at Carmarthen Quins so both sides will be looking to get back on the winning trail Saturday.
TEAM NEWS:
Pontypridd have a raft of players unavailable through either injury or away on leave and as a result, seven changes have been made to the starting XV that played against Ebbw Vale last week. On top of the personnel changes, there are also a couple of positional switches as well as a further three new faces on the bench.
In the backline there’s an all-new centre pairing of Jordan Howells and Tommy Morgan whilst Dale Stuckey has recovered from injury to return to the starting line-up on the wing.
In the forwards Ben Stephens and Nathan Huish return to the front row at prop and hooker respectively. Cai James returns to the XV at blindside flanker and on the openside Daf Rotie is called up for his second start of the season. There are also two positional switches in the pack, Aled Ward moves from the flank to no.8 and Joe Miles moves from no.8 to accompany Skipper Kris Parker in the boiler house.
On the substitutes bench there are returns to the matchday squad for Garyn Daniel, James Murphy and Alex Lloyd.
Regarding the aforementioned list of absentees, Jamie Murphy and Sion Parry have now joined Cally James, Lloyd Rowlands and Lucus Welch in the treatment room. Chris Dicomidis, Tom Devine and Ceri Morris are all away on leave.
The Pontypridd team selected to play RGC is as follows:
15. Iestyn Griffiths. 14. Niko Matawalu. 13. Tommy Morgan. 12. Jordan Howells. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Joel Raikes
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Nathan Huish. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. Joe Miles. 6. Cai James. 7. Daf Rotie. 8. Aled Ward
Subs: 16. Rob Jones. 17. Morgan Bosanko. 18. Garyn Daniel. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. James Murphy. 21. Rory Harries. 22. Alex Lloyd. 23. Sam Hayman
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Ponty RFC Mini & Junior Day – This Saturday is another one of the Club’s designated Ponty RFC Mini & Junior day(s). The Mini & Junior’s schedule includes all the age groups parading around the pitch before Ponty and RGC kick-off. The U9’s, along with the U5’s and U6’s will be providing the Guard of Honour for the senior sides to run out to. The U7’s will be playing against Llantwit Fardre RFC at half-time and the U13’s will be playing a match after the seniors’ match.
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 – The club has increased the range of tickets now available to cover small groups (2 people) and large groups (4 people). We are also pleased to have introduced a family ticket for our Youth and Mini & Junior sections.
Player(s) of the Year Awards – There will be ballot slips in the Clubhouse before and after the match for people to vote. The two categories for supporters to vote for are Player of the Year and The Stuart Williams Forward of the Year.
Club Shop – For all your Ponty RFC merchandise, the Club Shop will be open.
Live Sport off the field – The Clubhouse will be open from midday and will be showing live Premier League football – Aston Villa v Newcastle and then a little later live English Premiership rugby – Northampton v Saracens.
