Match Preview – RGC v Pontypridd
Saturday 11th March Pontypridd RFC travel away to Colwyn Bay to play RGC. The Indigo Group Premiership match at Parc Eirias kicks-off at 12:30pm.
This match was originally due to take place earlier in the season on Saturday 17th December 2022 but was postponed due to a frozen pitch. As a result it will be the first time the two sides have met this season – we welcome the Gogs to Sardis Road next month.
Last season the two sides met three times in two domestic competitions. On the 16th October 2021 Pontypridd won a thriller by 40 points to 38 at Sardis Road and then in January 2022 won 30-25 at Parc Eirias to complete the ‘double’ over RGC in the Welsh Premiership Cup.
The North Walians did avenge those two defeats when, in April 2022 they triumphed 40 points to 10 in the Welsh Premiership at Parc Eirias.
Pontypridd head into this week’s match having had last weekend off following Llanelli’s request to postpone the Welsh Premiership match between the two clubs at Parc y Scarlets. RGC did have a game last Saturday, they lost by 40 points to 25 away against Bridgend at the Brewery Field.
TEAM NEWS…
Ponty have made no fewer than eight personnel changes to the XV that played Merthyr a fortnight ago – five in the forwards and three in the backs as well as two positional switches on top of those.
In the pack Ben Stephens and Rob Jones return to the front-row, Mitch Barnard starts at lock and in the back-row Daniel Phillips and Sam Evans both earn their first starts of the season at 6 and 8 whilst Cai James switches flanks to openside.
In the backline Joel Raikes returns at scrum-half, Ceri Morris comes back in at inside-centre and Sam Hayman returns on the wing allowing Iestyn Griffiths to switch to fullback.
On the bench there’s a return from injury for Fiji international Niko Matawalu whilst James Murphy and Matthew Lewis also come back into to the Matchday squad. There’s also another potential Pontypridd debut Saturday – on this occasion it’s 21 year old Logan McIntosh who is on permit from Brecon – yes, son of the Chief.
Joe Miles has joined Jamie Murphy, Aled Ward, Chris Dicomidis, Lloyd Rowlands and Cally James on the already more than lengthy injury list. Due to this match being rearranged on a Six Nations weekend there are numerous players that are away on leave – Rory Harries, Morgan Bosanko, Sion Parry and James Little are just some of the squad members that are away on Saturday.
All the best to the 23 Valley Commandos in North Wales!
The Pontypridd team selected to play RGC is as follows:
15. Iestyn Griffiths. 14. Sam Hayman. 13. Tommy Morgan. 12. Ceri Morris. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Joel Raikes
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. Mitch Barnard. 6. Daniel Phillips. 7. Cai James. 8. Sam Evans
Subs: 16. Gavin Parry. 17. Tom Devine. 18. Nathan Huish. 19. James Murphy. 20. Logan McIntosh. 21. Niko Matawalu. 22. Jordan Howells. 23. Matthew Lewis
SUPPORTER INFORMATION…
There’s no official club travel for this match, but the team still needs as many of the Ponty faithful there on the day to help get behind them in what is one of the toughest away grounds to visit in the league.
The address for the stadium is – Parc Eirias, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29 7SP.
Safe travels Ponty Fans, we’ll see you all up north this coming Saturday! Ole!
