Newbridge v Pontypridd – Cup Semi-Final Matchday Preview

Next up for Pontypridd RFC following a ‘weekend off’ is a huge Welsh National Cup Semi-Final against Newbridge RFC. The match takes place on St. David’s Day, Saturday 1st March at the Lextan Gnoll home of Neath RFC and kicks off at 2:30pm.

Saturday’s Semi-Final will be a repeat of when the two clubs met at the same stage of the competition on Saturday 14th April 2012 at Cardiff Arms Park. Newbridge were in the division below Ponty at that time, but it was a close-fought affair which the Valley Commandos edged by 28 points to 24.

As the teams prepare for this week’s match, they will have the advantage of knowing what to expect having played in each other twice in the Premiership this season. Pontypridd may have achieved a ‘league-double’ over the men from The Welfare Ground, but what unfolded in the matches highlights the competitive nature of both contests. On Saturday 28th September Ponty won by 22 points to 0 at Sardis Road with Newbridge proving to be gutsy opponents early on in the season. Then just last month on Saturday 25th January, in a match that could have gone either way, it was Ponty that ground out the win 30-22 despite being outscored four tries to three by our hosts.

From previous league encounters to current Cup runs, and there’s a certain similarity to the teams’ paths to the Semi-Final stage. Both Pontypridd and Newbridge were two of the three clubs that received byes for the first round and went straight through to the second round stage. In the second round both clubs were drawn away from home, Ponty triumphed with a last-kick-of-the-match win away at Bargoed, whilst Newbridge won 32-22 away at Dale McIntosh’s Brecon.

The winner of this Saturday’s Gnoll semi-final will face the winners of either Cross Keys or Merthyr who face off in the other tie, and as usual the team will be relying on your magnificent support this weekend.

SUPPORTERS TRAVEL –

As always, the Pontypridd Supporters Club are organising travel for fans to the match and at the time of publishing this article they have nearly filled two large coaches, so yet again the team will be running out in front of another large travelling army of Valley Commandos’ support away from home – don’t leave it too late to book – all the details are in this article published yesterday – Supporters Coach to the Welsh Cup Semi-Final

Phil Lycett’s contact number is 01443 662561.

PRE-MATCH HOSPITALITY –

The host club, Neath RFC, have pre-match hospitality available for supporters. You can check out the packages available and/or purchase your match tickets via the following link which takes you to their official website – MATCH DAY HOSPITALITY – NEATH v PONTYPRIDD

GROUND ADDRESS –

For Ponty Fans making your own way to the ground, the postcode required for your sat-navs is SA11 3BU.

Are you Up For The Cup #PontyFans? We certainly are – see you Saturday!