Pontypridd v Aberavon – Match Preview
On Saturday 23rd March Pontypridd RFC welcome Aberavon RFC to Sardis Road in the Indigo Group Welsh Premiership, kick-off is the usual time of 2:30pm.
Ponty will be looking to avenge the 33-18 home defeat inflicted on them by The Wizards last season back in October 2022, but the Valley Commandos will no doubt take confidence from the hard-fought 16-10 win away at Aberavon earlier this season – on Saturday 18th November three Josh Phillips penalties and a penalty-try secured the victory at the Talbot Athletic Ground.
This Saturday pits 5th against 7th as both clubs look to chase down Cardiff who are in the all-important 4th and final play-off place in the Premiership table. Both teams will know that defeat at Sardis Road this weekend will see their chances of making the play-offs become very slim.
THE TEAM NEWS…
For the second consecutive week there is just one change to the starting XV and one new face on the substitutes bench from the team’s previous matchday – continuity very much the key again.
This Saturday’s backline sees no changes to the one fielded against Merthyr last Thursday whilst the sole change in the forwards is Sion Parry coming in to the starting line-up at blindside flanker.
On the bench Liam Lloyd makes a welcome return to the matchday squad following a period out with injury. A 6:2 split will see Niko Matawalu as the scrum-half cover if required.
Still unavailable through injury are Dale Stuckey, McCauley Rowley and Tom Devine whilst Joel Raikes is away on leave.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Aberavon is as follows:
15. Josh Phillips. 14. Niko Matawalu. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Ryan Wilkins. 11. Tom Edwards. 10. Ben Burnell. 9. Harvey Nash.
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. Macauley Cook. 6. Sion Parry. 7. Cally James. 8. Joe Miles.
Subs: 16. Curtis Greenslade. 17. Kian Mattravers. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. Aled Ward. 21. Cai James. 22. Joseph Scrivens. 23. Liam Lloyd.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Tickets – Admission on Saturday 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 (which is recommended to miss the queues) you can use our online e-Ticket system, link – Pontypridd v Aberavon 23/3/2024 – The club has increased the range of tickets now available to cover small groups (2 people) and large groups (4 people). We also have a family ticket for our Youth and Mini & Junior sections.
Supporter access is via the Clubhouse end of the ground only as the Pwllgwaun end remains closed.
Player of the Season voting – It’s now time for supporters to vote for their Player of the Season. For those of you who want to vote via paper format, the forms and box to put your votes in will be in the Clubhouse bar. Here’s the recently published Club article which has all the information required – Pontypridd RFC Player of the Year 2023/24 season – Pontypridd-RFC
Club Shop – To purchase your Ponty RFC merchandise, the Club Shop will be open both before, during and after the match against Aberavon.
Live Sport In The Clubhouse – Our Clubhouse will be open from midday onwards and there will be a selection of live sport on throughout the afternoon – the pick of it being Saracens v Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership (3:05pm kick-off).
