Pontypridd v Cardiff – match preview

The traditional festive derby between Pontypridd and Cardiff takes place on Saturday 28th December, the big match at Sardis Road kicking off at 5:15pm, screened live on S4C.

The capital club have enjoyed a hugely successful first half of the season with eleven consecutive victories putting them a staggering fifteen points clear at the top of the Premiership table.

The opening match of the season saw Ponty come away from the Arms Park having gone down to a last minute 24pts to 23 defeat, in a match that could have been won. In their attempt to halt the Cardiff juggernaut, Ponty can refer to the fact that their big city rivals have not won at Sardis Road for the past ten years, their previous victory coming on 12th December 2009.

The latest injury withdrawals from the Ponty squad are hooker Nathan Huish with a foot injury and lock Sean Moore with facial damage. Captain Dafydd Lockyer in the meantime is still recovering from a bout of flu. Four changes are made to the starting line-up that secured victory at home to Llanelli last time out, including winger Dale Stuckey returning from injury and lock Kristian Parker from holiday.