Pontypridd v Ebbw Vale – match preview

Pontypridd host Ebbw Vale in a Premiership tie at Sardis Road on Friday 18th October, the match kicking off at 7:05pm screened live on BBC Wales.

The two opposing teams have not enjoyed a good start to the new campaign, both with one win out of three league fixtures completed, with sixth placed Ebbw one bonus point ahead of Ponty in the rankings. The Steelmen’s solitary victory came the previous Saturday, by 37pts to 21 at home to Llandovery, on a day when Ponty went down to a disappointing 26pts to 8 defeat at RGC.

Honours were shared the previous season as both teams made the most of home advantage, Pontypridd winning by 24pts to 19 at Sardis Road whilst Ebbw Vale edged a close encounter by 17pts to 16 at Eugene Cross Park.

The latest casualty for Ponty is centre Gary Williams who dislocated a finger in the RGC game. His place is taken by Blues Academy intern Harri Millard, with scrum half Jamie Hill and no8 Alun Lawrence also drafted in from regional level.

New recruit Matt Davies gets a full debut at lock, whilst hooker Huw Dowden comes on to the bench for the first time this season having recovered from a summer illness and a more recent hamstring strain.