Pontypridd v Neath – Matchday Preview
This Saturday 13th January Pontypridd play their first home game of 2024 when we welcome Neath RFC to Sardis Road, the Indigo Group Premiership match kicks off at 2:30pm.
The two clubs met at The Gnoll earlier this season on Saturday 30th September and in a contest where the lead changed hands multiple times during the eighty minutes, it was Ponty that came away with a slender one-point win by 23 points to 22. Rob Jones scored the only try for the Valley Commandos to go with six penalty-goals from Josh Phillips during that afternoon back in the autumn.
The last time the Welsh All Blacks visited Sardis Road was on Saturday 6th October 2018 and if this Saturday’s match is anything like the last, supporters are in for a treat! The game back in 2018 saw a combined total of 114 points – Pontypridd winning by a 76-38 score-line thanks to tries from Gareth Smith (2), Corey Howells, Dafydd Lockyer, Dale Stuckey (2), Ben Jones, Morgan Sieniawski, Jamie Hill, Alex Knott, Rhys Shellard and Joe Popple whilst Ceri Sweeney kicked eight conversions.
To the present and Pontypridd, although smarting from a second consecutive one-point loss in as many weeks away at Llandovery last Saturday will no doubt take some positives from the fact they arguably should have beaten the top two teams in the league over the last two weekends. The visiting All Blacks will feel that their luck has finally changed. After a difficult start to life back in the Welsh Premiership which has included some narrow losses, they’ve now won their last two matches firstly at home against Aberavon on Boxing Day and at home against Merthyr last Saturday.
A big crowd between the two most successful clubs in the ‘semi-professional’ era of Welsh rugby is expected at Sardis Road this Saturday, we can’t wait!
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 Neath 13/1/2024– 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.
Club Shop – To purchase your Ponty RFC merchandise, the Club Shop will be open from 1:00pm until 5:00pm on Saturday.
Live Sport – The Clubhouse will be open at midday and there’s a feast of live sport on our screens throughout the afternoon. Chelsea host Fulham in the Premier League’s early kick-off and that’s followed by lots of live European rugby throughout the day – Exeter v Glasgow kick proceedings off at 1:00pm.
Former Players Association – The Ponty RFC FPA are holding their annual general meeting prior to the team’s match against Neath. The following recently published article contains all the key details – FPA AGM Saturday 13th January 2024
Supporters Club trip to RGC – The PRFC Supporters Club have organised a trip to North Wales over the weekend 12th – 14th April 2024 when the team play RGC on Saturday 13th April. Deposits of £50 per person are now required and Chris Kingsbury will be collecting the money at this Saturday’s match. Also please note that full payments need to be paid by Saturday 27th January when Ponty play Pontypool at Sardis Road. There are eight spaces left on the excursion, for more information or to book please contact Chris on 07863 160130.
We look forward to welcoming the supporters of both clubs to Sardis Road for the first time in 2024 this Saturday.
