Pontypridd v Pontypool – Match Preview
On Saturday 27th January Pontypridd RFC play Pontypool RFC at Sardis Road, the Indigo Group Premiership match kicks off at 2:30pm.
The two clubs have played each other twice already this season, firstly in a pre-season friendly last August 12th at Sardis Road before the two clubs met in the league at Pontypool Park on 21st October. Pontypridd won the pre-season friendly by 28 points to 21 whilst Pooler triumphed by a 40-31 scoreline in the Premiership.
This Saturday’s match is a battle between 6th versus 5th with both sides looking to close the gap on the all-important top 4 play-off berths in the Indigo Group Premiership.
The Sardis Road Stadium will be open from 10:30am ready for Pontypridd U12s v Tondu U12s which kicks off at 11:30am – more info about this later in the article.
TEAM NEWS:
Pontypridd have made no fewer than 10 personnel changes to the XV that played Bridgend last Saturday – 3 in the backs, 7 in the forwards and we also have a new signing to announce.
Up front Sion Parry is the sole survivor from last week’s pack. The all-new front row sees Tom Devine, Rob Jones and Tom Harper all return. A new second-row combination parteners Mitch Barnard with Chris Dicomidis on his milestone 400th appearance for the Club. In the backrow Cally James starts at blindside flanker whilst Aled Ward is recalled to start at no.8 having finished last week’s match playing at outside centre.
In the backs Harvey Nash returns at scrum-half, Ryan Wilkins makes a welcome return from suspension and replaces the injured Ben Burnell at 12 and there’s a Pontypridd debut for winger Tom Edwards – there’s more about Tom signing below.
Will Huggins, who is on permit from Llantwit Fardre starts on the wing for the second week in a row having impressed as a late replacement for Liam Lloyd last Saturday at Bridgend. Garyn Smith skippers the Valley Commandos this week.
Unavailable because of injury are Niko Matawalu, Dale Stuckey, Liam Lloyd, Ben Burnell, Curtis Greenslade and McCauley Rowley whilst Macauley Cook is away on leave.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Pontypool is as follows:
15. Josh Phillips. 14. Will Huggins. 13. Garyn Smith (c). 12. Ryan Wilkins. 11. Tom Edwards. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Harvey Nash.
1. Tom Devine. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Chris Dicomidis. 6. Cally James. 7. Sion Parry. 8. Aled Ward.
Subs: 16. Gavin Parry. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Cai James. 20. Kristian Parker. 21. Joe Miles. 22. Joel Raikes. 23. Kyan Lewis.
Tom Edwards signs…
Pontypridd RFC are very pleased to announce the signing of exciting 19 year old winger Tom Edwards.
The Llantwit Fardre product joins Ponty on dual registration from local club Beddau having also played for both Scarlets U18s and Wales U18s during his career to date.
On joining Pontypridd, Tom said: “It’s an honour for me to play at Ponty because when I was younger I used to come and watch a the club with my Bamp. It’s also a privilege to play in Dico’s 400th game.”
On Tom’s signing, Ponty coach Gareth Wyatt said: “Tom is a young local talent who has previously represented Scarlets and Wales U18s. This season he has been establishing himself in the Championship and performing well with Beddau.
We have always been a club that has given young talent the opportunity to step up to the Premiership and Tom is a talented rugby player who has trained well and deserves the opportunity.”
Welcome to Ponty Tom, and good luck on Saturday
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 Pontypool 27/1/2024– 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 – In the Clubhouse live FA Cup action on the TV’s will get the live sport offerings underway. This is before a live Gallagher Premiership Rugby ‘double-header’ – Bristol v Bath (3:05pm) followed by Saracens v Exeter (5:30pm).
The Grandstand Bar – This will be open for both sets of supporters before, during and after the match.
Supporters Club trip to RGC – Full payments for the PRFC Supporters Club trip to RGC in April need to be paid on Saturday. Chris Kingsbury will be available to collect people’s money in person, or you can contact Chris on 07863 160130.
Chris Dicomidis 400 – Saturday marks a very special occasion when Pontypridd legend Chris Dicomidis runs out for his 400th appearance for the Valley Commandos – an amazing feat for one of the Club’s all-time greats. To get the day’s action underway Pontypridd U12s will be playing Tondu U12s as a curtain raiser prior to the senior match, kick-off 11:30am. Tondu are coached by Dico and former Ponty second-row Alex Jones.
Saturday promises to be a fantastic day on and off the field – we’ll see you all at Sardis.
