RGC v Pontypridd – Match Preview
On Saturday 13th April Pontypridd RFC head north to Colwyn Bay to play their final game of the 2023/24 season against RGC. The Indigo Group Premiership match at Parc Eirias kicks off at 2:30pm.
Last season on Saturday 11th March 2023 a Ponty squad depleted by injuries and unavailability suffered a 42-3 loss at Parc Eirias. However, the Valley Commandos fared better when they played the Gogs earlier in the current campaign when, on Saturday 16th December 2023 they triumphed 29-17 at Sardis Road. Two tries from Joel Raikes and one try each for Ryan Wilkins and Aled Ward secured the bonus-point win.
It’s 12th versus 6th at Parc Eirias on Saturday, neither team can make the Premiership play-offs so with the shackles off it should prove to be an entertaining contest.
TEAM NEWS –
The match against RGC is Ponty’s first competitive action since playing away against Carmarthen Quins. There have been three changes to the XV that took the field at Carmarthen Park a fortnight ago, and another three new faces have come onto the bench.
The backline remains unchanged. In the pack, Club captain Kristian Parker returns to the starting line-up in the second row and he is joined by Sion Parry and Aled Ward who’ve also been recalled to start in the back row.
On the bench there are returns to the matchday squad for Joel Raikes and Curtis Greenslade and there’s a potential Pontypridd debut for prop Dan Cotterell. Dan is part of the current USW side and we are very pleased that the Club’s ongoing links with the University of South Wales has seen another one of their players get playing exposure with us at Premiership level. Aside from USW, Dan is permitted to play for Ponty this weekend from his club of origin Kidwelly RFC.
Still unavailable through injury are Dale Stuckey, McCauley Rowley and Tom Devine. Macauley Cook remains at home this weekend with the full blessing of the Club – Macauley’s wife is expecting their newborn baby anytime now and everyone at Pontypridd RFC would like to pass on our best wishes to Macauley and Sophie for their new arrival.
The Pontypridd team selected to play RGC is as follows:
15. Josh Phillips. 14. Liam Lloyd. 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. Mitch Barnard. 6. Cai James. 7. Sion Parry. 8. Aled Ward.
Subs: 16. Curtis Greenslade. 17. Dan Cotterell. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Joe Miles. 20. Cally James. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Joseph Scrivens. 23. Louis Rochefort-Shugar
SUPPORTERS TRAVEL –
The Pontypridd Supporters Club have organised a three-day excursion to North Wales to coincide with the match. For supporters that have booked onto the trip, the coach will be leaving Sardis Road at 10:00am on Friday 12th April. Please note – prior to departure our Clubhouse will be open from 9:00am for bacon rolls, tea, coffee and the bar will be open.
The address for the stadium is – Parc Eirias, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29 7SP.
Safe travels Ponty Fans and for one last time in 2023/24 – ole!
