TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT – PONTYPRIDD RFC VS LLANELLI RFC *CUP GAME*
As we play round 2 of the National Cup , Daf Lockyer admitted Pontypridd’s 50-3 victory at brave Bedlinog was much closer than the scoreline suggested. The six-time former winners had to weather an early storm against the Foxes, who went ahead after four minutes thanks to Dan Parry’s 40-metre penalty.
Geraint Clarke and Alex Webber both scored twice for Ponty with Rhys Shellard, Gabriel Davies and Dai Francis also crossing the home line. Diggy Bird kicked six conversions and a penalty.
“It was a tough game despite the final scoreline. The boys did not expect anything different,” said Lockyer. “Other teams have come here and been turned over and Bedlinog gave us plenty of trouble in the first 40 minutes
On Saturday we meet Llanelli in the second round of the cup in what promises to be an exciting game of rugby at Sardis Road. “There’s a lot of history with both teams and we know that they will be coming to us to win “ The boys are up for it & have worked hard in training this week .” We hope that Sardis Road will be bouncing as we have the best fans in the premiership who aren’t afraid to be vocal – they are our 16th man!“
Pontypridd has a long record of cup battles against the gentlemen from down west. The Welsh cup competition started back in the 1971-72 season, and after a win in the first round down at Whitland on the toss of a coin, we drew Llanelli at ‘home’ in the next round. In fact, we played them at Penygraig on 9 February 1972, as Sardis Road hadn’t been finished. We lost that game by 4 – 18, and this was the beginning of a nightmare run for Pontypridd against Llanelli in the cup, as they beat us a further six times between 1979 and 1993.
Our first win came in the semi-final in 1994-95 by 20-14 (we lost the final to Swansea), and then we met Llanelli again the following season in another semi. Ponty won that one by 35-17, and this time we went on to beat Neath in the final. The two teams next met in 2001-02, this time in the final, and Ponty won by 20-17 through a Brett Davey penalty in injury time.
In recent times we have done well against Llanelli, winning the last three meetings in the cup. Also, the visitors have not managed to get a win at Sardis Road in any competition since 19 May 2011. Nevertheless, we can expect nothing but a big battle on Saturday afternoon, so let’s turn out in force to support our team!
* Please remember that it’s ALL PAY on Saturday – £15 Grandstand £10 field Under 16s go free with a paying adult *
Here is your team to take on the challenge……
Team Announcement – PONTYPRIDD RFC VS LLANELLI RFC KICK OFF AT 2.30PM
TEAM SHEET PONTYPRIDD RFC
1 Cory Domachowski
2 Rob Jones
3 Gareth Smith
4 Shay Smallman
5 Chris Dicomidis
6 Lloyd Evans
7 Rhys Shellard
8 Alun Lawrence
9 Joel Raikes
10 Ceri Sweeney
11 Dale Stuckey
12 Daf Lockyer (capt)
13 Cameron Lewis
14 Alex Webber
15 Ben jones
*Subs*
16 Huw Owen
17 Geraint Clarke
18 Joe Popple
19 Rhodri Jones
20 Ross Morgan
21 Huw Rees
22 Alex Knott
23 Lloyd Rowlands
