NEWPORT RUGBY: Percy Montgomery; Matt Mostyn, Hal Luscombe, Jon Pritchard, Luke Nabaro; Shane Howarth, Ofisa Tonu’u; Rod Snow, James Richards, Adrian Garvey, Simon Raiwalui (captain), Mike Voyle, Steve Ojomoh, Jason Forster, Andy Powell.
Reoplacements: Chris Anthony, Paul Young, Ian Gough, Rhys Jones, Dale Burn, Jason Strange, Alex Cadwallader.
Monty Back To Face Ponty
Percy Montgomery returns to the Newport line-up for the Welsh Premiership clash with high-flying Pontypridd at Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).
The former Springbok ace missed the last two weekends of Heineken Cup action because we was not qualified to play, but resumes at full back in place of Shane Howarth, who reverts back to outside half ahead of Jason Strange.
The only other change from the team that beat Edinburgh 42-32 last weekend is in the back row where Steve Ojomoh takes over from Ian Gough at blindside flanker.
Newport have done the league double over Pontypridd in each of the last two seasons but were beat 21-16 at Sardis Road before Christmas in a Celtic League pool match. Pontypridd recently reached the semi-finals of the PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP, are the reigning Principality Cup holders and have won two of their three Premiership matches to date, beating Cardiff and Neath and losing to Ebbw Vale.
“The side showed a lot of bottle last weekend to come back and win the game against Edinburgh and we will be looking to build on that result. Even so, the way Pontypridd have been playing this season, especially away from home, they must start as favourites,” said Newport team manager Jim McCreedy.
“Our fans did a great job for us last weekend, as they have been doing all season, and with the same kind of backing on Saturday we will be a hard team to beat. Steve Ojomoh is now fully fit and returns to back row duty, while Percy Montgomery is available to us once again.”
