Connacht crashed out of the Celtic League at the quarter-final stage against Munster and now have the PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP as their only chance of silverware this season. But they are short of match practice – last weekend’s 25-3 defeat in the friendly against fellow Irish province Leinster was their only game since they overcame Narbonne over two legs to make it to the final eight.
Pontypridd, last year’s PARKER PEN SHEILD runners-up blew Connacht away with a 40-0 victory in the Celtic League in Galway last October. Since qualifying for the quarter-finals they beat Heineken Cup sides Cardiff (12-10) and Neath (29-20), but came unstuck at home against Ebbw Vale at home last weekend.
The ‘Valley Commandoes’ stunned English side Leeds Tykes with a 3-1 victory on match points over two legs to make it to the final eight and they will be seeking to make it a double over the Irish province . The first leg of the game will be played in Athlone.
Pontypridd: B Davey; G Wyatt, S Parker, J Bryant, E Lewis; N Jenkins, P John; G Jenkins, M Davies (capt), D Bell, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, M Owen
Replacements: C Sweeney, G Baber, S James, S Cronk, M Rees, N Kelly, W O’Connor
Connacht: M McHugh; G Duffy, D Yapp, S Moore (capt), W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, J Flannery, P Bracken, D Browne, R Frost, M Swift, C Rigney, J O’Connor
Replacements: D McFarland, M Uijs, E Peter4s, J Muldoon, C Keane, M McPhail, J Norton