On Saturday November 3rd the visitors to Sardis Road will be Ebbw Vale, the Steelmen currently claiming second place in the Principality Premiership table and Ponty knowing that a home win will be vital to keep in touch with their opponents and with the rest of the division’s leading pack.
Coming off the back of a creditable draw away at Llanelli last weekend, albeit in a game which all reports indicate Ponty should have won, the Valley Commandos will face up to the challenge posed by Ebbw Vale with confidence and with a will to do better.
Ponty Head Coach Paul John returned with his squad from Stradey Park ruing a winning result that got away. “We felt frustrated after the Llanelli game” said John, “having played well enough to have got the win.
“In some ways it felt as if we’d lost, being disappointed with the result, but then again we were well pleased with the performance and that will give us confidence going into the next game. The boys have responded well in training this week, but of course if we played on Thursday nights we would win all our games. The trick is to carry our enthusiasm into the game on Saturday.”
John realises the magnitude of the challenge ahead as his Ponty team face up to Ebbw Vale and Neath on consecutive Saturdays. “The Ebbw game is a big one for us” he said.
“They are in the top two, and have been there through most of last season. They have a big pack, efficient in the set pieces and have plenty of attacking options behind. The next two weeks will be interesting, and we need to thrive on these big games coming up.”
There are numerous changes made again to the Pontypridd line up, with a good level of competition for starting places amongst the squad. Jason Pocock returns to claim the fullback berth, Gavin Dacey in for the injured Tom Riley at centre, with Neil Burnett in at No.10 in place of Dai Flanagan, who is away on senior Blues duty, partnering youngster Rhys Downes.
Stuart Williams and Leighton Davies form a new look front row unit with Sam Hobbs, with Wayne O’Connor returning at openside flanker.
Pontypridd:
15. Jason Pocock
14. Kristian Baller
13. Gavin Dacey
12. Adam Thomas
11. Chris Clayton
10. Neil Burnett
9. Rhys Downes
1. Stuart Williams
2. Leighton Davies
3. Sam Hobbs
4. Ryan Savage
5. Chris Dicomidis
6. Lee Evans
7. Wayne O’Connor
8. Nathan Strong (Capt)
Replacements:
Matthew Hutchings
Paul Matthews
Andrew Jenkins
Ryan Harford
Rhys Williams
Grant Harrington
Rhys Shellard
