It has been a tough start for the Black & Ambers with a home defeat against arch-rivals Cardiff on the opening weekend being followed by another reverse at Bedwas last weekend, leaving last season’s Tier 2 champions firmly anchored to the foot of the table without any points.
Last season’s skipper, Adam Brown, comes into the second row in place of the injured James Little for the home team, while Morgan Burgess gets a start in his usual position in the back row after impressing at Bedwas when he came on in the second row.
Ryan James partners Matt O’Brien at half-back and their battle with Wales Under 20 star Dane Blacker and former Dragons playmaker Ceri Sweeney will be crucial. Full back Geraint O’Driscoll misses the game because of an injury picked up in training and Hayden Simons starts in his place.
Top of the table Bedwas head to Merthyr to take on the reigning champions in the biggest game of the day. Former Bedwas outside half Richard Powell has to be content with a seat on the bench for the Ironmen, while his replacement for last season’s Foster’s Challenge Cup winners, Steffan Jones, will be seeking a third successive man of the match award.
Cardiff will have new Blues recruit Jack Roberts making his debut at centre when they put their unbeaten record on the line at Bargoed. Dan Fish continues his rehabilitation with another outings at full back.
Principality Premiership East
Friday, 8 September
Newport v Pontypridd
Saturday, 9 September
Bargoed v Cardiff
Cross Keys v Ebbw Vale
Merthyr v Bedwas
Teams
Newport v Pontypridd
Newport: Hayden Simons; Wes Cunliffe, Tom Pascoe, Jon Morris, Harri Lang; Matt O’Brien, Ryan James; John Lavender, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Adam Brown, Joe Bartlett, Morgan Burgess, Kyle Tayler, Rhys Jenkins (captain)
Reps: Will Evans, Nick Boyce, Evan Whitson, Alex Everett, Rhys Cresswell, Owen Davies, A N Other, Adam Sabri
Pontypridd: Lloyd Rowlands; Lewis Williams, Aled Summerhill, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), Dale Stuckey; Ceri Sweeney, Dane Blacker; Chris Phillips, Huw Dowden, Jon Elley, Josh Hawkins, Chris Dicomidis, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Rhys Shellard, Morgan Sieniawski
Reps: Joel Raikes, Diggy Bird, Geraint Walsh, Corrie Tarrant, Sean Moore, Callum Bradbury, Bradley Thyer, Will Davies-King
Bargoed v Cardiff
Bargoed: TBC
Cardiff: Dan Fish; Llwyarch Ap Myrddin , Jack Roberts, Will Rees-Hole, Pat Lewis; Gareth Thompson, Rhodri Cole; Rhys Carre, Joe Tomlinson (captain), Ken Dowden, Kris Smith, Ben White, Luke Crocker, Tom Wilson, Reuben Tucker
Reps: Tom Mably, Ryan Spriggs, Fraser Young, Corey Tucker, Gwion Jones, Lewis Jones, Ben Thomas, Ceri Young
Ebbw Vale v Cross Keys
Ebbw Vale: Will Talbot-Davies; Srdan Majkic, Tom Hoppe, Dom Franchi, Andy Evans; Lewis Dennet, Carl Lewis; Ian George, Joe Franchi, Rob Sevenoaks, Lance Randall, Ashley Sweet, Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes (capt), Cameron Regan
Reps: Rhys Francis, Ross Jones, Josh James, Jon Davies, Owen Jones, Dai Jones, Callum Hall, Dai Langdon
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews; Mathew Powell, Lewis Barnett, Phil Williams, Nathan Trowbridge; Josh Prosser, James Leadbeater; Corey Hewlett, Gerard Ellis, Nathan Buck, Tom Lampard, Josh Skinner, Liam Davies, Joe Thomas, Adam Powell (captain)
Reps: Lewis Smout, Richard Cornock, Max George, Barney Nightingale, David Richards, Ross Pritchard, Joe Goodchild
Merthyr v Bedwas
Merthyr: Matt Jarvis; Kyle Evans, Harri Millard, Terri Gee, Steff Andrews; Ben Jones, Justin James; James Howe, Richard Wilkes, Joe Rees, Ben Murphy, Craig Locke (captain), Ed Siggery, Osian Davies, Tom Daley
Reps: Nathan Trevett, Matt Dwyer, L Jones, Nick White, Phil Rees, Rhys Downes, Richard Powell, Harley Thompson
Bedwas: Arron Bramwell; Mathew John, Mike Callow, Adam Williams, George Gasson; Steffan Jones, Luke Crane; Dan Preece, Ellis Shipp, Rhys Hutcherson, Joe Davies, Craig Hudd, James Richards, George Lee (captain), Nathan Hudd
Reps: Brynley Toms, Mike Dacey, Chris Budgen, Andrew Waite, Geraint Edmunds, Tom Rowlands, Lewis Evans, Mike Hathaway
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