The community rugby season may be all but over – but Pontypridd and Merthyr are gearing up for one last dance at the ‘House of Pain’ on Saturday 17 May with a chance of lifting more silverware on the line.
The two sides will lock horns for the third and final time this season at Sardis Road in the inaugural Worthington’s Mid District Premiership Cup final (kick-off 2.30pm).
The Ironmen of Merthyr won both league meetings between the sides on their way to being crowned Admiral Premiership champions, ahead of runners-up Pontypridd. A 28-25 victory at the Wern back on 9 November was followed up with a 33-19 victory over the Valley Commandos in their own backyard in March.
The Mid District Final though gives Pontypridd a chance to wrestle back some bragging rights over their valleys rivals and also bag their second trophy of the season. Ponty won the WRU Premiership Cup at the Principality Stadium by defeating Cross Keys – Merthyr’s semi-final conquerors in that competition.
Only last Saturday, it appeared Ponty had missed out on a place in the Mid District final after going down to a 28-19 reverse at Bargoed, in what was the last Premiership league match of the season for both sides.
With Merthyr already assured of a final spot, the clash effectively doubled up as a Mid District semi-final.
That result cemented Bargoed second place in the Mid District Premiership standings, which were decided across a total of eight home and away Premiership matches between the five Mid District clubs in that league, also including Brecon and Ystrad Rhondda.
However, on Monday, there was an unexpected turn of events when Bargoed informed the Mid District Rugby Union that they would be unable to take their place in the final due to player unavailability in certain key positions.
That meant Ponty, as the third highest ranked side in the Mid District standings, will now step in and contest the final against Merthyr.
Merthyr: Jack Kathrens; Dafydd Thomas, Cole Swannack, Tom Hughes, Fin Baker; Ben Jones, Dafydd Land; Travis Hawkins, Ellis Shipp, Callum Dawe, Paddy McBride, Craig Locke, Daniel Phillips, Jack Perkins, Sam Cross
Reps: Ryan Hughes, Callum Hughes, Morgan Culverhouse, Cerith Lloyd, Zachary Lynam, Kian Evans, Kodie Stone, Ethan WilliamsPontypridd: Dale Stuckey; Louis Rochefort-Shugar, Stuart Floyd-Ellis, Garyn Smith, Jude Williams; Jacob Symes, Joel Raikes; Ben Stephens, Rob Jones, Morgan Bosanko, Mitch Barnard, Niall Moore, Kristian Parker, Cally James, Joe Miles
Reps: Dylan Kelly, Ben Drew, Garyn Daniel, Ethan Evans, Charlie Manship, Joey Williams, Dan Cotterell, Aled Evans