Against all odds

Pontypridd will conclude their British & Irish Cup campaign for the 2009 – 2010 season with an away trip to face Birmingham & Solihull on Saturday 6^th March, the game kicking off at a revised time of 2:30pm.

A tough schedule of games has taken its toll on the Ponty squad, with the players given a rest from training following their home defeat to Doncaster Knights on Wednesday evening. A total of seventeen front line personnel are now absent due to injury, work commitments or international and regional call ups.

To see the team through their final BIC assignment there are call ups on permit for lock John Barley from Glamorgan Wanderers, hooker Matthew Howell from UWIC and back rower Greg Williams from Llantwit Fardre. Assistant coach Dale McIntosh also makes another comeback from retirement to stand in the breach.

Despite all their difficulties, against all odds Ponty will be going all out to secure a win against the bottom placed club in Pool D to round off their BIC campaign.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Birmingham & Solihull is as follows:

15.Aaron Bramwell. 14.Owen Williams. 13.Adam Thomas. 12.Lee Thorne. 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Dean Gunter. 9.Gavin Morris.

1.Stuart Williams. 2.Tom Hetherington. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Grant Harrington. 5. John Barley. 6.Ryan Savage. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Chris Dicomidis.

Subs: Kristian Baller; Matthew Hutchings; Matthew Nuthall; Jon Williams; Dale McIntosh; Greg Williams; Matthew Howell.