Pontypridd v Bargoed – match preview

Pontypridd host Bargoed in a Premiership East tie on Saturday 25th November, the match at Sardis Road kicking off early at 12:30pm.

Ponty are hurting from a heavy defeat by 50pts to 21 away to Merthyr last time out, a result which brought to a shuddering halt an impressive seven match winning run. Sharing top spot in the table with the team that gave them that drubbing, on forty points apiece, Ponty will be going all out to resume the winning habit.

Their opponents Bargoed lie at the other end of the table, in seventh position with two wins from eleven matches played, but many of their defeats being close fought and earning losing bonus points, as with the 20pts to 26 reverse to Bedwas the previous weekend.

Pontypridd have mounting injury problems to contend with but can welcome back into the fold scrum half Dane Blacker and flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes from the Blues Academy, along with hooker Iestyn Harris to make his club debut. Winger Matthew Billet appears on permit from Skewen for a second time.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Bargoed is as follows:

15.Geraint Walsh. 14.Alex Webber. 13.Gary Williams. 12.Dafydd Lockyer – cpt. 11.Matthew Billet. 10.Diggy Bird. 9.Dane Blacker.

1.Chris Phillips. 2.Iestyn Harris. 3.Jon Elley. 4.Josh Hawkins. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Shane Lewis-Hughes. 7.Rhys Shellard. 8.Morgan Sieniawski.

Subs: 16.Joel Raikes. 17.Jordan Rees. 18.Declan Williams. 19.Joe Page. 20.Hemi Barnes. 21.Sean Moore. 22.Huw Owen. 23.Joe Popple.