Tough call at Pandy Park

Pontypridd face a tough away encounter at Cross Keys on Saturday 24th September, facing a Gwent outfit who are traditionally strong on their own patch, and who have so far this season notched up three wins out of three.

The Keys have consolidated their status as a Premiership force and are this year qualifiers for the British & Irish Cup.

Ponty senior coach Dale McIntosh has no hesitation in recognising the nature of the challenge that awaits at Pandy Park.

"Cross Keys is always a tough place to go, and they are a club who have built up a reputation over two or three seasons.

That shows in their status as early front runners in the league. As ever we expect a physical challenge. From our point of view we need to step up a gear or two as we have not yet performed to our potential.

In previous games against Aberavon and Pontypool we had more possession and territory but were not clinical in taking advantage. Nothing but a step up to our best levels of performance will be good enough against Cross Keys."

The Pontypridd team selected to face Cross Keys is as follows:

15.Gareth Wyatt. 14.Lewis I Williams. 13.Adam Thomas. 12.Gary Williams. 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Dean Gunter. 9.Gareth Williams.

1.Stuart Williams. 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Pat Palmer. 4.Cory Hill. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Chris Dicomidis – cpt. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Dan Godfrey.

Subs: Rhys Downes; Lewis K Williams; Matthew Nuthall; James Howe; Tom Hetherington; Owen Sheppeard; Calum Thomas.