Winner takes all

The success of Pontypridd RFC’s 2007 – 2008 campaign hinges on eighty minutes or so of high intensity rugby to be played out before the live TV cameras of S4C on Saturday evening.

Ponty take on the Wizards of Aberavon in a crunch Konica Minolta Cup semi final tie at the Cardiff Arms Park, kicking off at 5:30pm. To the victor, the spoils of a glamour day out at the Millennium Stadium on May 17^th for the cup final, and having tasted that level of success twice during the past four seasons, that will be the aim once more for Pontypridd.

Aberavon will provide a stiff test for Pontypridd, having of late been the form team in the premier division, albeit with two defeats away to Ebbw Vale and Cross Keys in their last two outings pinning them back to sixth place in the table. Ponty lie just ahead of them in fourth place, but in a winner takes all encounter such as Saturday’s cup tie, form and league statistics will count for little.

Bucking the trend of a busy month of rugby, the Pontypridd squad have enjoyed a week without a competitive fixture to prepare for the Aberavon cup tie, and according to head coach Paul John, have knuckled down to the task in training.

“All the boys are looking forward to the big occasion on Saturday” said John, “and have been working hard, and are focused on what is of course a must win game. Its been a difficult week in the sense that all our thoughts are with Snid (Gareth Jones) and his family, and we just hope that he pulls through from his injury.

“Saturday’s game will be difficult – we have played Aberavon home and away in the league and both were hard fought games. We are concentrating on playing to our full potential, and of raising to the big occasion. If we fulfil those aims, we can hopefully edge what should be an exciting cup tie”.

The most recent injuries amongst the Pontypridd squad have seen prop Stuart Williams and centre Paul Matthews pull out with back and hamstring strains respectively, joining winger Gavin Close (knee), scrum half Rhys Downes (knee) and prop Ryan Harford (thumb) on the sick list.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Aberavon is as follows:

15.Lawrence Price. 14.Kristian Baller. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Adam Thomas. 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Gareth McCarthy. 9.Andrew Jenkins.

1.Ian Poley. 2.Duane Goodfield. 3.Sam Hobbs. 4.Chris Dicomidis. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Lee Evans. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Nathan Strong – cpt.

Subs: Tom Riley; Neil Burnett; Owen Cotton; Rhys Williams; Grant Harrington; Rhys Shellard; Geraint Lewis.