Match Preview – Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd
This Saturday 9th September Pontypridd travel to play Ebbw Vale in the Indigo Group Premiership. The match at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium kicks off at 2:30pm.
Last season Ebbw did the league ‘double’ over Ponty when The Steelmen won 23-22 at Sardis Road on Saturday 10th December 2022 and 32-10 earlier this year at Ebbw on Thursday 6th April.
The Ciner Glass Community Stadium, formerly Eugene Cross Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Pontypridd in recent years – the last time the Valley Commandos came away from Blaenau Gwent with a win was over six years ago on Friday 1st September 2017 when tries from Jon Elley and a brace from Lewis I Williams secured a 17-6 win.
Ponty head into this Saturday’s match off the back of a 19-all derby day draw against Cardiff and will be hoping to build some early season momentum – pob lwc bois!
The Team News…
Pontypridd have made three personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting XV that ran out at Sardis Road against Cardiff last Saturday. In the forwards Tom Devine comes in to start at loosehead prop and Chris Dicomidis is drafted into the second row which allows Kristian Parker to move to blindside flanker to replace the injured Aled Ward. The sole change in the backline is at scrum-half – Harvey Nash earns his first competitive start for the Club at 9.
Amongst the replacements Morgan Bosanko returns to the matchday squad and drafted in are Lloyd Jones who is on permit from Machen RFC, and Will Gregory who is part of the Cardiff Rugby Academy.
Still unavailable through injury are Cally James, James Murphy and Niko Matawalu, and they’ve now been joined in the treatment room by Aled Ward and Sion Parry.
We can also announce a departure from Pontypridd RFC – Garyn Daniel has left the Club with immediate effect to pursue a rugby career in Ireland. Pontypridd RFC wishes to both thank Garyn for his efforts in black and white as well as wishing him well for the future.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Ebbw Vale is as follows:
15. Liam Lloyd. 14. McCauley Rowley. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Ryan Wilkins. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Josh Phillips. 9. Harvey Nash
1. Tom Devine. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Macauley Cook. 5. Chris Dicomidis. 6. Kristian Parker (c). 7. Cai James. 8. Joe Miles
Subs: 16. Curtis Greenslade. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Lloyd Jones. 20. Will Gregory. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Joseph Scrivens. 23. Will Keep
SUPPORTERS INFORMATION –
Tickets for Saturday’s match are priced at £12 for adults, £8 concession and under 16’s free if accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available to buy on the day, but should supporters wish to purchase in advance you can online here – Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd online tickets
For Ponty Fans driving to the ground, the postcode required for your sat-navs is NP23 5AZ.
There will be a minute’s silence in the Stadium prior to kick off on Saturday. This is for 10 year old Lewi Sullivan. Lewi, who played rugby for a local team passed away very recently in a tragic accident – Pontypridd RFC wishes to pass on its condolences to all Lewi’s family and friends at this sad time.
