Match Preview – Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd

On Thursday 6th April Pontypridd play Ebbw Vale at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium in the Indigo Group Premiership. Kick-off is 7:30pm and it will be screened live via S4C Clic’s various streaming platforms.

Ponty’s last visit to Ebbw on Saturday 25th September 2021 ended in a 16 points to 6 win for the home side. The Steelmen also took the spoils by the barest of margins when the two clubs met earlier in the season at Sardis Road. With the final whistle imminent, Kieran Meek stepped up and kicked a late penalty which saw the away side win by a 23-22 score-line back last December.

Pontypridd’s aim in the remaining matches of the season will be to try and finish on a high to take some momentum into the next campaign. Ebbw on the other hand have a top 4 play-off spot in sight so only a full 80-minute performance will be sufficient for Pontypridd in Blaenau Gwent on Thursday evening.

TEAM NEWS –

Ponty have made four personnel changes to the XV that played Newport last Thursday – one in the forwards, three in the backs and two positional switches.

In the pack Tom Harper returns at tight-head prop. Behind the scrum there’s a new half-back pairing of Joel Raikes and Joseph Scrivens. There’s also a return to the starting XV for young fullback Iestyn Griffiths which allows Dale Stuckey to return to his usual left-wing berth. In the other positional switch Jamie Murphy moves from 10 to 12.

On the substitutes bench there are returns to the matchday squad for forwards Nathan Huish, Morgan Bosanko and Sam Evans.

Cally James, Lloyd Rowlands, Lucus Welch and Chris Dicomidis are all still unavailable for selection.

The Pontypridd team selected to play Ebbw Vale is as follows:

15. Iestyn Griffiths. 14. Niko Matawalu. 13. Ceri Morris. 12. Jamie Murphy. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Joel Raikes

1. Tom Devine. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. Mitch Barnard. 6. Aled Ward. 7. Sion Parry. 8. Joe Miles

Subs: 16. Nathan Huish. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Cai James. 20. Sam Evans. 21. Rory Harries. 22. Tommy Morgan. 23. Ewan Skuse

TICKET PURCHASING –

Supporters can, if they choose to, purchase their tickets for the match via Ebbw Vale’s website using this link – Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd 6/4/2023

The postcode for the Ciner Glass Community Stadium is NP23 5AZ.

C’mon The Pont!