Pontypridd v Carmarthen Quins – match preview

Pontypridd play their first home game of the new season on Saturday 21st September, taking on Carmarthen Quins in a Premiership tie which kicks off at 5:15pm, screened live on S4C.

Only two weeks into the new campaign this game takes on added significance for Ponty, eager to reverse a trend of two successive defeats, away to Cardiff and Merthyr in the league and cup respectively. It will be Carmarthen’s first league fixture of the new season, but having posted an impressive away win at Newport in the cup the previous weekend.

The two clubs cancelled each other out in last season’s Premiership ties, both winning away from home, Ponty by 13pts to 16 at y Parc in December, and the Quins by 12pts to 32 at Sardis Road in mid April.

Ponty ring the changes after their disappointing cup defeat at Merthyr. Ben Jones switches to full back with Gary Williams making his competitive debut for the season at centre. Up front Lloyd Evans switches from the back to the second row with Sion Parry given a start at openside flanker. New recruit, tight head prop Ross Davies takes a place on the bench.

The latest casualties in the Ponty squad are full back Lloyd Rowlands with an ankle knock and centre Alex Knott being assessed for concussion.

The Pontypridd team selected to face Carmarthen Quins is as follows:

15.Ben Jones. 14.Alex Webber. 13.Gary Williams. 12.Dafydd Lockyer – cpt. 11.Dale Stuckey. 10.Diggy Bird. 9.Tom Rowlands.

1.Huw Owen. 2.Nathan Huish. 3.Morgan Bosanko. 4.Lloyd Evans. 5.Sean Moore. 6.Kristian Parker. 7.Sion Parry. 8.Morgan Sieniawski.

Subs: 16.Rhydian Jenkins. 17.Ross Davies. 18.Ben Stephens. 19.James Murphy. 20.Kyle Evans. 21.Joel Raikes. 22.Corey Sheppard. 23.Ryan Davies.