Pontypridd v Newport – Match Preview
On Thursday 29th February Pontypridd play Newport in the Indigo Group Premiership at Sardis Road. The match kicks off at 7:30pm and it will also be broadcast live on S4C Clic – S4C’s online streaming service.
Ponty will be hoping to get their first win over The ‘Port since beating them 19-16 on Saturday 18th September 2021 at Sardis Road – that match being both clubs’ first competitive match after the global Covid-pandemic.
Pontypridd currently occupy 7th place in the Premiership table, four places behind Newport who currently occupy 3rd but more importantly sit comfortably inside the all-important top 4 positions in the league and have all but secured their place in the end of season play-offs for the league title. The Valley Commandos will know that only a complete 80-minute performance will be sufficient if they hope to end their Black & Amber hoodoo Thursday evening.
TEAM NEWS:
This week’s match is Pontypridd’s first outing since travelling to Merthyr nearly a month ago and there are five personnel changes to the XV that started that afternoon, with a further three new faces on the bench.
In the forwards Tom Devine comes back in at loosehead prop whilst Cai James and skipper Kris Parker return to take their places at 7 and 8 respectively.
Behind the scrum Ben Burnell has recovered from injury to start at flyhalf and there’s a welcome return from injury for Fiji international Niko Matawalu – Niko makes his first appearance of the season in his customary right wing berth.
On the bench there are returns to the matchday squad for Curtis Greenslade, Chris Dicomidis and Louis Rochefort-Shugar.
Despite the extended break between matches Ponty’s injury list is still a fairly substantial one with Dale Stuckey, Liam Lloyd, Joseph Scrivens, McCauley Rowley, Ryan Wilkins and Sion Parry all in the treatment room.
Gavin Parry is away with the Scotland U20 Squad for their 2024 Six Nations campaign. Gavin came off the bench to win his first cap last Friday against England in Edinburgh – congratulations Gav, from everyone at Pontypridd RFC.
A special mention and a big shout out to Joel Raikes who will make his 200th Pontypridd appearance Thursday evening, a superb achievement.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Newport is as follows:
15. Josh Phillips. 14. Niko Matawalu. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Kyan Lewis. 11. Tom Edwards. 10. Ben Burnell. 9. Joel Raikes.
1. Tom Devine. 2. Rob Jones. 3. Tom Harper. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Macauley Cook. 6. Aled Ward. 7. Cai James. 8. Kristian Parker (c).
Subs: 16. Curtis Greenslade. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Chris Dicomidis. 20. Joe Miles. 21. Cally James. 22. Harvey Nash. 23. Louis Rochefort-Shugar.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Tickets – Admission on Thursday will be £12 full, £10 concession access-all-areas and under 16’s free if accompanied by a paying adult. You can purchase tickets on the day or to save time (which is recommended to miss the queues) you can use our online e-Ticket system, link – Pontypridd v Newport 29/2/2024 – The club has increased the range of tickets now available to cover small groups (2 people) and large groups (4 people). We also have a family ticket for our Youth and Mini & Junior sections.
Supporter access is via the Clubhouse end of the ground only as the Pwllgwaun end remains closed.
Club Shop – To purchase your Ponty RFC merchandise, the Club Shop will be open both before and after the match against Newport.
Ground opening – The Clubhouse will be open from 5:00pm onwards, so why not come along early after work and enjoy some refreshments before the big match.
The Grandstand Bar – This will be open for both sets of supporters before, during and after the match.
We are looking forward to welcoming both sets of supporters to Sardis Road tomorrow evening.
