Principality Premiership team news

Cross Keys v Pontypridd

Cross Keys host Pontypridd on Saturday with the away side having claimed maximum points from their last three matches.

However, Ponty coach Simon King, a former Keys coach, knows just how difficult it will be to maintain this run at Pandy Park.

“We can’t afford to drop our guard for one moment after our three recent wins” said King.

“We know we face a tough physical challenge at Cross Keys. They hold similar values to Ponty and will always give 100%.

“They always come out to play rugby. The pitch at Pandy Park will be a great leveller, and two committed sides will be going all out for a win. This is a game that we have prepared well for during the week and we can look forward to”.

Pontypridd have picked up a number of injuries over the past week with lock Chris Dicomidis suffering a broken arm, fellow second row Damian Welch laid low with conjunctivitis, flanker Rhys Shellard out with a hamstring strain, and scrum half Gareth Jones missing with a shoulder injury.

There will be a senior debut in line for Cook Islands flanker Tu Tamarua, with skipper Dale McIntosh also ready to make his first start following a recent groin injury. Ryan Harries steps up to the scrum half berth and Richard Emms takes over at hooker,

Meanwhile, Dragons pair Aled Thomas and Gareth Chapman will return to the home side’s line up starting at full back and centre respectively.

There are three other changes for Keys, with wing David James, centre David Price and prop Craig Gould all handed starting berths.

Cross Keys: Aled Thomas, David James, Gareth Chapman, David Price, Gareth Turner,  Scott Mitchell, Ryan James, Rhys Williams, David Tovey, Ben Watkins, Will Thomas (c), Mark Curtis, Craig Gould, Garry Horrigan, Richard Cornock.
Replacements: Sergio Padrisa, Rhys Miller, Dan Evans, Colin Bridges, Wayne Murphy, Owen Jones, Dan Dark.

Pontypridd: Jason Pocock, Chris Clayton, Gavin Dacey, Dafydd Lockyer, Gareth John, Neil Burnett, Ryan Harries, Ian Poley. Richard Emms. Ryan Harford. Dale McIntosh (capt), Grant Harrington, Lee Evans, Tu Tamarua, Adam Powell.
Replacements (from): Stuart Williams; Rhys James; Leighton Davies; Nick Eaves; Justin Benfield; Tom Dickens, Dylan Jones; Mike Davies

Ebbw Vale v Aberavon

The game at Eugene Cross Park is Principality Premiership leaders Aberavon’s first since coach Kevin Hopkins left the club to become Director of Rugby at the Liberty Stadium.

The man appointed to plug the gap is scrum half Danny Hawkins, who takes on the role of backs coach.

The 30-year-old former Neath and Bonymaen half-back has been handed the role on a temporary player-coach basis, with former Wales forward Mark Jones continuing to coach the forwards.

“We have decided to appoint Danny as backs coach on a temporary basis and then review the situation as the season progresses,” said Aberavon managing director Andrew John.

“Mark Jones will remain coaching the forwards and we also have a fairly experienced squad with a number of senior players who could put their hands up and help.

“We have not talked to anyone about the post and we don’t intend talking to anyone until we have had the review.”

And the new coaches have made five changes to the side that started against Maesteg last weekend.

Two changes are made in the backs with Daran Griffiths coming in on the left wing and  Jamie Davies returning from injury to replace teenager James Garland. Paul Bamsey moves into the centre to replace the rested Richard Thomas.

In the pack, three changes are made. Locks Paul Morgan and Andrew Fisher come in for Chris Gittins and Ian Moore. Skipper Gittins is injured, while Moore drops to the bench. Robbie Morgan, scorer of last week’s 79th minute winning try, comes in for the injured Richard Morris at number 8.

Aberavon: Liam Gadd; Richard Carter, Paul Bamsey, Darren Ryan, Daran Griffiths; Jamie Davies, Daniel Hawkins; Lloyd Howell, Chris Wells (capt), James Jones, Paul Morgan, Andrew Fisher, Darryl Thomas, Robbie Morgan, Simon Peters.
Replacements: Ricky Richards, Gareth Knox, David Hawkins, Marc Breeze, Mike Harris, Ian Moore, Steve Phillips.

Glamorgan Wanderers v Bedwas

After suffering two defeats, Glamorgan Wanderers take on a Bedwas side with a similar record at the Memorial Ground this Saturday.

Gareth McCarthy, injured in the warm up against Bridgend, returns to the Wanderers line, one of seven changes to last weekends’ line up.

In the backs, Charlie Johnson, Jamie Jones, Simon Rosser and Steve Cullen come in, while Chris Miller and Darryl Hawden are brought into the pack.

Glamorgan Wdrs: Charlie Johnson, Jamie Jones, Gareth Morris, Simon Rosser, Steve Cullen, Gareth McCarthy, Chris Miller, Matthew Bolton (c), Rhys Williams, Mark O’Leary,  Darryl Hawden, Gareth Knight, Craig Morris, Ben Rose, Richard Thomas
Replacements: Mark Sheppard, Paul Douglas, Jonathan Luff, Peter de Snyder, Nick Bellamy, Andrew Cawley, Dai Willey

Llandovery v Cardiff

The Blue & Blacks travel to Llandovery on Saturday with a team showing eight changes, one positional, from the side that played Ponty last week.

Injuries to Rhys Gill, Ross Johnston and Scott Roberts have forced a complete new unit in the front row of the pack. Gareth Gunter, Michael Leaman and Luke Hunter will take up the challenge, with Nathan Trevett and Alex Murphy, who have been playing for Rumney and Abercynon respectively so far this season, on the bench.

The other change among the forwards sees the return of Dafydd Rosser to the second row. Behind the scrum Thomas James moves from centre to wing and Chris Anderson, Richard Davies and Daniel Gravell are drafted into the side.

The Blue and Blacks’ injury list also includes fly-half Craig Evans (ankle ligaments) and prop Darren Fenton (neck).  Last weeks try scorer Nick Gill returns to Penarth

Scrum-half Llyr Lane is named among the replacements and may make his Blue & Blacks’ debut at some stage.

For the home side, coach Iestyn Thomas has made eight changes to the side which beat Llanelli last week.

Back row Arwel Davies comes into the side as captain while last week’s skipper Howard Thomas misses out.

Ioan Davies, Owain Rowlands, Mike Jones, Simon Daniel, Luke Marsh, Emyr Phillips and Gareth Bennett also are handed places in the side.

Llandovery: I Davies, O Rowlands, M Jones, J Lewis, V Jenkins, S Daniel, L Marsh, P Lewis, E Phillips, A Jones, T Walker, A Davies (capt), M de Marigny, G Bennett, G Williams.

Cardiff: Leon Andrews; Daniel Gravell, Richard Davies, Richard Jones, Thomas James; Chris Anderson, Darren Allinson; Gareth Gunter, Michael Leaman, Luke Hunter, Dafydd Rosser, Matthew Amos, Gavin Lucas, Chris Jones, Gareth Gravell (captain)
Replacements: Nathan Trevett, Ryan Price, Alex Murphy, Chris Stamatakis, Nick Hampson, Llyr Lane, Elgan Jones

Llanelli v Bridgend

Bottom side Llanelli face Bridgend at Stradey Park without a win since the opening day of the season.

The game could be a big one for the Davies family, with the possibility of two brothers coming head to head on the pitch. Roger starts at full back for the Ravens, while Llanelli’s Richard will start on the bench.

The men from Stradey have made a change at the helm, with Number 8 Ioan Cunningham captaining the side with last week’s skipper Chris Rowe dropping to the bench.

Meanwhile, for Bridgend, last week’s hero Gareth David retains his place in the Ravens’ line up, after kicking 17 points in his comeback game last week.

In fact, there are only two changes to the side which beat Glamorgan Wanderers last weekend, with wing Will Kershaw-Naylor, a try scorer from the bench against the Wanderers, and lock Paul Clapham coming into the side, at the expense of Richard Radford and Mike Powell respectively.

Llanelli: Daniel Evans, Craig Richards, Quintin Snyman, Paul Mackey, Alec Jenkins, Gareth Bowen, Lee Williams, Shaun Hopkins, Ken Owens, Andrew Clatworthy, Adam Powell, Dominic Day, Jon Mills, Jon Edwards, Ioan Cunningham(capt),
Replacements: Peter Edwards, Craig Hawkins, John Davies, Chris Rowe, Dan Godfrey, Liam Davies, Richard Davies

Bridgend: Roger Davies, Darren Simpson, Chris Tossel, Leighton Thomas,  Wil Kershaw-Naylor, Gareth David, Nick Griffiths, Lee Davies, Andrew Joy, Geraint Long, Paul Clapham, Tom Evans, Marvin Thomas, Adam Whitney (c), Andrew Williams,
Replacements: Craig Voisey, Ieuan Dobbs, Kevin Jones, Huw Alford, Matthew Tidball, Paul Williams, Brendan Roach

Neath v Maesteg

Principality Premiership top try scorers Neath face a Maesteg side nine places below them at the Gnoll this weekend.

The All Blacks welcome back flankers John McPhail and Andy Llewellyn for the game as well as a completely new front-row with Nicky Downs, Ed Shervington (who has been covering The Ospreys’ hooking crisis recently) and Andrew Howell all returning.

Strong-running wing Kevin James returns after a slight leg injury kept him out of the Swansea game and lock Martin Morgan and flanker Chris Davies return to the bench.

Head Coach Rowland Phillips said he was looking forward to the opportunity of extending his side’s unbeaten run to five games against Maesteg.

He said: “We were reasonably pleased with our display last week in winning 42-19 at Swansea. While we should have been more clinical, the backs ran with plenty of confidence and an away victory by that margin was a reward for all the hard work done by the squad as a whole

“We have been putting good shape and pace on our game recently and are looking to carry forward our improvement into Saturday’s game against Maesteg”

However, Phillips was taking nothing for granted and said ” Maesteg always present a formidable challenge.”

He added: “In recent weeks, we have been concentrating on our mind-set and we’ll need to be very focussed against them as they have a good set-piece, are competitive at the breakdown and their re-capture of Luke Richards has given them a different dimension behind.

“We are mindful that they have lost two games on the road by the narrowest of margins at Llanelli and Aberavon. They could easily be further up the table – in fact, if there were bonus points awarded in the Premiership, Maesteg would probably be in the top six.

“The weather forecast is better for Saturday and there should be a good Gnoll crowd for this latest local derby.”

Only a last minute try prevented Maesteg from beating Principality Premiership leaders Aberavon last week.

This week, again facing a team many places above them, the Old Parish have made six changes.

Andrew Hutchings comes back in at full back, Neil Dixon moves to the wing and Gareth Holmes plays at outside centre for the first time this season. Lloyd O’Connor starts at scrum half.

In the forwards Alex Peever, Justin Jones and Lee Manning are all named in the starting XV.

Neath: G.King; K.James, A.Bevan, J.Spratt, S.Thomas; A,Thomas, R.Lewis; N.Downs, E.Shervington, A.Howell; E.Evans, S.Martin (captain); A.Llewellyn, D.McShane, J.McPhail
Replacements  A.Bramwell, G.B.James, P.Jones, G.Price, A.N.Other, M.Morgan, C.Davies

Maesteg: Andrew Hutchings, Matthew Owen, Gareth Holmes, Mike Davies, Neil Dixon, Luke Richards, Lloyd O`Connor,Lee Manning, Lee Williams,Craig Hopkins,Alex Peever, Paul Jones, Justin Jones, Karl Hocking, Ian Boobyer (capt).
Replacements: Kevin Ellis, Jonathan Rimmer, Shaun Cleary, A .N Other,Gavin Ronan,Marcus Sainsbury, Ross Megraw .

Swansea v Newport

Second-placed Newport have made six changes to the team that defeated Bedwas last weekend.

Fresh from playing for the Newport Gwent Dragons, Scott Williams comes back into the Black and Amber side replacing Ashley Smith at inside centre. Elsewhere in the backs, Dan Griffiths replaces James Dixon.

Among the forwards Rhys James replaces Andrew Brown at hooker, Gethin Robinson comes in for Phil Osborne, James Connors replaces Mark Workman while Richard Dale comes in at blindside flanker for Lewis Evans.

Newport: Jason Tovey, Ryan Howells, Nathan Williams, Scott Williams, Mike Poole, Dan Griffiths, Matthew Thomas, Dai Pattison (c), Rhys James, Gethin Robinson, James Connors, Matthew Veater, Richard Dale, Craig Hill, Andrew Coombs
Replacements: Andrew Brown, Mark Workman, Tim Foister, Lewis Evans, James Ireland,
James Dixon, Luke Hathaway