Despite their win last week, Bedwas know they face a difficult challenge – the club have never won on Pontypridd soil.
“We were delighted with the win last week and hope to maintain the momentum,” said head coach Steve Law. “A trip to the home of the reigning Premiership Champions is never easy but we go there believing we can break the jinx and come away with a win.
“Yes it’s a huge task but never say never. It is a game we can win if we play well’
Bedwas make eight changes to the team that pipped Carmarthen Quins in dramatic fashion last week with most of the changes taking place up front.
Rhys Hutcherson and Matthew Pettit come in for Ben Roberts and Kris Gay in the front row. Dragons lock Josh Tyler, probably the tallest player in the Premiership at 6’ 9”, comes into the second row to make his Bedwas debut.
James Thomas takes over at No 8 with Sam Feehan and Simon Grainger at wing forward with Grainger taking the captains armband while behind the scrum there is a more settled look. Stuart Thomas comes in at full back and Rory Budina makes his debut on the right wing.
An impressive away win at Cross Keys last weekend got Ponty’s campaign as defending champions off to a solid start.
They make no fewer than nine changes to the lineup that started at Cross Keys, eight in personnel and one positional, utilising the depth of the squad.
Full back Geraint Walsh makes his competitive debut for the club, with returning flankers Ed Siggery and Rhys Shellard also given a start. Jake Thomas moves across from blindside flanker to the no 8 position while incoming props Scott Roberts and Keiron Jenkins line up against their former club.
There is also a welcome return to fitness for centre Dafydd Lockyer who has recovered from a recent shoulder operation to claim a place on the bench.
Wingers Chris Clayton and Owen Jenkins and outside halves Simon Humberstone and Lewis K Williams are all out injured.
Pontypridd: 15 Geraint Walsh 14 Lewis I Williams 13 Gavin Dacey 12 Tom Pascoe 11Owen Williams 10 Dai Flanagan 9 Gareth Jamesm 1 Scott Roberts 2 Darran Harris 3 Keiron Jenkins 4 Cory Hill 5 Chris Dicomidis (c) 6 Ed Siggery 7 Rhys Shellard 8 Jake Thomas.
Replacements: Carl Thomas,Gareth Wyatt, Dafydd Lockyer, Huw Dowden, Tom Hetherington, Jordan Sieniawski, Pat Palmer, Stuart Williams.
Bedwas: 15 Stuart Thomas 14 Rory Budina 13 Ross Wardle 12 Jack Dixon 11 Matthew John 10 Richard Powell 9 Tom Rowlands, 1 Dan Preece 2 Rhys Hutcherson 3 Matthew Petit 4 Josh Tyler 5 Craig Lodge 6 Sam Feehan 7 Simon Grainger (c) 8 Jack Thomas.
Replacements: Ben Roberts, Ian George, Kristian Gay, Phil Rees, Deri Mattravers, James Benjamin, Rory Wood, Ethan Davies.
