The two clubs have built up a good rapport off the field, with pre-season friendlies a regular feature over the past couple of years. Familiarity however, has bred nothing short of an intense rivalry on the field, with encounters between the two clubs usually being close fought affairs.
Both teams got their league campaigns off to a solid start, Llandovery winning their first two matches before going down to defeat at Cross Keys last weekend. Pontypridd meanwhile, have maintained a perfect record so far, with four wins from four games seeing them head up the Premiership table.
Llandovery are unbeaten at home so far this season and will be hoping for revenge after Pontypridd completed the double over them last season. Dale McIntosh’s side secured a 19-12 win at Church Bank followed by a home 21-11 win in February. This season, Pontypridd have tasted success against Llandovery with a 21-9 pre-season win and a comprehensive victory in the Foster’s National Sevens final.
As they look to maintain their recent record, Pontypridd make a remarkable 13 changes from the starting line-up that claimed a bonus point home win over Newport. Promising Blues Academy youngsters Aled Summerhill, Garyn Smith and hooker Liam Belcher all start with Dai Flanagan returning to the influential role of fly-half.
Skipper Chris Dicomidis and tight head prop Keiron Jenkins are the two constants in selection, both having started every game so far this season. Llandovery include Aaaron Warren on the right wing.
Llandovery: 15 Lee Rees 14 Aaron Warren 13 Mathew Jacobs 12 Rhodri Jones 11 Sam Soul 10 James Garland 9 William Davies, 1 Owain Jones 2 Jonathan Lewis 3 Greg Cunniffe 4 Bryn Griffiths 5 Llewelyn Jones 6 Phillip Day (c) 7 Shaun Miles 8 Lawrence Reynolds.
Replacements: Thomas Jones, Dorian Williams, Stuart Miller, Richard Bloomfield, Thomas Ball, Craig Woodall, Ian Brooks, Jake Randell.
Pontypridd: 15 Geraint Walsh 14 Aled Summerhill 13 Garyn Smith 12 Gary Williams 11 Owen Jenkins 10 Dai Flanagan 9 Tom Williams, 1 Stuart Williams 2 Liam Belcher 3 Keiron Jenkins 4 Craig Locke 5 Chris Dicomidis (c) 6 Jake Thomas 7 Tom Hetherington 8 Owen Sheppeard.
Subs: Joel Raikes, Simon Humberstone, Dafydd Lockyer, Huw Dowden, Dan Godfrey, Jordan Sieniawski, James Howe, Lewis Jones.
