Both sides enjoyed solid away wins at the weekend but with another fixture so quickly on the horizon, it’s no time to look back for either side.
Pontypridd were impressive 25-8 winners in a top-of-the-table clash away to the previously unbeaten Carmarthen Quins on Saturday while Cross Keys were too much for Cardiff at the Arms Park in a convincing 10-38 victory.
Having lost their coach and captain, Pontypridd are looking for a league double against Greg Woods’ men having come away from Pandy Park with an 11-28 triumph earlier this season.
For tonight’s game, key centre Dafydd Lockyer is sidelined with a knee strain and prop Pat Palmer has suffered a slight reaction to his shoulder after making his first start of the season at Carmarthen.
Without a couple of important figures, the home side are consolidated by the fact that Thomas Young and Simon Humberstone both come back into the match day squad, the former into the starting line-up and the latter on the bench. The duo have done well at regional level in the last few weeks.
Prop Bradley Thyer is also ready to make a comeback after a long standing neck problem.
After driving Cross Keys to victory at Cardiff with a superb individual performance, Dorian Jones starts at fly half this evening with Rhys Dyer alongside him at half back. Inform back James Cordy-Reddan moves from centre to full back as Woods shuffles his following the ankle injury sustained by young fly half Angus O’Brien against Cardiff.
There is live coverage of this evening’s game between Pontypridd and Cross Keys on BBC Radio Wales from 7pm.
Elsewhere, both Llanelli and Cardiff will be looking to bounce back from defeats as they meet at Parc y Scarlets.
Llanelli were hammered 41-3 by Llandovery at Church Bank on Saturday, their regional rivals triumphant thanks to four tries from Aaron Warren. A six score defeat isn’t exactly ideal preparation for Kev George’s side but they will be hoping Saturday will be have been a one off.
Cardiff meanwhile make a number of changes themselves. Jack Maynard comes in for Ceiron Thomas at fly half after the latter came off injured against Cross Keys. Thomas though, is fit enough for a place on the bench.
The final game of the evening sees Swansea host Llandovery at St. Helen’s. The Drovers should be sky-high with confidence after their demolition of Llanelli while the All Whites were beaten by Bridgend Ravens last Friday.
TEAMS:
Pontypridd: 15 Matthew Nuthall 14 Owen Williams 13 Garyn Smith 12 Gary Williams 11 Owen Jenkins 10 Dai Flanagan 9 Gareth James, 1 Chris Phillips 2 Aled Morris 3 Keiron Jenkins 4 Lee Williams 5 Jordan Sieniawski 6 Jake Thomas 7 Thomas Young 8 Owen Sheppeard.
Replacements: Tom Williams, Simon Humberstone, Geraint Walsh, Tom Hetherington, Luke Crocker, Craig Locke, Bradley Thyer, Lewis Jones.
Cross Keys: 15 James Cordy-Redden 14 Kristian Baller 13 Leon Andrews (c) 12 Phil Williams 11 Elliot Jones 10 Dorian Jones 9 Rhys Dyer, 1 Richard Cornock 2 Gerwyn Price 3 Anthony Lott 4 Danny Hodge
5 Tom Lampard 6 Reuben Tucker 7 Scott Matthews 8 Adam Powell.
Replacements: Darren Hughes, AN Other, Craig Gould, Scott Andrews, Rhys Peebles, Ryan James, Luke Williams, AN Other.
Llanelli: 15 Steff Evans 14 Josh Adams13 Gareth Walters 12 James Griffiths 11 Dafydd Lewis 10 Josh Lewis 9 Rhys Davies, 1 Rhys Thomas 2 Craig Hawkins 3 Gareth Havard 4 Ed Price 5 Nathan White 6 Duane Eager (c) 7 Owain Morgan 8 Stuart Leach.
Replacements: Bradley Davies, Torin Myhill, Ben Leung, Lewis Rawlins, Adam Powell, Emyr Williams, James Ball, Nic Damjanovic.
Cardiff: 15 Joe Griffin 14 James Loxton 13 Luke Ford 12 Thomas Pascoe 11 Paulo Uhi 10 Jack Maynard 9 Tom Slater, 1 Lewis Smout 2 Aaron Fowler 3 Rhys James 4 Miles Normandale 5 James Murphy 6 Nick White 7 Johnathon Edwards 8 James Sheekey.
Replacements: Aled Rees, Ethan Lewis, Leon Crump, Jamie Ringer, Sam Feehan, Will Baird, Ceiron Thomas, Shaun Powell.
Swansea: 15 Nicky Thomas 14 Richard Williams 13 Aled Jenkins 12 Dai Watts 11 Mark Harvey 10 Cameron Clement 9 Justin James, 1 Nicky Smith 2 Paul John 3 Nicky Thomas 4 Lyndon Bateman 5 Rhodri Hughes 6 Rob Dudley-Jones 7 Matthew Davies 8 Tudor Hughes.
Replacements: Scott Otten, Tom Sloane, Simon Gardiner, Alun Evans, James Mckenna, Dan Brooks, Paul Davies, Andrew Claypole.
Llandovery: 15 Mike Evans 14 Sam Soul 13 Matthew Jacobs 12 Craig Woodall 11 Lee Evans 10 Ian Brooks 9 Lee Rees, 1 Wyn Jones 2 Tom Ball 3 Greg Cunniffe 4 Bryn Griffiths 5 Phil Day (C) 6 Lawrence Reynolds 7 Richard Bloomfield 8 Richard Brooks.
Replacements: Andrew Jones, Dorian Williams, Richard Catchpole, Shaun Miles, Luke Lewis, Rhodri Jones, James Garland, Gareth Rees.
