The Steelmen’s five try, bonus point win at Sardis Road allowed the champions to climb into sixth place to stay on course for a top half finish by the Christmas split. Complete dominance up front enabled Nigel Davies’s side to pick up two first half tries in midweek.
Where Ronny Kynes and Jared Rosser led, so Ethan Doyle, Josh Leis and Kynes again followed in the second half. Lewis ended with a 21 point match haul as he converted all five tries and kicked two penalties.
Pontypridd host Neath this weekend with the visitors hoping to build on their 20-19 success over Cardiff in their last outing to bag their second win of their campaign. They haven’t won on the road, however, since the opening round of the season at Bargoed.
“After beating Cardiff last time out, we need to re-focus on the Premiership quickly. Our scrum and line-out have come on great guns recently and we have pace to burn behind,” said Neath head coach Gareth Llewellyn.
“We’re looking forward to playing on the new surface at Sardis Road. Pontypridd have slipped a bit of late but it is always a challenge at their home ground.”
Ponty were convincing 46-20 winners in the corresponding fixture last season and will be wanting to get back to winning ways after their midweek defeat at home. The coaches have made seven changes to the side and have given former Dragons lock Peter Sidoli a start alongside Chris Dicomidis in the second row.
Wales Under 20 hooker Liam Belcher returns to club duties from the regional ranks, while Alex Webber is rested due to a groin strain.
Bargoed head north to face old Championship rivals RGC 1404 with club chairman Neil Carter happier with the form of his newly rooted side after their narrow Foster’s Challenge Cup defeat at Ebbw Vale. Full back Jordan Purcell is still missing with an ankle injury that has required surgery, while lock Bryce Morgan is ruled out for Colwyn Bay.
“There are games to come against Cross Keys and Cardiff, so it’s important that the boys play well and get that elusive second victory and build some momentum. They are working hard in training and focussing on learning from some of our mistakes through analysis, and with some small marginal gains, everyone at the club are confident that they’ll turn those narrow defeats into victories,” said Carter.
RGC missed the Challenge Cup weekends because they are not taking part and so will be itching to rediscover the form that moved them into second place in the Premiership. Skipper Maredydd Francis is hoping the break will have benefited the squad.
“With pre-season and then the first block of games in the Principality Premiership I think the boys were ready for some downtime. The travelling is something we have to do, so a few weeks without the away trips on the coach will have done us all good,” said Francis.
“As soon as we were back in training the intensity was ramped up so it has been a tough week with testing and some contact sessions. It is also good to be back at Eirias on Saturday, and we are looking carry on from our last game at Swansea.
“The other positive is that we have two games back to back at Eirias, so it is another couple of weekends without travelling on the coach. We know Bargoed well and they will bring the physicality at the breakdown.”
Cross Keys host league leaders Aberavon at Pandy Park in a game that will see back row man Tom Lampard make his 302nd competitive appearance for the club on what will be his 32nd birthday. Outside half James Thomas, signed from Cardiff over the summer, is set to make his Premiership debut for Keys.
Second place Merthyr head to Parc y Scarlets, where they won in the WRU Challenge Cup last season, to face Llanelli, while Newport host Bridgend. Bottom of the table Swansea head to Bedwas.
“This being the first of three successive home games it is the beginning of a very important period for us if we are to maintain our current league standing and we have prepared well,” said Bedwas head coach Steve Law.
With Richard Powell unavailable this week James Dixon takes over at outside half, with Nicky Griffiths taking on the captain’s armband. Phillip Pariyo starts at left wing with Andrew Evans on the opposite flank. Up front lock forward Tom Bell makes a welcome return from injury and Brynley Toms starts at loose head prop.
PRINCIPLALITY PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 7
Bedwas v Swansea
Cardiff v Carmarthen Quins
Cross Keys v Aberavon
Ebbw Vale v Llandovery
Llanelli v Merthyr
Newport v Bridgend
Pontypridd v Neath
RGC 1404 v Bargoed
TEAMS
Bedwas v Swansea
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Andrew Evans, Connor Edwards, James S. Dixon, Phillip Pariyo; James Dixon, 9. Nicky Griffiths (captain); Bryn Toms, Alun Rees, Matthew Pettit, Robson Blake, Tom Bell, 6. Andrew Waite, George Lee, Dan Crimmins
Reps: Jack Williams, Darran Harris, Rhys Hutcherson, Geraint Edmunds, James Richards, Luke Crane, Mike Callow, Gabriel Davies
Swansea: Josh Jones; Richard Williams, Ryan Evans, Jed Evans, Tom Williams; Phil Jones, Rhodri Wells; Dan Kenny, Paul John, Sam Martin, Gavin Ronan, Tudor Hughes, Jon Vaughan, Will Jones, Jon Fox
Reps: Alex Dunham, Richard Murphy, Ali Wade, Jay Williams, Rory Gallagher, Matthew Aubrey, Jac Wilson, Dai Watts
Cardiff v Carmarthen Quins
Cardiff: TBC
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas; Tom Williams , Iolo Evans, Josh Batcup , Morgan Griffiths; Steffan Marshall, Connor Lloyd; Gethin Robinson, Rhodri Clancy, Steffan Thomas, Josh Helps, Haydn Pugh (captain), Shaun Evans, Elis Lloyd, Roy Osborn
Reps: Steffan Phillips , Torin Myhill, Nathan Williams, Ben Thompson , Lee Taylor , Gareth George , Craig Evans, Lee Williams
Cross Keys v Aberavon
Cross Keys: Josh Prosser; Mathew Powell, Leon Andrews, Barney Nightingale, Jacob Unwin; James Thomas, Owain Leonard; Lewis Smout, Darren Hughes (captain), Richard Cornock, Danny Hodge, Simon Williams, Tom Lampard, Josh Skinner, Ieuan Jones
Reps: Ellis Shipp, Corey Hewlett, Gary Carpenter, Max George, Nathan Hudd, Nathan Trowbridge, James Leadbeater, Nathan Williams
Aberavon: Richard Carter; David Evans, Joe Thomas, Rheon James, Stef Andrews; James Garland, Jacob Flynn; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davies, Alex Jeffries, Ian Moore (capt), Sam Williams, Lee Purnell, Chris Davies, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: David Pritchard, Steffen Williams, Luke Joseph, Luke Davies, Ben Jones, Jon Thomas, Mike Burgess, Ben Davies.
Ebbw Vale v Llandovery
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Chris Levesley, Nathan Preece, Jordan Howells, Jared Rosser; Josh Lewis, Chris Thomas; Ross Jones, Joe Franchi, Rob Sevenoaks, Damien Hudd (captain), Max Williams, Josh Jacas, Ronny Kynes, Rhys Clarke
Reps: Nicky Thomas, Ian George, Gethin Robinson, Joe Bartlett, Ethan Doyle, Ben Ellis, Ryan Gardner, Will Talbot-Davies
Llandovery: TBC
Llanelli v Merthyr
Llanelli: Dion Jones; Ashley Evans, Nathan Edwards, Paul Davies (captain), Kieran Jones; Billy McBryde 9 Declan Smith; Rhys Fawcett, Taylor Davies, Simon Gardiner, Ed Curtis, Chris Long, Trystan Lloyd, Josh McLeod, Jack Condy
Reps: Rhys Thomas, Richard Bassett, Nicky Thomas, Elliot Rees, Owain Morgan, Rhodri Cole, Ioan Hughes, Kallum Evans
Merthyr: M Jarvis; K Evans, G Dacey, A Pinches, M Trowbridge; D Gunter, R Downes; J Howe, R Williams, M Buck, B Murphy, C Locke (captain), E Siggery, O Jones, N White
Reps: R James, L Jones, M Dwyer, B Sier, T Daley, A Hoskins, G Davies, E Benham
Pontypridd v Neath
Pontypridd: Gary Williams; Dale Stuckey, Cameron Lewis, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), Bradley Coombes; Ceri Sweeney, Joel Raikes; Jack Dunning, Liam Belcher, Mitch Auger, Peter Sidoli, Chris Dicomidis, Lee Evans, Rhys Shellard, Owen Sheppeard
Reps: Greg Mogford, Callum Hall, Declan Williams, Corrie Tarrant, Dafi Davies, Hemi Barnes, Joe Popple, Sam May
Neath: Ed Howley; Aaron Grabham, Gavin Evans, Keiran Williams, Kristian Corbisiero; Iwan Evans, Chris Morgans; Neil White, Sion Crocker, Ryan Thomas, Jonny Griffiths, Jon Barley, Leon Ward, Jordan Collier (captain), Calum Davies
Reps: Aled Morris, Callum Jones, Geraint James, Lyndon Bateman, Sam Montieri, Dan Guarneri, Matthew Pearce, Rory Morgan-Williams
Newport v Bridgend
Newport: Llywarch App Myrddin; Wes Cunliffe, Chay Smith, Tom Riley, Jon Morris; Matt O’Brien, Owen Davies; John Lavender, Henry Palmer, Tom Piper, Dan Mock, Adam Brown (captain), Rhys Jenkins, Craig Attwell, Reuben Tucker
Reps: Evan Whitson, James Greenfield, Chris Coleman, Henri Williams, Kyle Tatler, Ryan James, Arwel Robson, Geraint O’Driscoll
Bridgend: Marc Bennett; Tom O’Flaherty, Joe Gatt, Jamie Murphy, Mike Powell; Joe Scrivens, Will Baird; Ollie Evans, Iestyn Merriman, Keiron Jenkins, Ashton Evans, Owain Lloyd, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Gareth Beer, Adam O’Driscoll
Reps: Jordon Liney, Nicky Boyce, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Matt John, Chris Williams, Ryan Evans, Ryan Griffiths
