The runaway leaders of the National Championship, Pooler’s only defeat this season came in a pre-season friendly in August against Aberavon. They went down 7-6 in that rain-soaked game and since then the Wizards have gone on to top the Premiership in the first half of the season while Pontypool have coasted to a 14 points lead at the top of the Championship with 16 straight wins.
None of that will be lost on the Llanelli coaches as they prepare to receive the former Gwent giants, who won the Cup way back in 1983 with golden greats like Bobby Windsor, Graham Price, Jeff Squire and David Bishop in their ranks. On that occasion they beat Swansea, but they fell to Llanelli in the 1991 final.
“In the league everyone wants to be the first team to beat us and in this game we want to show what we are about and have a crack. It’s a big game and this is a different type of pressure,” Pontypool head coach Leighton Jones told the South Wales Argus.
“We will need a different mentality and attitude because Llanelli are in the league that we want to be in. I think they are favourites, although I’m not sure that’s the general feeling.
“This is an opportunity to see where we are in terms of standards and it’s a great chance for our team to show how good they are. It’s going to be a great test and a fantastic experience with the game on television and at a nice stadium that is different to the grounds that we are used to.
“That’s a great incentive for us and the players are excited by the challenge. If we play to the best of our ability and everyone is on the money then there’s no reason why we can’t get the win.”
Pontypool have scored 81 tries in their 16 Championship outings and wing Rhodri Usher has scored 11 of them. The former Wales and Ospreys outside half Matthew Jones, who acts as player / coach, pulls the strings behind a very capable pack.
“Llanelli are renowned for playing an expansive style but we can play some nice rugby ourselves and are not just about forward power. We will look to be as physical and confrontational as we can but we have also been looking sharp and have some backs that can do some damage,” added Leighton Jones.
Llandovery launch the defence of their title at one of the most difficult places to go this season, the Talbot Athletic Ground. Aberavon finished the first-phase of the Principality Premiership season at the top of the table and beat the Drovers 22016 on the opening day of the season on their own path.
They have also won the two previous meetings between the two clubs in the Cup – 22-7 in 2008 and 18-12 in the 2011 semi-finals.
Bedwas, already through to the semi-finals of the Foster’s Challenge Cup and into Tier 1 for the second half of the Principality Premiership campaign, will host Championship club Glamorgan Wanderers. Nicky Griffiths returns from injury to lead the side, but Robson Blake is missing as he makes his first home appearance for the Dragons against Newcastle Falcons in the Anglo Welsh Cup.
Blake was one of the mainstays in the Bedlinog pack that drove their side to victory in the WRU National Plate. This season Bedlinog are playing up a level for the first time and will host Bargoed in their debut match, welcoming back old boy Ross Coombs.
Pontypridd last won the Cup in 2014 and will be making their first visit to Cyncoed to face the students of Cardiff Met since 2003. The home side were beaten 36-16 by Loughborough University in the BUCS Super Cup on Wednesday night.
Ponty welcome back two long term injury absentees in wing Chris Clayton and scrum half Wayne Evans. On the downside, wing Lewis Williams has suffered a knee strain to join the club’s extensive sick list.
Dunvant face a long trek north to meet RGC 1404 at Parc Eirias and will make the journey without their regular half-backs. The Championship side have released Sam Gallagher and Richard Lewis to play for the Wales Deaf side against England at Sardis Road on Sunday.
Cross Keys fans will be delighted to see club captain Scott Matthews back in the matchday squad for their trip to Championship club Glynneath. Matthews has been out of action for four months with an ankle injury and returns in time to help his side launch another good cup run.
Semi-finalists in four of the last five seasons, Keys were champions in 2012 when they beat Pontypridd 32-10. They were back in the final two years later, when Ponty gained their revenge.
WRU National Cup Round 1
(all kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated)
Aberavon v Llandovery
Bedlinog v Bargoed
Bedwas v Glamorgan Wanderers
Cardiff Met v Pontypridd
Cardiff v Tata Steel
Carmarthen Quins v Newcastle Emlyn
Ebbw Vale v Skewen
Glynneath v Cross Keys
Llanelli v Pontypool (3.00pm live on S4C)
Merthyr v Newbridge
RGC 1404 v Dunvant
TEAM NEWS
Aberavon v Llandovery
Aberavon: Joe Gage; Matthew Jenkins, Will Price, Rheon James, David Evans; Steffen Williams, Jacob Flynn; Mike Burgess, Ieuan Davies, Jon Thomas, Ian Moore (capt), Ben Jones, Lee Purnell, Chris Davies, Nathan Brown
Reps: Dan Davies, Jon Phillips, Cameron Clement, Luke Davies, Rob Dudley-Jones, Rhys Forse, Tomos Northey, Ben Davies
Llandovery: TBC
Bedlinog v Bargoed
Bedlinog: TBC
Bargoed: James Hallett; Duane Dyer, Darren Humphries, Phil Price, David Evans; Julian Mogg, James Pizey; Rhys Morgan, Leigh Meades (captain), Keiron Brown, Louis Blacker, Lewis Weyman, Adam Coupe, Alex Herbert, Ross Coombs
Reps: Jack Williams, Lewis Lippiett, Alex Gardner-Key, Grant Rogers, Franklyn Jacas, Greg Callow, Lewis Prothero, Callum Jones
Bedwas v Glamorgan Wanderers
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Matthew John, Adam Williams, Mike Callow, Andy Evans; Richard Powell, Nicky Griffiths (captain); Dan Preece, Alun Rees, Matthew Pettit, Rhys Verley, Joe Davies, James Richards, George Lee, Andrew Waite
Reps: Brynley Toms, Rhys Hutcherson, Chris Budgen, Tom Bell, Geraint Edmunds, Tom Rowlands, James Dixon, Pat Lewis
Glamorgan Wanderers: Matt Arnold; Cameron Gibbon, James Loxton, Ryan Owen, Harri Lang; Luke Fish, Tom Lucas; Peter Lloyd, Aaron Fowler (captain), Curtis Hicks, Ross Gibbon, Rob Weston, Michael Owen, Jake Conway, Daniel Apsee
Reps: Joe Russell, Oliver Hitchings, Rhidian Jenkins, Scott Griffiths, Tom Driver, Rhys Girly, Sam Rizbridger, Morgan Louch
Cardiff Met v Pontypridd
Cardiff Met: TBC
Pontypridd: Callum Hall; Dale Stuckey, Bradley Coombes, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), Chris Clayton; Ceri Sweeney, Wayne Evans; Joe Popple, Huw Dowden, Mitch Auger, Sean Moore, Chris Dicomidis, Jake Thomas, Rhys Shellard, Dan Godfrey
Reps: Joel Raikes, Declan Williams, Joe Davies, Luke Griffiths, Owen Sheppeard, Hemi Barnes, Sam May
Cardiff v Tata Steel
Cardiff: James Whittingham; James Beal, Lloyd Chalke, Luke Ford (captain), Ceri Young; Gareth Thompson, Liam Free; Rob Lewis, Joe Tomlinson, Ben Leung, Jack Davies, Ben Thomas, Johnathan Edwards, Jordan Viggers, Joe Gaughan
Reps: Joe Page, Gavin Nach, Joe Jackson, Aron Hughes, Tom Slater, Diggy Bird, Codey Rees
Tata Steel: TBC
Carmarthen Quins v Newcastle Emlyn
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas; Lee Williams, Callum Price , Joshua Batcup, Morgan Griffiths; Craig Evans, Gareth George; Nathan Williams, Rhodri Clancy, Andrew Clatworthy, Shaun Jones, Lee Taylo, Lewys Millin, Elis Lloyd, Shaun Evans
Reps: Steffan Phillips, Lewis Roberts, Javan Sebastian, Ben Thompson, Lawrence Reynolds, Ifan Beynon-Thomas, John Williams, Iolo Evans
Newcastle Emlyn: TBC
Ebbw Vale v Skewen
Ebbw Vale: TBC
Skewen: TBC
Glynneath v Cross Keys
Glynneath: TBC
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews; Mathew Powell, Lewis Barnett, Phil Williams, Nathan Trowbridge; Josh Prosser, James Leadbeater; Lewis Smout, Darren Hughes (captain), Richard Cornock, Danny Hodge, Scott Andrews, Adam Powell, Rhys Fitzgerald, Ieuan Jones
Reps: Rob Jones, Gwesyn Price-Jones, Gary Carpenter, Tom Lampard, Scott Matthews, Barney Nightingale, Ross Pritchard, Jacob Unwin
Llanelli v Pontypool
Llanelli: Kalum Evans; Ashley Evans, Nathan Edwards, Jonny Lewis, Gwion Jones; Ioan Hughes, Rhodri Cole; Rhys Fawcett, Greg George, Simon Gardiner, Adam Powell (captain), Ben Davies, Lloyd Pike, Owain Morgan, Trystan Lloyd
Reps: Dan Jacobs, Richard Bassett, Tom Kaijaks, Chris Long, Nathan Hart, Matthew Flanagan, Paul Davies, Leon Randell
Pontypool: TBC
Merthyr v Newbridge
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis; Richard Carter, Gavin Dacey, Arron Pinches, Alex Howman; Dean Gunter, Rhys Downes; Nathan Trevett, Rhys Williams, Gary Powell, Ben Murphy, Craig Locke (captain), Nick White, Matthew Rees, Phil Rees
Reps: Louis Jones, S Evans, Nathan Buck, Thomas Daley, Ruan Ludick, Justin James, Kyle Evans, Gareth Davies
Newbridge: TBC
RGC 1404 v Dunvant
RGC 1404: Afon Bagshaw; Sam Jones, Josh Leach, Danny Cross, Richard Hopkins; Jacob Botica, Evan Jones; Paddy Maguire, Rhys Williams, Ross Davies, Maredydd Francis (captain), Andrew Williams, Mei Parry, Will Bryan, Tim Grey
Reps: Evan Yardley, Joe Simpson, Sam Wainwright, Huw Worthington, Henri Williams, Cam Davies, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots
Dunvant: TBC
