And win they must when they head to Sardis Road this weekend if they want to stay in the hunt for a league and cup double. The maths is simple enough – beat Pontypridd once again and they will be into the play-offs.
“When the season began one of the first places the players said they wanted to go and experience was Sardis Road. We played there in the semi-finals of the cup and beat Merthyr and now the boys can’t wait to go back,” said Jones.
“We had a tough time on some of our early away trips and learned some harsh lessons. But we’ve had some good wins on the road since Christmas, including winning the Cup in Cardiff, and now everyone looks forward to away days.
“This is going to be a really tough one because Ponty will be smarting after we beat them in the cup final and will be looking for revenge – as well as a place in the play-offs. Their pack looks to be stronger than when we last met and I thought Garyn Smith played very well for them at centre at Bedwas last week.
“It has been an interesting season for us and the players are determined to make sure it doesn’t end this weekend. We’re in with a chance of making the play-offs and then we have a trial match against Wales ahead of their summer tour to look forward to.”
It is 2-0 to RGC against Ponty so far this season thanks to a 47-17 Premiership win in the first half of the season and then their 15-11 triumph in the WRU National Cup final at the Principality Stadium.
Merthyr and Bedwas are already through to the play-offs after their wins last weekend. Now the battle is on to see who will join them in the semi-finals, with four teams still in the hunt. Merthyr top the table with 25 points ahead of their final fixture at the home of reigning champions Ebbw Vale this weekend.
The Steelmen fell to a 21-15 defeat at Llandovery to dent their hopes of staying in the fight for the title. Their losing bonus point at Church Bank leaves them in sixth place going into the final round of regular season matches on 13 points.
They must now hope that the two teams immediately above them, RGC and Pontypridd, don’t pick up any more than two points when they meet at Sardis Road on Saturday. They are both on 15 points, with Aberavon just ahead on 20.
It means that whoever wins at Sardis Road will be guaranteed a place in the top four. A draw, with neither side picking up a bonus point, would allow Ebbw Vale to creep in if they can pick up five points at home against Merthyr.
The only game that won’t have anything riding on it this weekend will be the battle between the bottom two sides, Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins. Aberavon will host Bedwas, with the winners guaranteed a home play-off.
Aberavon v Bedwas
Ebbw Vale v Merthyr
Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins
Pontypridd v RGC 1404
TEAMS
Aberavon v Bedwas
Aberavon: Liam Popham; Jay Baker, Joe Thomas, David Evans, Stef Andrews; James Garland, David Pritchard; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davies, Alex Jeffries, Ian Moore (captain), Ben Davies, Lee Purnell, Chris Davies, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Jacob Flynn, Steffen Williams, Luke Joseph, Luke Davies, Ben Jones, Rhys Forse, Jon Thomas, Sam Williams
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Patric Lewis, Ross Wardle, Connor Edwards, Mathew John; James S. Dixon, Nicky Griffiths (captain); Dan Preece, Alun Rees, Matthew Pettit, Geraint Edmunds, Joe Davies, Andrew Waite, George Lee, Robson Blake
Repl: Brynley Toms, Rhys Hutcherson, Ken Dowding, Rhys Verley, Nathan Hudd, Tom Rowlands, James Dixon, Adam Williams
Ebbw Vale v Merthyr
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Nathan Preece, Dom Franchi, Dai Langdon, James Lewis; Josh Lewis, Rob Lewis; Ross Jones, Joe Franchi, Gethin Robinson, Damien Hudd (captain), Lance Randall, Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Jonathan Davies
Reps: Jonny Bowen, Ian George, Rob Sevenoaks, Joe Bartlett, Dawid Rubasniak, Dai Jones, Gareth Maule, Stefan Thomas
Merthyr: TBC
Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins
Llandovery: Tomi Lewis; Jack Parkinson, Rhodri Wall, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Dean Howells, Matthew Moore, Nicky Thomas, Jake Baker, Joe Powell, Duane Eager, Stuart Worrall, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Greg Cunniffe, Jamie Hughes, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Emyr Price, Ryan Williams, A.N.Other, Ceri Morris, Alex Davies
Carmarthen Quins: Chris Banfield; Dylan Morgans , Josh Batcup, Scott Lloyd, Morgan Griffiths; Steffan Marshall, Ifan Beynon-Thomas; Nathan Williams, Rhodri Clancy, Javan Sebastian, Shaun Jones, Lee Taylor, Andrew Green, Shaun Evans, Morgan Allen
Reps: Steffan Phillips, Gethin Robinson, Connor Allen, Morgan Minchin, Lewys Millin, Aron Hemmings, Aled Thomas, Gavin Thomas
Pontypridd v RGC1404
Pontypridd: Gary Williams; Dale Stuckey, Garyn Smith, Bradley Coombes, Joe Davies; Callum Hall, Wayne Evans; Joe Popple, Liam Belcher, Mitch Auger, Sean Moore, Chris Dicomidis (captain), Dafi Davies, Rhys Shellard,Hemi Barnes
Reps: Joel Raikes, A.N. Other, Cameron Lewis, Huw Dowden, Gruff Lloyd, Peter Sidoli, Tom Mably, Will Davies-King
RGC1404: Afon Bagshaw; Carwyn Ap Myrddin, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots, Rhys Williams; Jacob Botica, Efan Jones; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley, Ross Davies, Henri Williams, Andrew Williams (captain), Tim Grey, Josh Leach, Huw Worthington
Reps: Rhys Williams, Phil John, Sam Wainwright, Robin Williams, Mei Parry, Will Bryan, Cam Davies, Sam Jones
